13-Sep Lynn Creek @Reality Farms Campbellsburg, KY
13-Sep Pearcy Angus Ranch f Fairy, TX
13-Sep Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks f Springfield, MO
14-Sep Farner Stock Farms Royal Center, IN
14-Sep Grand Meadows Farm online
14-Sep Montana Hereford Tour Montana
with
Jon Bouma
Stevensville, Montana
by Derek Sample • Derek@ABPmag.com
There’s Grit. There’s Brains.
Then, there’s Bouma.
the guy
you pretend not to
Derek: Good to see you again Jon. Can you introduce yourself?
Jon: Hey Derek, of course. We live just outside Stevensville, Montana—technically closer to Florence. I lease ground from Hamilton up to the Mission Valley, spanning over 150 miles. We raise registered Herefords, Simmentals, and a club calf herd for show steers and heifers. Our program’s built on purpose: different genetics, different markets, different strengths.
D: And you sell bulls private treaty?
J: Yep. We usually start selling bulls around February or March. Some folks stop by in the fall to take a look early, but most wait for pictures and videos. All bulls are feed tested and ready to go by early March.
watch...
J: Every other year. We sell open and bred heifers— sometimes a few cows. The female sale is all online through Show Circuit. People can come see them in person, but the bidding is digital.
D: How about a female sale too?
D: What’s your background? Where’d you grow up?
J: I grew up near Augusta, Montana—about two and a half to three hours from here. That’s on the other side of the Continental Divide, where the mountains meet the prairie. It’s called the Front Range. We’re in the Bitterroot Valley now, nestled in the Rockies. Every time I drive over to Augusta, it still feels like home.
D: That's a great area. Then you moved to Stevensville.
J: After high school, I went to Oklahoma, worked there for a while, then came back to Montana. I got certified in Bovine Reproduction at MSU, then ended finished school at the University of Montana in Missoula. That’s where I met Johanna.
D: Do tell.
J: Johanna’s dad worked with USAID. When things got unstable in the country they were living in, the U.S. pulled families out. Johanna was sent to live with her sister here, finished high school, and started college at Missoula. That’s when we met.
D: Nice. Let’s talk about your family.
J: Teagan’s 17. He’s into motocross now—rebuilt a ‘78 Chevy square body and is mounting it on a modern Duramax chassis. Jemma is 14. She’s the cowgirl. She shows steers and heifers, plays varsity softball, and handles show cattle better than most adults. Rhorie just turned 12. She’s still figuring out her thing but leans toward animals—wants to be a vet. She’s also a talented hunter who got a nice whitetail buck last year. Then there’s Maverick. He’s 4. We call him “the only child” because there’s a big gap. He’s into everything—T-ball, dirt bikes, golf. He’s even golfed in three states already and tends to heckle the refs at his sisters’ games.
D: We were talking earlier about Johanna’s consignment business. Sounds like it's a beast!
D: How does she manage all that?
J: It’s super systematized. You log into her system, price your items, print barcoded tags, and bring them in. The checkout runs like Target—scanners, registers, very efficient. The business model is based on commission of sales and she relies on volunteers at each event. If you work a shift, you keep more of your earnings.
D: Does she setup the racks and displays herself?
J: Yeah. She pulls a 36-foot bumper-pull trailer with one of our trucks. She used to haul a 16-footer. She has a storage warehouse at our place for overflow inventory—everything’s boxed, sorted, and ready to go for the next town. She wants it to look consistent, so she brings the racks and tables herself.
J: <laughs> It really is. Johanna started her own popup Baby & Women's Boutique Consigment Company and grew so fast that she bought out her 3 main competitors within 3 years. Now she does every major metro in Montana—Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula, where sale inventory often exceeds several hundred thousand dollars. Northern Idaho is next on the expansion list.
D: What’s it like?
J: Think IKEA, but for baby stuff. You walk in, and you’re routed through everything. People bring clothes, strollers, cribs, shoes, toys—everything. She caps the number of consignors to keep it manageable.
D: That’s wild. Where did she grow up?
