WORKS
ON A WIDE RANGE OF LIVESTOCK
Faith. Family. Function.
For more than 135 years, the Amdahl family has lived out those three words, building a reputation for Breeding Excellence that runs as deep as South Dakota soil. From their 1884 homestead in Flandreau to the ranch north of Rapid City, every generation has worked toward one goal: raising cattle that work for the people who buy them.
Their program combines faith, family, and functional genetics backed by proven sires like Baldridge War Cry, Huwa Steadfast, and Amdahl Flagstone. They stand behind every bull sold with free wintering, free delivery, and a one-year breeding guarantee. Because for the Amdahls, customer satisfaction isn’t a tagline.
5th & 6th generations: JD Amdahl, his wife Annie and family
Amdahl Erica 9209
Huwa Steadfast
1-Nov Barnett Angus Ranches Washington, GA
1-Nov Burns Farms Pikeville, TN
1-Nov Cason’s Pride & Joy f Russell, IA
1-Nov Cedar Hill f Jane Lew, WV
1-Nov CLM World of Bulls Galt, CA
1-Nov Fox Hollow Farms Hubert, OK
1-Nov Groendyke Angus Nash, OK
1-Nov Hat Creek Genetics PT Open House Jackson, MO
1-Nov Heart Of The Ozarks West Plaines, MO
1-Nov Henke Angus Salisbury, MO
1-Nov Irvine Ranch Manhattan, KS
1-Nov Jungles Shorthorns Kathryn, ND
1-Nov Kraus Farm Dyersburg, TN
1-Nov Lorson Angus Farms Mount Solon, VA
1-Nov MC Livestock Greenville, VA
1-Nov Mystic Hill Farm Culpeper, VA
1-Nov Seedstock Plus Red Forward Osceola, MO
1-Nov Star Creek Angus Ranch Durant, OK
1-Nov Stay Wild ’25 Turkey, NC
1-Nov SERAA Columbia, TN
1-Nov Tanner Farms Shuqualak, MS
1-Nov The Andras Kind f Manchester, IL
1-Nov TJB Gelbvieh Chickamauga, GA
1-Nov Uncle Henry Farms
Graceville, FL
1-Nov Worthington Angus Dadeville, MO
1-Nov Wright Charolais
Kearney, MO
2-Nov Dr y Creek Farms Pell City, AL
2-Nov Gana Farms Lincoln, NE
2-Nov Missouri Opportunity Sedalia, MO
2-Nov Triangle J f Miller, NE
2-Nov Wasem Red Angus online
3-Nov Newman Angus elite embryo online
3-Nov P&R Herefords Trail, OK
3-Nov Red Tie Event Hale, MO
4-Nov BRC Gulf Coast Classic online
4-Nov Frank Hazelrigg CC embryo online
4-Nov KRB Angus Farms Mount Pleasant, TX
4-Nov Landgren Ranch f Bartlett, NE
4-Nov Pleasant Hill Farms frozen genetics Rockfield, KY
5-Nov Greeneline Angus semen online
5-Nov Henke Angus Salisbury, MO
5-Nov River Creek Farms Manhattan, KS
6-Nov American Angus Auxiliary Saint Joseph, MO
6-Nov Deer Valley Farm online
6-Nov Kempfer Cattle Co. Deer Park, FL
6-Nov Lesiker Ranch Athens, TX
6-Nov McCabe Genetics Elk City, KS
6-Nov Memory Ranches Wells, NV
6-Nov ZWT Ranch Crossville, TN
7-Nov Brinkley Angus Ranch Milan, MO
7-Nov Double Creek Farms Clifton, TX
7-Nov Downey Ranch Wamego, KS
7-Nov Groendyke Ranch Nash, OK
7-Nov Ingram Angus Pulaski, TN
7-Nov Kniebel Cattle Co. White City, KS
7-Nov Lorenzen Farms online
7-Nov Quaker Hill Angus Louisa, VA
7-Nov Table Rock Simmental Ririe, ID
8-Nov AL Angus Assoc. Cullman, AL
8-Nov Big League Genetics Fort Cobb, OK
8-Nov Blue & Gray/ Gragg Farms Gore, VA
“I really like my Bale Carrier/Feeder. It pulls nice and handles well. It doesn’t waste much hay. Everybody that has seen it is impressed. I wish I had a couple more.” - J.T., Austin, TX
“Hauling & feeding round bales with the CF890 saves hay & makes my job much easier. I’m going to replace my portable bunk feeders.” - W.W., Glen Haven, WI
