New Owners Take the Reins at Headwaters Livestock Auction
August 30, 2026
A new ownership team is bringing fresh energy and a renewed focus on producers to Headwaters Livestock Auction in Three Forks, Montana.
Cassidy Brunner, Daryn Cederberg and Jon Kamps have acquired Headwaters Livestock Auction from the estate of the late Brandon Blackstock, with plans to grow cattle numbers, attract more buyers and provide Montana ranchers with a strong, trusted option for marketing their livestock.
Blackstock, the stepson of country music star Reba McEntire and former husband of singer Kelly Clarkson, purchased the operation through his company, Valley View LLC, in 2023. The Montana Board of Livestock approved the sale on August 27, 2026.
The acquisition marks a new chapter for the Three Forks livestock market and for Brunner, whose opportunity to become an owner builds on a lifetime spent in the livestock marketing business.
“Ranchers tend to their cattle 364 days a year and they market them one day a year,” Brunner said.
Watch the full interview with Cassidy Brunner below:
That makes choosing the right livestock market and having confidence in the people handling those cattle especially important.
“I just think when you are selecting the auction market that you want to take your cattle to, you’ve got to know who’s there, who’s going to get them through the sale barn, who’s going to take care of them all the way from front to back,” Brunner said.
Customer service will be a major focus for Brunner, Cederberg and Kamps as they move Headwaters Livestock forward.
“That’s one thing I will be adamant about, is the customer service,” Brunner said. “We’re always there to answer the phone for them. If they have any questions or concerns, they can always get ahold of us.”
While the market works to serve both buyers and sellers, Brunner said taking care of cattle producers remains at the heart of the business.
“We take care of our buyers, we do, but the producers are the ones who write our paychecks,” she said.
The new team began helping with sales at Headwaters on June 1, and Brunner said the response from producers and buyers has been encouraging. Five buyers were in the seats for their first sale, compared with the smaller number that had typically been attending.
Growing cattle numbers will be an important part of attracting even more buyer interest.
“We’ve got to get our cattle numbers there. That’s how you get the buyers there,” Brunner said. “Once we start getting more and more of those numbers there, we’re going to start attracting more buyers.”
Montana cattle buyer Mark Bertolino has also taken notice of the changes at Headwaters.
“In two weeks, you guys have completely flipped this place upside down,” Brunner recalled Bertolino telling her.
The new ownership team sees an opportunity to strengthen live-auction marketing for ranchers in southwest Montana and beyond.
Producers in some areas have had to haul cattle farther to reach a livestock market or turn to other marketing options. Headwaters aims to provide another strong option while rebuilding relationships with consignors and buyers and bringing more cattle back through Three Forks.
Plans also include developing receiving stations across the region, which could give producers farther from Three Forks additional opportunities to market cattle through Headwaters.
“We’re open. We’re here for you. We want to take care of you,” Brunner said.
Headwaters Livestock will hold All Class Cattle sales on most Mondays, along with special sales throughout the year.
Upcoming Sale Dates
Monday, August 31 — All Class Cattle
Monday, September 14 — All Class Cattle
Monday, September 21 — All Class Cattle
Wednesday, September 23 — Fall Feeder Bonanza
The Fall Feeder Bonanza currently includes 105 head of mixed fall-born calves, including 75 steers and 30 heifers. The calves have received two rounds of shots, the heifers are Bangs vaccinated, and the offering is long-time weaned on grass.
Monday, September 28 — All Class Cattle
Monday, October 5 — All Class Cattle
Wednesday, October 7 — Fall Feeder Special
For the full fall schedule, click here.
As the fall cattle run gets underway, the new ownership team is focused on building Headwaters Livestock into a market where producers know their cattle and their business will be taken care of.
“I know we can do it. I know we have the resources to do it,” Brunner said.
For Brunner, Cederberg and Kamps, the focus is clear: take care of producers, bring more cattle and buyers to Three Forks, and build a strong future for Headwaters Livestock Auction.
Source Western Ag Network