J: In Europe. The biggest thing she’d ever driven before meeting me was a Volkswagen Jetta. Now she drives a dually with a 40-foot stock trailer. She’s a totally different person. Her growth has been incredible.
D: Sounds like she’s dialed in.
J: She is. She’s got a right-hand gal named Ashley who travels with her and manages volunteers. Plus, she always gives back—every sale includes a community donation. One town might send proceeds to a women’s shelter, another to a food pantry. She also buys some toy lines wholesale and sells them cheap to cover venue rental. And she cuts checks right after each sale—no delays.
D: Do you ever jump in to help?
J: When I’m passing through, I’ll stop and say hi. But the whole thing runs like clockwork. When she’s gone for the spring and fall runs—each about two months— I’m on full ranch and kid duty.
"Sure, I have employees that draw a paycheck, but my boss is the guy I’m selling my bulls to"
D: Yeah, how do you manage while she's on the road?
J: Chaos. Absolute chaos. Teagan has his license, but he’s got three golf tournaments a week and works for UPI Fertilizer. So I lean on my dad and Johanna’s parents. We get it done, but some days it’s barely controlled chaos. Jemma is about to get her license, and that’s going to help a lot.
D: Let’s dive into something you’ve talked about a bit—how your fertilizer business ties into all this. You said there were issues with the postal service too. What a surprise... <laughs>
J: Oh man. Total nightmare. There was a stretch where our local post office just didn’t deliver our mail. I found stuff postmarked back in January that I got in April—statements, payments from customers, all of it. No wonder the postal service is falling apart. Now we’ve switched everything over to email checks or ACH transfers and it's much more efficient.
D: Smart. Our own digital presence is growing quickly.
J: It’s necessary. We work with a lot of manufacturers in the liquid fertilizer space. Tanker loads, totes, pumps, injector systems—you name it. Now, with the email check system, it cuts out all the delays. They print it like a real check and take it straight to the bank. Clean and fast. We don’t use credit cards anymore—hurts our pricing. Cash discounts are better.
J: I rely on my family a lot. My dad lives nearby and helps run kids around when needed. Johanna’s parents live a few hours away and come help when she’s traveling. Teagan, our oldest, has a license and helps too—though between golf tournaments, work at UPI, and school, he’s swamped.
D: Sounds like mayhem.
J: It is. But we manage. Next month Jemma gets her license, so that’ll help.
D: Alright, let’s dive into the show cattle side of your operation. I know you’re involved in the club calf world. Tell me about that.
J: Yeah, so most cattle you see at shows are from breed programs—Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais, Gelbvieh. But clubbies are a different animal. These are steers, bred from a blend of many breeds, and it’s all about phenotype—not bloodline. We’re looking for big bone, tons of hair, smooth movement, and that “look at me” attitude. Kids want a steer that can glide across the ring, set up square, and have presence. Some of these calves are 12- to 15-breed crosses—Maine Anjou, Simmental, Chi, Angus, Shorthorn, and who knows what else all in one.
D: So it’s not about what breed they are.
D: You’ve got quite the mix going—ag retail, operations, applications, travel, deliveries, sales, cattle, shows, family, sports, consignment and the list goes on. How do you balance it all?
J: Not at all. You might get a chromed-up red and white calf or a smoky with a ton of bone and hair. The color just adds flash, but it’s structure, foot shape, front end extension, and rib that win. That said, some kids want specific colors year after year. One kid we sold to only bought red steers. Every year—red.
D: Where and how do you sell them?
J: We use Show Circuit. There are four or five good online platforms, but that’s our home base. There’s a tight six-week window when everyone’s online. It’s crazy—families refreshing pages, watching bids, comparing videos. You don’t get loyal bulk buyers like with bulls. Every calf is its own pitch. You might get a few families who come back, but for the most part, you’re starting over every year.
D: That’s got to be a challenge.
J: It is. But when it works, it’s great. We usually sell 35 to 60 head. Out of those, maybe three or four are high-end—those can bring $7,000, $10,000, or more. We had one sell for $118,000. No joke. But the average settles in the $3,700 to $5,000 range. A few hit market price. But if you’ve got the right look and the right structure, the good ones float to the top.