“We had such a rough winter that I had to use 2 CF890s to keep my cows fed. Winter or summer it’s a good working all-purpose trailer. We haul our bales quite a distance. I wish it were 3 feet longer so I could haul 12 big bales. It
8-Nov Built In The Bluegrass Cub Run, KY
8-Nov Cantrell-Grissom Angus Prague, OK
8-Nov Capitol Angus Whitehouse, TX
8-Nov Chessie Creek Walterboro, SC
8-Nov Craven Angus Farm Seagrove, NC
8-Nov Deer Valley Farm Fayetteville, TN
8-Nov Edwards Limousin Higginsville, MO
8-Nov Ely Angus Disp. McCook, NE
8-Nov Females of Fall Red Angus Albany, WI
8-Nov Gibbs Farm f Ranburne, AL
8-Nov Greenline Angus/ Hoover Farms Mt. Hermon, LA
8-Nov Harris Angus Ranch Ottawa, KS
8-Nov JYJ Red Angus Columbia, AL
8-Nov Locust Level Farms Vernon Hill, VA
8-Nov M6 Ranch Alvardo, TX
8-Nov Mid-Atlantic Fall Bonanza Harrisonburg, VA
8-Nov Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants Carthage, IN
8-Nov Missouri Simmental Association Springfield, MO
8-Nov Montana Ranch Big Fork, MT
8-Nov Rafter DP Farm & Ranch Enid, OK
8-Nov Rocky Mountain Angus Assoc. Tremonton, UT
8-Nov Shamrock Nook Red Angus Albany, WI
8-Nov Smith Registered Angus Berryville, AR
8-Nov Stretcher JFS Charolais Ranch Mt. Vernon, TX
8-Nov Stonewall Ridge Farm Shelbyville, TN
8-Nov T Bar T Angus/ Taliaferro Angus Effingham, KS
8-Nov T WA Fall Harvest TBA, TX
8-Nov Valley Oaks Warsaw, MO
9-Nov Hawkeye Simmentals Bloomfield, IA
9-Nov Pearls of the Prairie f Mandan, ND
9-Nov Pérez Cattle Co. Columbus, TX
9-Nov Plum River Ranch online
10-Nov Green Mountain Angus Billings, MT
10-Nov Henning Farms heifer online
10-Nov Peak Genetics embryo online
11-Nov Bear Mtn. Angus show heifer online
11-Nov Beartooth Angus Billings, MT
11-Nov KM Cattle Co. f online
11-Nov McMurphy Farms Alva, OK
11-Nov Pollard Farms online
11-Nov Wilks Ranch Eastland, TX
12-Nov Barber Ranch San Saba, TX
12-Nov Hummel Cattle Co. Laramie, WY
12-Nov Riverbend Ranch Idaho Falls, ID
13-Nov Bar S Ranch f disp. Paradise, KS
13-Nov Beckton Red Angus online
13-Nov Bieber Fever Leola, SD
13-Nov Chapman Land & Cattle frozen online
13-Nov Circle G Ranch Adel, GA
13-Nov Dunn Four Ranch/ PWR Angus Paris, TX
13-Nov Hoffman Ranch Thedford, NE
13-Nov McCann Red Angus f online
13-Nov Misty Morning Limousin online
13-Nov REAL/ JR Ranch Othello, WA
14-Nov Boyle Ranch Fleckvieh f Washta, IA
14-Nov Cavender Ranches Jacksonville, TX
14-Nov Wienk Charolais Ranch Arcadia, FL
15-Nov Bear Creek Farms Leonard, TX
15-Nov Boyle Ranch Fleckvieh f Washta, IA
15-Nov Four State Shorthorn Association Diamond, MO
NEBRASKA ANGUS TOUR
-by Tim McCray. Tim@ABPmag.com
-Photos & Artwork by Derek Sample. Derek@ABPmag.com
additional photos by Adrienne Wells
One night as we were driving back to the hotel, I told Derek that while I knew he needed a break from everything at home, I hadn’t realized how much I did too. It’s been a rough year. His wife, Valerie, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer on January 7—the same day the now infamous los angeles fires broke out near their home. Many neighbor's homes are destroyed, but their house still stands. 