Alabama Connection Sale 2025

Payne’s service to the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI) further cemented his influence. He served on the breed standards committee, as vice president of marketing, and ultimately as president of the associ ation in the late 1990s. His leadership was rooted in his belief that the cattle business is, at its core, a people business.

“Cattle are our product, but we’re really in the people business,” Payne has often said. “Without repeat customers, we wouldn’t be in business.” Payne’s impact has always extended beyond cattle. Together with his wife, Wilmuth, he raised two daughters, Emma Kate Mikels and Molly Ainsworth, and takes great pride in his six grandc hildren. Summers on the ranch with family remain a cherished tradition.

Reflecting on his decades in ranching and business, Payne is quick to give credit where he believes it belongs. “Raising cattle has been the hardest business I’ve been in, but I love it the most. God has been good to me and my family, and I give Him all the credit.” From teacher and coach to entrepreneur, rancher, and industry leader, Delmo Payne’s story is one of perseverance, innovation, and devotion. His legacy lives not only in the cattle he bred, but in the people he mentored, the sales he helped build, and the community of cattlemen and women he has long called friends.

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37th Annual ALABAMA CONNECTION SALE October 4, 2025