D: Do you promote your own sires?
J: Sometimes. We had one we bred and raised—took him to Denver. He was all ours—sire and dam. We didn’t go intending to sell him outright, just to promote him for semen. We still use him in-house. But if someone wanted to partner or buy into him, we’d have talked.
D: How do you keep them maternally sound?
J: You can’t just keep stacking clubby on clubby. That’ll kill milk and fertility. We’ll breed clubby cows back to Simmental or Maine Anjou bulls to put some maternal traits back in. Then use their daughters in the program again. If you don’t do that, you end up with pretty calves that won’t rebreed or raise anything. Structure matters just as much on the cow side as the steer side.
D: Do you go in person to look at bulls?
J: Always. I don’t trust pictures or videos. I’ve flown to Denver, Oklahoma, Kansas City—just to lay eyes on one. There was a bull called Sugar Rush one year— looked killer online. In person, he was like three feet tall. A dwarf. They had him bedded up a foot and a half in wood chips to fake his height. You have to see them walk, see their hip and hock angles, and make sure it matches the photos. More people are catching on now, so it’s trending back toward honest marketing.
D: What traits are the most in demand right now?
J: Bone and hair, first and foremost. Then you want a high-headed calf with flex and reach. They can’t be post-legged or pigeon-toed. Judges are looking for cattle that are big-bodied but still clean fronted and sound. If they’re flashy—painted up—that’s a bonus. And presence. Show ring presence can’t be taught.
Some calves walk in like they own the place. Those are the ones that get noticed.
D: And what about hot sires?
J: "Here I Am" is hot right now. Before that, it was "No Guts No Glory," then "Heat Wave," then "Monopoly." Kids and parents chase those names because the winners often come from them. But it’s not automatic. You still have to do your homework. You can have sale barn-quality calves out of the hottest bull in the country if the mating’s wrong.
D: This is a whole different world.
J: It is. The clubby world runs on its own rules. But it’s also a strong promotional tool for any ranch. Showing in Denver or Kansas City isn’t just about banners. It’s about exposure. People see your program, your brand, your kids. That visibility matters. It’s not the only way to sell cattle, but for the right program, it’s a very effective one.
D: I bet you're seeing that a lot.
J: Everywhere. You’ll have a 400-acre place get split up and sold off as 20-acre ranchettes. And those new owners aren’t running cattle. They’re raising pheasants, catching eggs, clearing sagebrush, installing irrigation—doing boutique ag. One of my fertilizer customers is a top-tier brain surgeon. Another raises quail and pheasants and collects 600 eggs a month.
D: That’s wild.
D: Let’s shift gears and talk about land use. What’s happening in your area?
J: It’s changing fast. Large tracts of land are being broken up into small pieces—5, 10, 20 acres—by people moving out of cities. These folks can pay more than what a working rancher can afford. So fewer leases are available, and the price of ground is skyrocketing.
J: It is. But it’s also people wanting to get back to their roots—even if it’s five or seven generations removed. They’re leaving the concrete jungle behind, getting their hands dirty, and learning how rewarding it can be to grow something with their own effort. You don’t realize how powerful that is until you do it.
D: So how’s that affecting the traditional cowboy?
J: It’s reshaping things. The old image of needing 10 acres per cow doesn’t apply when you clear brush, irrigate, and intensively manage 20 acres. A family might only run 5–15 cows, but they’re making it work. Many of them work full-time jobs in town and run a small herd on the side. That’s the backbone of the club calf market right there.
D: This is happening in rural areas too?
J: Absolutely. I was just through Dillon, Montana— not a big place by any standard. But five miles outside of town, 400 acres was broken up and sold off. Now there are 20 new houses on that stretch, all mini-ranches. Same thing’s happening across the western U.S., especially within an hour of a regional airport. Doesn’t take much.
D: That changes everything. I really like Dillon too.
J: Yeah, it impacts heritage too. That traditional model of multi-generational ranching is being squeezed. But instead of getting bitter about it, I try to help. These folks aren’t the enemy—they’re often future advocates. You give them a bad experience, and they might walk away and take their voice with them. We need allies, not enemies.