131mph winds embedded toxic levels of lead, zinc, vanadium, and hex chromium into their property, leaving it unlivable. The insurance company doesn’t seem to care. Derek, Val, and their dogs, Willow and Finn, have been living out of hotels and friend's homes ever since. Every belonging they owned was taken out for cleaning and has sat untouched in a Southern California warehouse. Nothing has been restored, and Allstate is now threatening to return those contaminated items to a still unsafe house, without any valid reason. It’s become an all-consuming daily battle just to stay sane and to convince someone—anyone—to help them get back home. You can read more about it at www.ToxicEatonFire.com, where his fight continues with no resolution yet in sight.
For this trip, we decided to meet in Valentine. Derek and the dogs made the long drive from California, while my route followed familiar country along the Niobrara River Valley. I was eager to reach Monowi and hoping the café was still open — and smiled when I saw cars in the lot and the neon “Open” sign.
At 96, Elsie is still running her little bar and grill mostly by herself. As the town’s only resident, she also serves as mayor, police chief, fire chief, and, if needed, doctor.
From there, I headed to SpringLake Angus, who held their dispersal sale earlier this year. Gene and I had spoken earlier in the week, and he’d mentioned they’d be around for a flea market in their sale barn. When I arrived, they’d forgotten I was coming, but after a good laugh, we caught up on the latest with the ranch and family.
Then it was on to Valentine for the first annual three-person scramble at Frederick Peak Golf Course — a beautiful ten-hole layout that’s more challenging than it looks. Hole 10 sits between 7 and 8, which had us briefly wondering if we’d taken a wrong turn. It was a perfect way to unwind before the week ahead and the start of the Nebraska Angus Tour.
MONDAY:
Babcock Angus
Long Pine, NE
Bill Babcock was born and raised in the Long Pine area and bought the ranch from his father, continuing the commercial herd after marrying Theresa in 1989. Their son, Kyle, returned to the ranch in 2008 and soon grew restless with the commercial side. He started a registered herd — and before long, the mailman bought a bull. Then a neighbor wanted one. Pretty soon, Bill didn’t have enough bulls left for his own cows and had to buy more.
Bill was hesitant about the idea of a registered program and insisted there would never be a bull sale. But when the family decided to keep moving in that direction, he agreed they’d need to start using AI. Kelly Schaff invited Bill and Kyle to visit SAV and tour his herd. Kyle says his dad didn’t say a word the whole time they were there. Afterward, when Kyle asked what he thought, Bill simply said, “We’re making a mistake not using these genetics in our herd.”
Babcock Angus is truly a family venture — Bill and Theresa, Kyle and Johanna, Kyle’s sister Ashley and her husband Junior, and now the fifth generation helping out. The Babcock Angus Annual Bull & Female Sale is held the first Tuesday in February at the ranch near Long Pine.
Valentine, NE
Once interest grew through private-treaty sales, convincing Bill to host an annual sale came much easier. For the tour display, they brought a few spring pairs out of first-calf heifers by Magnum bull calves, along with SAV Trust and Cornerstone Masterpiece daughters, four donors, and four bred heifers.
