Rancher offers reward as Utah County deputies work to solve cattle theft

GENOLA, Utah County — Sheriff’s deputies on Monday said they were hoping to get to the bottom of a cattle theft that took place on land near the Goshen Bay and White Lake area.

According to Sgt. Ray Ormond with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, four cows and four calves were stolen around May 25, and the calves still had not been located.

Meanwhile, the rancher said his company was preparing to post a $10,000 reward in the case.

“We’re pushing hard, going to try to bust these people,” said Alan Steele, a fifth-generation cattleman. “If we do, I think justice will take it from there.”

Steele said he first learned of the problem from a friend, who recognized the brand on four cows that turned up near him.

“He says, ‘I’ve got four cows of yours in my corral — you better come look,’” said Steele during an interview Monday evening with KSL. “I have a white tag that identifies them — my brand on them and stuff — and they’d cut the tags out of the ears. They were all tight-bagged. The one was squirting milk — she was so tight.”

He said the calves had not yet been branded and have not been found.

“What kind of ring we have here, where the calves went — who knows,” Steele said.

Steele and Ormond acknowledged cattle “rustling” still happens from time to time, even in 2026, and possibly more than anyone realizes.

“This rancher has said that he has had cattle taken before but just hasn’t reported it,” Ormond said. “It does make me wonder how many of these ranchers are having this happen to them and they’re just not reporting it because they don’t know what can be done.”

Steele said he had heard anecdotally that another neighboring rancher had two calves turn up missing this spring, and he and his brother each lost a bull last year.

The rancher estimated a $10,000 financial loss from the four missing calves.

“Calves are something that can be around for a long time, generationally potentially, and producing offspring, so that’s something this rancher has to take into account for his livelihood,” Ormond said.

Ormond said livestock theft by statute is a felony and with the values involved the theft could amount to a second-degree felony.

“Back in the old days they’d just shoot ‘em right on the spot or hang ‘em,” said Steele, who noted his family had been raising cattle “ever since they pulled the handcarts into Goshen Valley.”

Ormond urged anyone with information or who noticed anyone loading cattle in the Goshen Bay and White Lake area or dropping off cattle near the Little Sahara area to contact Central Dispatch at 801-798-5600 and ask to speak with a Utah County Sheriff’s deputy about case 26UC07158.

“The more these cattle get worth, the more it’s going to happen,” Steele said. “I think it’s important to get these guys, get ‘em caught and let justice do its job.”