D: So when someone calls you and says, “Hey, I’ve got five cows and I need help with AI,” what do you do?
J: I usually try to help. If I can’t do it myself, I’ll point them to a kid in FFA or 4-H learning AI. I connect them with someone. We all started somewhere. Helping them get a good start might mean they stick around—and become part of the ag community instead of a critic of it.
D: Well said.
J: Push back all you want, but if you’re not willing to
• Higher yields, healthier crops
• Natural fertilizer options for better soil and plant health
• Reap tremendous benefits from Humic
• Ask about our tank program up to 60% off
Seafood for the Soil
"We’re stabilizing nitrogen using carbon – it doesn’t gas off or leach into water. That’s big."
buy the land and hold the line, then you better help the next guy figure out how to keep it alive. Otherwise, we all lose.
D: Let's talk about advocacy and the public perception of ranchers. What’s the biggest disconnect you see?
J: There’s a huge gap between how agriculture really works and how it’s perceived—especially by people in urban areas. Most people think ranchers are either some crusty old cowboy or some government check-collecting stereotype. It’s frustrating. We’re tech-driven, innovative, and business-savvy. That image just doesn’t match reality anymore.
D: So what’s causing that disconnect?
J: Generations of separation. Most politicians, media folks, and city dwellers are at least two or three generations removed from agriculture. And they’ve never seen what modern ag looks like. They don’t know that tractors are GPS-driven now. That barns have HD security cams. That cattle breeding is based on science and data. It’s easier to romanticize—or demonize— what they don’t understand.
swings, the calving disasters. They’re clueless about the stress.
D: Do you think ag needs better representation?
J: 100%. We need liaisons who can speak both languages—ranch and urban. People who understand what we do and can explain it in a way others will listen to. It can’t just be a few guys guest speaking at farm shows. We need people who can speak to the public, the press, and politicians. Not just the ones wearing suits in D.C., but the ones waving protest signs who’ve never stepped foot on a ranch.
D: Yeah, that means Yellowstone helps AND hurts.
J: It’s a mixed bag. On the one hand, it draws attention to ranch life. On the other, it’s a soap opera—not reality. Nobody in ag is watching Yellowstone to learn something. But city folks are. And unfortunately, they think it’s educational. What they see is cinematic drama, not cattle management. People come here thinking they’ll buy a ranch and become a Dutton. Then they get hit with water rights, predators, zoning boards, and reality.
D: Yeah, people picture Marlboro men or lazy hands.
J: Exactly. Or they think we’re all just out here doing whatever the government tells us. That’s the part that drives me nuts. It’s the “you guys get everything handed to you” narrative. They have no idea what we actually go through just to stay afloat. And they definitely don't see the sleepless nights, the market
D: That glamorized image can create expectations.
J: It really does. They think it's cowboy hats, whiskey, and loyalty. And don't get me wrong—I love all of that. But what they’re not seeing is the work. The stress. The mental load. The parts of this life that don't make good television. They don't show a cow dying in a snowstorm or a calf half eaten by wolves.
D: And the animal rights groups…with entitlements.
J: Don’t even get me started. PETA, HSUS, all of them—they romanticize predators. Wolves, grizzlies—“Oh they’re so majestic.” But they’ve never had to clean up the aftermath of a bear that tore through a fence. Or a wolf pack that took down a heifer two weeks before she calves. I’ve seen it. I’ve walked up on it. And it doesn’t leave you. Yet these folks think we should just ‘learn to coexist.’
The wolves they reintroduced weren’t even native. The ones that naturally migrated back down from Canada? They stuck to the hills, kept to themselves. These new ones had no hunting ground, no territory, and were starving. So they attacked whatever was easiest—our livestock. The grizzlies are just as bad. We’ve got one near our cabin. She leaves us alone— for now—but her cubs have moved 100 miles south, and they don’t have her instincts. They’re bolder.
D: Plus they keep changing the laws. No kill, proof of loss, etc.