Dr. Scott and Kris Larsen launched their veterinary practice in 2009 after recognizing the region’s growing need for advanced reproductive services. Specializing in ET, IVF, AI, and ultrasound, they purchased their current facility in Valentine in 2011 — a fitting location in the heart of the nation’s top beef-producing county.
Scott came to the area right out of vet school and met Kris after a friend set them up on a blind date. Today, the Larsens have two children at Kansas State University — one a student manager, the other a student — and their oldest also raises show cattle.
Hard to believe, but it’s lunchtime already, and we’re back at Cherry County fairgrounds that also included three displays:
Calamus Cattle Co.
Ainsworth, NE
Calamus Cattle Company is a heifer development facility and traditional background yard owned and operated by Dusty and Kaytie Hunt and their three young children.
Raised on a fourth-generation Sandhills ranch, Dusty brings a lifelong passion for the beef industry and a drive to help others succeed. Through Calamus Cattle Company’s Heifer Development Programs, he combines experience and management expertise to assist both producers and investors.
For producers, sending home-raised heifers offranch for several months of structured development and AI work helps conserve grass and reduce labor. For investors, Calamus offers support in selecting, purchasing, and developing heifers, choosing AI sires, and marketing bred females—whether that means delivery back to grass, to the sale barn, or through
private or video sales.
At Calamus Cattle Company, the goal is simple: to provide experienced, dependable Sandhills service that strengthens every customer’s operation.
Give them a call to discuss options for your program—on the phone, in person, or over coffee.
Check out their ad in this issue, page 18.
Valentine, NE
Marshall, Shena, Otto, and Quin Simmons began their registered Angus herd about six years ago, building on their strong commercial background. Their program emphasizes structure, udder quality, and maternal strength, and until now they’ve marketed their cattle through private treaty. This spring marks a milestone — their first online-only sale, featuring both yearling and two-year-old bulls, with plans to transition fully to two-
The Simmons family also recently launched
MILLER ANGUS
Freedom Beef Sticks, born from a simple goal: finding a wholesome, great-tasting snack their kids would enjoy. Made with minimal ingredients and sourced exclusively from U.S. beef, it’s another way the Simmons family is carrying their ranching values directly to consumers.
Valentine, NE
Kody and Heather Mizner brought a donor cow and her embryo daughter for display during the tour. Heather has been part of Larsen Vet Embryo for thirteen years and recently shifted to part-time as their family grows. The Mizners have one son, Waylon, who turns three in November, and another baby on the way.
Kody manages the ranch and helps his brother with fall harvest. Their program emphasizes functionality and low input, with a strong focus on developing a solid female base — believing that when the cows are right, the bulls will follow. They don’t use creep feed; calves are weaned and then come home. The Mizners market their cattle through a private treaty sale each February.
Baldridge Drag Iron - MILLER ANGUS
From Valentine, we headed west toward the small town of Cody, where a roadside sign promoted the town’s student-run grocery store — a rare sight in rural America.
Just beyond town, we turned down a long, lonely road toward Bowlin Cattle Co., one of the most remote ranches we’ve visited. Dale Bowlin laughed as he recalled his first trip out there, invited to go swimming at a nearby bridge. “Even with directions, I thought I’d made a wrong turn,” he said. “No one could live way out here.”
Back then, there were no pivots and no potato farm. Before the grocery store opened, the Bowlins even bought an extra refrigerator just for milk — the nearest store was over 50 miles away. Now, that little store not only saves locals long drives but also gives students hands-on experience, teaching responsibility, confidence, and work ethic along the way.
tor for two nearby churches. “Being this far out sorts out the people who are determined to be here from those who think it’s a quick fix,” he adds.
The Bowlins have been in the cattle business for 45 years, with 35 at their current location. After starting with other breeds, they shifted to Angus for the breed’s registration consistency and adaptability to Sandhills conditions. Their goal is to balance phenotype and carcass merit — cows that graze efficiently on sandy soils and thin grass, with moderate size and easy-fleshing genetics at the core.
