The Wilders Wagyu team welcomed breeders, industry leaders, customers, and friends to our farm in Turkey, North Carolina, on November 6 & 7 for our annual StayWILD’26 Fullblood Wagyu Production Sale.

With more than 100 guests in attendance and over 80 registered bidders, the weekend concluded with 100% lot clearance and just shy of $1 million in total sales across 69 lots, averaging $14,473 per lot.

Beyond the sale results, StayWILD’26 was an opportunity to share the work behind our program, connect with fellow breeders, and see years of intentional breeding decisions come together.

Friday Evening: Data, Dinner & Community

Despite a rainy start to Friday afternoon, the skies cleared just in time for a beautiful evening at the farm.

Founder Reid Smith led an exclusive presentation on the Wilders Wagyu program, sharing insights into our carcass data, sire and dam performance, and the role that measurable results play in building a sustainable and profitable Fullblood Wagyu operation.

Guests also participated in a blind taste test featuring five Fullblood Wagyu Flat Iron steak samples representing influential genetics within our herd and leading lots in Saturday's sale. The tasting sparked great conversation about eating quality and the differences among genetic influences, giving attendees another perspective on the work behind our breeding program.

"If we're going to continue moving the Fullblood Wagyu breed forward, we have to be willing to measure what we're producing and make decisions based on those results," said Reid Smith, founder of Wilders Wagyu. "Our goal isn't simply to raise exceptional cattle. It's to build a program that performs consistently, makes sense economically, and gives other breeders genetics they can have confidence in."

One of the evening's most meaningful moments came through our annual donation lot benefiting OneCompassion. Jason Shepherd and Steve Orr with Genesis Enterprises purchased four Fullblood Wagyu embryos for $13,200, and Reid and Jaclyn Smith matched the contribution, bringing the total donation to $26,400 in support of OneCompassion's work in our community.

The evening continued with Jaclyn's homemade beef soup, cake from Lina's Bakery in Raleigh, live music from Daren Wheeless, and time spent around the fire visiting with old friends and new faces.

Saturday: StayWILD’26 Sale Results

Saturday brought beautiful weather as guests returned to the farm to tour the facilities, walk through the sale cattle, and enjoy a Wilders Wagyu brisket lunch prepared by Mat Griner of Southern Q before the auction began at 1 PM EST.

With strong participation both in person and online, the 69-lot offering generated just shy of $1 million in total sales, reflecting continued demand for Fullblood Wagyu genetics backed by intentional breeding and performance data.

Category Averages

Donor Cows - 6 Lots Sold

$21,833 Average Per Lot

Bred Heifers - 21 Lots Sold

$18,536 Average Per Lot

Open Heifers - 14 Lots Sold

$14,607 Average Per Lot

Bulls - 8 Lots Sold

$20,375 Average Per Lot

Pregnancies - 2 Lots Sold

$28,750 Average Per Lot

Semen - 9 Lots Sold

$2,378 Average Per Lot

Embryos - 8 Lots Sold

$2,530 Average Per Lot

Overall - 69 Lots Sold

$14,473 Average Per Lot

Females represented approximately three-quarters of total sales, with strong interest in both established maternal families and the next generation of Fullblood Wagyu genetics.

Notable Lots & Genetic Highlights

Leading the sale was Lot 16, WILD MS TERUTANI 121N, a daughter of TF Terutani out of 1080X, who sold for $50,000 to GTFM of North Carolina.

The opening lots also drew significant interest. Lot 1, WILD MS NOTORIOUS 20N, a Mayura Notorious daughter out of 6129, sold for $26,000 to Coastal Cattle Company of South Carolina. Lot 2A, WILD MS Q291 35N, a Macquarie Q291 daughter out of 85J, also brought $26,000, selling to Santos Patronos Ranch in Texas. These results highlighted buyer interest in the influential sire lines and maternal families represented within our program.

Among the bulls, Lot 6, WILD COMMISSIONER 122N, a son of HP Reliable out of TBR 3025Z, sold for $26,000 to Harrington Farms in North Carolina. Reliable continues to be an important genetic influence at Wilders Wagyu, and the demand for his offspring reflects the confidence breeders are placing in these genetics.

Arubial Sparta genetics also drew strong interest, with Lots 25 and 26, WILD CENTURION 42N and WILD GLADIATOR 185M, selling for $25,000 and $23,000, respectively, to Rosewood Ranches, represented by Supply Chain Manager, Andy Pendergrass. Both bulls are sons of Arubial Sparta, representing another sire line influencing the next generation of our program.

The semen offering also produced notable results, with WILD NAVIGATOR 28M and WILD BOOKKEEPER 199M each selling for $2,100 per unit. Navigator semen was purchased by Black Jack Ranch of Mississippi, while Bookkeeper semen went to Quarry Hill Farms of Pennsylvania. Both bulls are offered in partnership with Genesis Enterprises, and these results demonstrate the value breeders see in their genetic potential.

Together, these sales reflect the depth of the Wilders Wagyu offering and the opportunity for our genetics to contribute to breeding programs across the country.

"I believe Wilders Wagyu has established itself as the premier Fullblood Wagyu program in the United States," said Randall Ratliff of Wagyu365, our sale management team. "The quality and depth of their offering, the investment they've made in collecting and understanding carcass data, and the results they're producing are setting a standard for the industry. The demand we saw at StayWILD’26 speaks volumes about the confidence breeders have in this program and its future."

Looking Ahead & Thank You

The success of StayWILD’26 reflects the work our team puts into developing cattle with a focus on genetics, carcass performance, and long-term value. Our commitment remains the same: to continue collecting meaningful data, making informed breeding decisions, and building a Fullblood Wagyu program that contributes to the advancement of the breed.

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who made the trip to the farm, joined us online, registered to bid, and invested in our genetics. A special thank-you to Wagyu365, our sale management team, auctioneer Chisum Peterson, and LiveAg for their partnership throughout the sale. We were also grateful to welcome representatives from the Australian Wagyu Association for the weekend.

Most importantly, thank you to our entire Wilders Wagyu team for the months of preparation that went into making this event possible.

"We're extremely thankful for the people who continue to believe in what we're building here," said Jake Newbold, Director of Agriculture at Wilders Wagyu. "A lot of time and work goes into getting these cattle ready, and we don't take it lightly when someone chooses to invest in our genetics. Whether you've bought cattle from us for years or this was your first time visiting the farm, we appreciate the support and the trust you've placed in our team."

While the sale may be over, our work continues as we get cattle delivered to their new homes and begin preparing for what's ahead.

Thank you for being part of StayWILD’26. We look forward to welcoming you back to the farm!

Built to Perform. Bred to Lead.

Stay Connected with Wilders Wagyu

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