J: Yep. Now you have to prove loss before you can protect your herd. That’s how backward it’s gotten. You can’t shoot until there’s blood on the ground. You can’t trap unless someone’s already lost livestock. It's absurd. They don’t want wolves in their own suburbs, but they’re fine dumping them on us.
of life—but the ability to produce safe, ethical, real food.
D: Let’s shift gears a bit. What’s your favorite cut of beef, and how do you like it cooked?
J: Depends on how it's fed out. Our cattle are on a beer mash blend as part of a custom grain ration, fed for 280 to 320 days. The flavor and tenderness are unreal—you barely need a knife. Prime rib, ribeye, T-bone, brisket—it’s all good, as long as it’s medium rare. That’s as far as I’ll let it go.
D: Medium rare for me too. That’s the sweet spot.
J: Exactly. When I’m out with the guys, it’s usually prime rib or a rib steak. Mel Bell makes a mean one at home, but I’ve had some killer ribeyes out and about too.
D: What's been your biggest challenge?
J: Growing up. No joke. Trying to raise my kids while still figuring out how to raise myself. I set high expectations for them, then catch myself realizing—wait, I’m still working on that too. I don’t think I’ve overcome it. Probably never will. But I’m okay with that.
D: That’s a powerful answer. What about mentors? Anyone that’s helped guide you along the way?
Derek: The cultural gap is part of the problem too.
Jon: It’s a willful disconnect. These folks don’t want to understand. They want to feel righteous. They want the romance of the wild west, but none of the reality. And the sad part? They’re the ones writing the rules now. If we don’t speak up—show up—get loud where it matters—then we lose. Not just our land or our way
J: Absolutely. Jack Holden’s dad—John Holden— was a huge influence. He let me put bulls in his sale when I was just a teenager. The things he taught me then still comes back to me. Another one was Butch Cleveland—our ranch foreman growing up. He was actually the grandson of President Grover Cleveland. But more than that, he was sharp, generous with his knowledge, and hands-on. He’d step in, help you out, and show you how to do it right.
D: That’s a rare, impressive kind of mentorship. J: Yeah. Those two men shaped a lot of how I think and work today.
D: Alright—bucket list time. What’s still out there for you?
J: Australia and New Zealand, no question. I’d also love to go on a safari hunt. Those are the two big ones.
D: Perfect. Okay, let’s shift. What advice do you have for someone just getting started in ranching? Especially those who don’t have a million dollars and 10,000 acres to start with?
J: First—don’t lose hope. Don’t let the scope of it discourage you. Number two—never be afraid to ask questions. Use every tool in your toolbox, including people. Not everyone you meet is going to be helpful, but if you find a few folks worth learning from, stick close to them.
D: Solid. Any thoughts on what breeds a beginner should consider?
J: That depends. A lot of people get into cattle because of a certain breed or a certain breeder they admire. That connection matters. But in general, I’d steer them toward Angus, Hereford, or Simmental. Those are the breeds with the infrastructure and support systems to help someone succeed.
insect repellent. Some growers who use it have stopped needing insecticides altogether—not because they’re trying to be organic, but because they don’t need them anymore.
D: That’s impressive. Especially on food crops.
J: Yeah. No pesticides on tomatoes, beets, corn— that’s a win for everybody. We're also trying to stabilize nitrogen using carbon. It helps keep nitrogen in the root zone longer and reduces how much gases off or leaches. That’s big for sustainability and your bottom line.
D: I see that you're using drones a lot too. ?
D: So no obscure niche breeds right out of the gate.
J: Not unless they’ve got someone walking them through it—and even then, it’s a tougher road.
D: Before we wrap, I’d love to hear more about your fertilizer and agronomy side of the business. You’ve mentioned some pretty innovative stuff.
J: Sure. Our goal with the fertilizer side is to reduce environmental impact. We use almost entirely liquid products, with some water-soluble powders and prilled blends added in. We're working with humic acid, fulvic acid, carbon-based products, seaweed blends—things that actually support the soil rather than wear it out.
Healthier soil equals healthier plants. The more you improve your soil, the better everything else performs—plant health, yield, water efficiency, input costs. One product we use contains chitin, which is from crab and shrimp shells. It’s a natural
J: Yep. We’re already using drones for scouting, and we’re into application. We’re also mapping fields and working with GPS-driven tractors. This isn’t flannel-and-pitchfork farming anymore—it’s data, software, and real precision.