They use AI and ET extensively, with this year’s crop including sons of Ellingson Prosper, which Dale says look strong. Their breeding philosophy is female-focused — aiming for fertile, low-maintenance cows that raise high-performing feeder cattle and replacement-quality heifers. The Bowlins have also adopted genomic testing across the herd to sharpen their selection decisions.
Cody, Nebraska
Dale and Karen Bowlin operate as a true one-man, one-woman team, with help from their “backup crew” — daughters Robin, Jodi, and Kelli, along with their husbands and families — when needed. They’re first-generation seedstock producers, but fourth-generation Sandhillers, managing more than 400 head on their remote ranch.
Winters bring extra challenges. Heavy snow can leave their road unplowed for weeks, making it tough to reach cows three miles away. “We push snow around and feed quickly,” Dale says. “If it’s windy, the drifts become a problem too.” Despite the workload, he still serves as pas-
The Bowlin Cattle Co. Annual Sale, held jointly with Ravenscroft Red Angus, takes place in Valentine on the last Saturday in February.
The Miller family represents six generations in the cattle business. Phil Miller moved to Cody in 1983, and his sons, Landon and Luke, later returned to the ranch after college. Their registered Angus herd began in 2007
BEAR MOUNTAIN ANGUS
with the purchase of 87 cows from a dispersal, and in 2012 they were able to buy the land Phil had leased for nearly thirty years.
As the ranch grew, so did the herd. Landon welcomed the tour group with an honest laugh, explaining they were behind in getting ready and had called on family for help. “If we all do a little, we can do a lot,” he said—a motto that fits ranch life well.
Today, the Millers manage over 400 registered cows, improving their herd each year through careful sire selection, a strong AI and ET program, and strict culling. Their focus is on consistency—bulls with muscle, structure, and maternal backing from sound, good-uddered cows. They’ve also expanded into AI services, semen sales, and donor flushing, preparing for future embryo and female sales.
This year’s lineup features sires like Baldridge Drag Iron and Mason Dimension. They calve mid-June through July and offer about 120 age-advantage bulls during their annual sale, held the third Sunday in February in Valentine.
DIAMOND LAZY J RANCH
Nenzel, NE
The agricultural depression of the 1980s gave the Nolette brothers — Louis, Neal, Greg, and Tim — an opportunity to purchase the Diamond Lazy J Ranch just south of Nenzel. Originally homesteaded in the early 1900s, the Nolettes became only the second family to occupy the property. Each brother had a fulltime career beyond ranching: Lou and Neal served as priests, while Greg and Tim were ag teachers. Together they established a beef cow herd in 1986. Times were tough, but with deep roots in Nenzel, the family was determined to stay.
The Millers showcased their entire herd for viewing during the stop—though most of us nearly missed the rattlesnake that Nebraska Angus Secretary Margo almost stepped on. Thankfully, DJ Lunkwitz and a shovel were close by.
Today the next generation — Brent and Justin, sons of Tim and Terri — have returned to continue the legacy. Like their fathers and uncles, they also teach agriculture while managing the ranch’s registered Angus and Gelbvieh replacement herds. Both are active entrepreneurs, partnering with Greg and Tim in the family’s Niobrara Valley Vineyards, where the same dedication behind their cattle program carries into winemaking — quality over quantity, every time.
