Roundup Cattle Feeders v. Horpestad

This appeal is from a judgment and award of damages in favor of defendant-cross complainant Fred Horpestad. Trial was in the District Court of Musselshell County, the Honorable Nat Allen presiding without a jury.

On February 11, 1974, Horpestad, a rancher, entered a joint venture agreement with Roundup Cattle Feeders, Inc. (RCF), a feedlot operator. The agreement provided that Horpestad would deliver cattle to RCF at its Roundup, Montana, feedlot. RCF was then to feed and prepare the cattle for market. Upon sale of the fattened cattle, each party was to recover its investment and then split…