D: A lot of people don’t realize how far tech has come in ag.
J: They don’t. But it’s already here. The average rancher today has to be part scientist, part technician, part mechanic. And the more we share what’s actually happening in the field, the better chance we have to close that gap.
D: What would you say to someone stuck in the old system?
J: You don’t have to change everything overnight. Try one field. Try one new input. Do your homework and look at what it does to the root structure, the plant response, the yield. Once you see the difference, you won’t go back.
D: Couldn’t agree more. Thanks, Jon.
J: Anytime. See ya again soon.
A Winning Solution for External Parasite Control: How Lewis Cattle Oilers Transformed Groendyke Ranch
In the heart of North Central Oklahoma, Groendyke Ranch, a sprawling 2,000-head commercial cowcalf operation, has been setting the standard for innovation in cattle management. We spoke with Paul Koffskey, the manager at the ranch, to learn how Lewis Cattle Oilers became a game-changing solution for tackling their external parasite challenges.
The Challenge: External Parasites Threatening Productivity
Groendyke Ranch, situated along the Salt Fork River, faced relentless battles with external parasites like flies and mosquitoes. These pests posed significant risks to their cattle's health, leading to reduced productivity and performance. Over the years, the ranch tried various treatments, including minerals and larvicide. However, as Paul observed, "The cattle became immune, and we weren't seeing the results we needed." The economic toll was also clear. Paul recalls consulting with professionals to estimate the loss in body weight caused by cattle fighting pests. "They told me we lose about 2% on a 1,300-pound cow," he said. "At today's market prices, that kind of loss adds up fast."
The Solution: Discovering Lewis Cattle Oilers
While searching for alternatives, Paul came across an ad for Lewis Cattle Oilers in a magazine. What caught his attention was the innovative design of the oiler:
•Diagonal Wick: Ensures continuous effective application of treatments.
•Face Flap: Provides an added layer of protection especially when fighting the spread of Pink Eye.
•Sturdy Construction: Built to withstand the demands of a large-scale operation.
“The construction was far sturdier than other oilers I’d seen,” Paul noted. “It was an easy decision to try it out.”
The Results: Proven Performance and Efficiency
The decision paid off. Groendyke Ranch implemented the Lewis Cattle Oilers at a ratio of 25-50 head per oiler, ensuring free and consistent use by the cattle. The results have been remarkable:
•Weight Gain and Productivity: By eliminating the stress caused by flies and mosquitoes, the ranch saw measurable increases in weight gain per cow. “With our advanced technology, we track performance data, and the results speak for themselves,” Paul explained.
•Disease Reduction: Pink eye and foot rot, previously significant concerns, have been nearly eradicated. “The combination of the face flap and medicated mineral treatments has been a huge win for us,” Paul shared.
•Cost-Effectiveness: The financial benefits were clear. “When I presented the data to the board of directors, showing how quickly the oilers could pay for themselves, it was an easy sell,” Paul said.
A High-Tech Approach to Ranching
Groendyke Ranch operates on a level of sophistication and modern technology that is not altogether standard in the cattle industry. Utilizing DNA technology, they select bulls from Angus, Hereford, and Red Angus breeds to optimize herd performance. This data-driven approach reinforces their confidence in solutions like the Lewis Cattle Oilers.
A Bright Future with Lewis Cattle Oilers
For Paul and the team at Groendyke Ranch, the investment in Lewis Cattle Oilers has proven to be a transformative decision. “The rest is history,” Paul said with confidence. “We’ve seen reductions in disease, increases in weight, and an overall improvement in herd health. We couldn’t be happier.”
If your ranch is battling external parasites and seeking a reliable, cost-effective solution, look no further than Lewis Cattle Oilers-a trusted partner for modern ranching success.
For more information, please contact Lewis Cattle Oilers at 888-256-5544 or 620-408-6387, visit us online at www.usalewiscattleoilers.com or like us on Facebook.