The vineyard served as our final stop of the night,
MILLER ANGUS
15-Nov Friendship Farms Canoochee, GA
15-Nov Ginger Hill Farms Culpepper, VA
15-Nov Hartley Creek Ranch/ Long Ranch Vinita, OK
15-Nov J-3 Angus Wernersville, PA
15-Nov K2 Red Angus f Wheatland, WY
15-Nov Keyes Angus comp. Disp. Valentine, NE
15-Nov Lazy C Diamond Ranch Kintyre, ND
15-Nov Marda Angus Lodi, WI
15-Nov MCM polled Herefords online
15-Nov MG/4M Farms Woodville, MS
15-Nov Middle Tennessee Hereford Assoc. Cross Plains, TN
15-Nov NE Arkansas Angus Assoc. Charlotte, AR
15-Nov Next Step Cattle Co. Livingston, AL
15-Nov Reds on the Prairie Brookings, SD
15-Nov Ro-Sie View Farms comp. disp. Sigourney, IA
15-Nov Shelton Angus/ Dogwood Farms Gretna, VA
15-Nov Shorthorn Revival Louisville, KY
15-Nov Southeast bull Asheboro, NC
15-Nov South Dakota Excellence Brookings, SD
15-Nov Strickland Farms Glennville, GA
15-Nov Sunnyslope Angus Retirement L anesboro, MN
15-Nov TLC Ranch Jerome, ID
15-Nov Wisener Farms/ Maples Stock Farm Cullman, AL
16-Nov Boyle Ranch Fleckvieh f Washta, IA
16-Nov Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co. Fulton, MO
16-Nov Greenhorn Cattle Co. Louisville, KY
16-Nov Prime of Iowa Angus Ames, IA
16-Nov Wagyu Frozen Fall online
17-Nov B&D Angus Claflin, KS
17-Nov Blood Farms online
17-Nov Bichler Simmental Linton, ND
17-Nov Green Springs Bull Test Nevada, MO
17-Nov Montana Angus f Billings, MT
18-Nov B&D Angus & Herefords Odin, KS
18-Nov Richardson Cattle Co. f online
19-Nov Anderson Cattle Co. Simmental f online
19-Nov Cunningham Land & Cattle online
19-Nov Hill Top Angus online
19-Nov Montana Ranch embryo online
19-Nov National Hereford Show Louisville, KY
19-Nov TD Angus f North Platte, NE
20-Nov 5L Red Angus Sheridan, MT
20-Nov Benoit Angus Ranch Esbon, KS
20-Nov K2 Red Angus f Wheatland, WY
20-Nov Kiesewetter Angus Farmington, IL
20-Nov Largent & Sons Kaycee, WY
20-Nov Little Belt Classic Hobson, MT
20-Nov Maplebrook Farms online
20-Nov Robsten Shorthorns f online
20-Nov Schaefer Farms San Saba, TX 21-Nov Connealy Angus Whitman, NE
21-Nov Leachman Cattle of CO f Meridan, WY
21-Nov Lenz Angus Prairie Home, MO
21-Nov OK Select comm. f Vinita, OK
21-Nov Rollin’ Rock bred heifer Pilot Rock, OR 21-Nov Wagyu Zenko Brenham, TX
21-Nov Warner Beef Genetics Arapahoe, NE
22-Nov Aces Wild Ranch Millsap, TX
22-Nov Baldridge/ Tiedeman & Frank Cattle Lodgepole, NE
22-Nov BoPat Farms Bradford, TN
YOUR CATTLE
Cow Herd Feed Cost
RENDEZVOUS CITY BEEF ROUNDUP
The Rendezvous City Beef Roundup is designed to bring beef producers and consumers together to celebrate beef, to educate the public on the benefits and sustainability of beef production, and to showcase the exceptional flavor of beef. A ticketed VIP steak tasting dinner will ultimately crown a producer with “Best Beef in Wyoming” and an open division featuring producers from across the U.S. will declare a “Best Beef in the West” winner determined by a Celebrity Judge panel.
This one-of-a-kind event is hosted to help build awareness and access for consumers to local beef, and to create new markets for producers. Not only do they offer educational classes to consumers in the subjects of economic impact and environmental benefits, but they will also teach preparation in pairing and other pertinent topics. The Roundup will provide education to producers on the newest industry practices and technology to improve their direct-to-consumer beef businesses.
