TM
The Largest Privately Owned Hereford Newspaper in North America
The one that’s read “from cover to cover.” • Visit us on the web at: www.herefordamerica.com Vol. 25, No. 6
Published by: Hereford America, Inc. • 13823 Beaver Creek Place • Reva, SD 57651 • Est. 1996
Editorial Comments... Jill Bayers Hotchkiss
If you’re reading this, you know we survived the February bull sale run! Holy cow, what a whirlwind it has Jill Hotchkiss been. We always have to brace ourselves and get ready for long miles, less sleep and looking at lots of great cattle. In the meantime, we have production on our newspaper plus videoing and video sales for The Livestock Link. We had 31 sales in 28 days in the month of February and that’s only for Hereford America. The Livestock Link had 21 video sales in February. Marc and I made it to many of these sales and now we get ready for March with just 17 sales for Hereford America. It’s a lot of work and a lot of miles but also a lot of fun and we appreciate our advertisers and customers a great deal. I think Hereford cattle are looking better than ever at the sales we’ve attended. The performance figures and EPDs continue to improve. Availability of videos and online sales continue to change the face of production sales across the country. It’s an exciting time to be in the Hereford business and I think when the drought eases off, we’ll really be in the driver’s seat. Even with the current conditions, most sales were quite good. Last fall, Marc and I received word that we were to receive a very nice honor in February. We were the recipients of the Black Hills Stock Show AgriBusiness of the Year for The Livestock Link. That presenta(continued on page 3)
March 2022
Ravine Creek Ranch: Rich in Hereford History, Strong on Breed Progress by Celsey Crabtree Ravine Creek Ranch has endured it all for 115 years. The Bischoff family roots run deep in the Hereford industry, starting with Gerald Bischoff’s grand-
Gerald (Jerry) and Janelle Bischoff are at the heart of the ranch, leading the family operation. Jerry grew up around Hereford cattle and has always believed in their fertility, maternal
Ravine Creek Ranch is a family operation, now in its fifth generation. A bull sale is held every year in March.
father, Henry Bischoff who moved up from Nebraska and purchased the original 360 acres of Ravine Creek Ranch in 1906. Over the years, the ranch has grown to over 2500 acres, including those original 360 acres that corn, soybeans, hay and high-quality registered Hereford cattle. Family and cattle are essential to the Bischoffs. Multiple generations of their family have worked the ranch in east-central South Dakota and made numerous appearances in the show ring. This legacy continues as the fifth generation is becoming more involved in the cattle business. From production to marketing, Ravine Creek Ranch is a family business.
traits, and breed standards. Janelle also comes from a farming and ranching background in the Chamberlain, SD area. Both are still very involved with all activities on the ranch and have been leaders in the Hereford breed and cattle industry. Sons, Garret and Matt Bischoff work on the family ranch, helping make cattle and cropping decisions. In addition to farming about 1,200 acres of corn and soybeans, the Bischoffs do some custom planting and harvesting for neighbors. Matt also sells Pioneer seed and works through the Bauman Agency in Huron, where his wife is also a crop insurance agent. Garret founded L4L Sheep Company to raise, show, and sell high-quality crossbred club lambs. L4L, Love 4 Lisa, was named after their beloved aunt Lisa Johnson who was passionate about showing livestock. L4L Sheep Company offers multiple online sales throughout the year and has exceptional show stock.
Ravine Creek Ranch is located north of Huron, SD. They were a popular tour stop last fall on the South Dakota Hereford Tour.
Daughter Lori Peskey, her husband, Mike, and their kids live nearby on Peskey Farms. They sell bulls from their own registered Hereford herd at the family’s sale. Peskey Farms also has a large commercial Angus herd that supplies most of the F1 baldies sold yearly in the production sale. Lori serves on the board of the South Dakota Hereford (continued on page 4)