LIVERMORE, Calif. — Fifth-generation cattle rancher Carissa Koopmann Rivers says two main thoughts were on her mind through her childhood: She loved cows, and she loved the color red.

“In addition to growing up in a family-run commercial cow/calf operation, I spent much of my childhood in 4-H and FFA raising multiple livestock species,” she said. “In high school it occurred to me that college was an option, and I would need to decide on a major that would be defining the rest of my life or the career path that I would build my life around.”

She eagerly jumped into the next chapter of her life, focusing on cattle and applied to the University of Nevada-Reno in 2004. She loved college but never adjusted to living away from home, family and all her “critters.”

She transferred to Fresno State and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science-beef production, later earning a master’s degree in integrated resource management.

“When I was a kid my favorite days were Sundays in the fall,” Carissa said. “It meant watching the Raiders game then going out to feed cows and check for new calves with Dad. My favorite was always trying to trick an old girl into letting me pet her, and helping with any calving assistance.”

Her family started with Herefords then moved to shorthorn x Hereford crosses and now raises Red Angus x Herefords.

She says she was drawn to the red females because they stood out, were very maternal and stayed in good flesh year round. Plus, the Red Angus females always bred back early and were docile. Carissa purchased her first purebred registered Red Angus from the local auction barn. From those first three, she and her husband, Vic, built Rivers Red Angus.

“Carissa Koopmann Rivers has done wonderful things for ag in our county,” said Jenessa Hofmann, manager of the Alameda County Farm Bureau. “She takes the time to educate her community on the ways and means of agriculture life. She volunteers her personal time to help the local 4-H and FFA kids.”

“We run a modest number of cows, with quality being at the center of our focus,” Carissa said. “Quality over quantity.”

Carissa said that “in California, Reds are not extremely common to see, and most of us who have predominately red herds can call one another by a last name or county.”

Across the country, the Red Angus female is the most desired cow for its multi-trait superiority across varying topography and climates while consistently delivering maternal qualities, longevity and carcass traits that equate to profitability, she said.

On the cover

Carissa Koopmann Rivers specializes in raising Red Angus cattle on her Livermore, Calif., ranch.