Enter your beef here: https://www.rendezvouscitybeefroundup.com
OUR SPONSORS
2022 Best Beef in Wyoming Winner: Flying E Meats from Greybull, Wyoming
Founded by Wyoming Cowboy Cuts from Pavillion, Wyoming
2022 Best Beef in the West Winner: Kain Meats from Kersey, Colorado
offering a sweeping view of the Sandhills — a perfect place to catch a sunset or watch a storm roll in. We managed both, along with great company. Their motto, “an island of grapes in an ocean of grass,” couldn’t have been more fitting. It’s also where our group gathered for the traditional Nebraska Angus Tour photo, something Derek Sample has handled for the past five years. Someone joked we should have Margo print him business cards: Official Tour Photographer. Everybody was impressed with his shot! It's on the 1st page of this article.
The Nolettes’ ranching philosophy has always centered on the commercial cattleman — pursuing balanced traits that emphasize fertility, calving ease, growth, maternal ability, and carcass quality. Through disciplined AI and embryo programs, backed by high-quality sires, their genetics continue to advance. Buyers frequently praise the bulls’ calm dispositions, strong performance, and the maternal quality of the replacement females.
The Nolettes have been selling bulls for more than 30 years, marketing through both live auctions and private-treaty sales. Their annual production sale, now held in Valentine, will take place January 22, featuring 50 coming two-year-old bulls, 15 bred cows, and 15 bred heifers. Highlighted sires include Foxhoven’s Endeavor 203, Man in Black 726, Folsom 244, and Myers Fair-N-Square.
The family’s approach — whether in cattle or wine — remains the same: a mix of tradition, innovation, and persistence rooted deep in the Sandhills soil.
TUESDAY:
Johnstown, NE
The O’Hare Ranch traces its roots back to 1883, when it was first homesteaded by Kenneth O’Hare’s grandfather. Like many early Sandhills ranches, it once supported a mix of livestock — from beef cattle to hogs and chickens, and even turkeys and dairy cows during the Depression. Over time, the operation added row crops and eventually built a feedlot to finish yearlings.
In the early 1990s, Kenneth made a decision that changed the ranch’s direction. While on a cattle-buying trip to Montana, he called home to say he’d bought heifers instead of steers — they were the better buy. Rather than feed them out, the family decided to breed them. The next year, the existing cow herd was dispersed, and the ranch shifted focus entirely to heifer development and AI breeding.
FRESE ANGUS & HEREFORD
Today, Doug O’Hare and his son Jeremy — the fifth generation on the ranch — have taken the reins. Record keeping has always been central to their success. Each heifer receives an EID button at processing, and detailed data is collected throughout breeding, including pelvic measurements and tract scores. The O’Hares have been part of multiple independent and university research trials with the University of Nebraska, Pfizer, and most recently the University of Missouri.
During the tour, Thiago Martins from the University of Missouri demonstrated early pregnancy detection using Doppler technology, which has proven accurate as early as 20 days post-breeding. The O’Hares typically breed 1,500–2,000 heifers the first weekend in May and also offer custom breeding services with flexible calving dates.
Bassett, Nebraska
The Niobrara River cuts through the Hall Ranch, dividing it between Keya Paha and Rock Counties. The family’s story began in 1901, when Ed and Carolyn Hall’s maternal great-grandfather purchased the original land in Keya Paha County. Since then, the ranch has expanded to roughly 10,000 acres.
For decades, the operation ran Hereford and Shorthorn cattle until a family mentor encouraged Ed and Carolyn to enter the registered Angus business. In 1960, they purchased 20 Bardolimere, Blackcap, and Eileenmere cows from a dispersal sale — a pivotal moment that set the course for generations to come.
Les and his wife, Betty, took over management in 1966, raising their three children — Les, Kyla, and Cody — firmly within the Angus tradition. The family sold seedstock privately through the 1970s before holding their first production sale in 1982. When Les and his wife Rachel returned to the ranch in 1992, they expanded the program with AI — a cornerstone of the herd ever since.
Les nearly took a different path. He originally left for college to study game and park management but changed course after hearing that graduates would be working for the government. “I couldn’t see myself doing that,” he said. “What I saw was me back at the ranch.” He switched majors, earning a degree in Animal Science from the University of Wyoming in 1994. Looking back, he laughs: “If I could do it again, I’d major in finance.”
er turning point. The rising water destroyed a bridge that connected the two halves of the ranch. “I feel like I’m doing a disservice to these cows,” Les admitted. That realization led to the difficult decision for a dispersal sale in October.
From their original 20 head, the herd had grown to 300 cows. During the tour stop, the Halls showcased 75 bred heifers for the upcoming sale. “We started off with 75 heifers, and there are 75 here on display,” Les said. “All are pregnant but one — which is unheard of at the Hall Ranch,” he joked.
Their 45th Annual — and final — Bull Sale will be held March 4th in Bassett, marking the close of an extraordinary Angus legacy more than six decades in the making.
Bassett, NE
A member of the Smith family first settled 27 miles southeast of Bassett in 1884, laying the foundation for what is now a six-generation ranching legacy. Through hard work and dedication to both cattle and land, the operation is now owned by Kent and Faye Smith, along with Cameron and Hannah and their daughter Ella, who represents the sixth generation to call this place home.
Kent and Faye purchased their registered Angus herd in 1988, establishing the legacy of Smith Angus Ranch. Their breeding philosophy centers on balanced trait selection, focusing on structure, fertility, and the development of well-rounded, adaptable cows that perform in any environment and across diverse markets. Longevity remains a top priority — both in their cows and in their relationships with customers.
Since 2015, all calf crops have included parentage verification and genomically enhanced EPDs, further refining genetic predictability. Bulls are developed slowly on a high-roughage diet built around native prairie hay, providing an honest evaluation of each bull’s performance and genetics.
On display for the tour were bred heifers that perfectly represent their no-problem, no-fuss Sandhills cow herd. “Cattle that grow, gain, and produce,” Cameron said in introducing the family and the program.
In 2019, devastating Nebraska floods brought anoth-
The Smith Angus Annual Sale is held the fourth Friday in March at the ranch near Bassett.
Ben and Sherry Andrews of Rose, Nebraska, displayed three cow-calf heifer pairs—each sired by a bull bred by Sherry’s father, Richard Wiese—as a tribute to his nearly seventy years in the Angus breed.
The WR Bar story began in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, in 1957 when Richard’s family bought a group of heifers from his uncle Elmer. The entire herd traces back to four of those females and a single Blackcap cow added in the early 1990s when Richard founded WR Bar Ranch.
Over the years, Richard became known for his maternal, wedge-shaped, easy-keeping cows—the kind that thrived through brutal Minnesota winters and still raised heavy, high-quality calves. His program centered on a closed line of sires and daughters emphasizing maternal strength, milk, and muscle.
Influential sires included WR Bar Matchmaker 700 (a Sitz Traveler 8180 son), WR Bar Medicine Man 910 (by Shoshone Viking), and Marriott of WR Bar 8055. Later genetics from JR Fast Forward, Nelsons IMAX, Tehama Tahoe, and Millars Duke added dimension, yet his goal never changed—building the ideal Angus cow.
Richard managed the herd like any commercial cattleman: grazing native pasture in summer, wintering on prairie hay and protein tubs, no pampering, no creep feed. Nature made the selections. For 32 years he hosted production sales at his ranch near Pequot Lakes while raising two daughters, Juanita and Sherry.
Adam Sawyer credits many of his guiding principles to lessons learned from his father, Arlen Sawyer — a man whose steady determination shaped the family’s future. Arlen and his wife Becky began ranching in the 1970s, first working for others before building a herd of their own. Five generations of dedication to raising superior Angus genetics earned Arlen and Becky (the “A&B,” respectively) the Heritage Foundation Award from the American Angus Association in 2022 — a bittersweet honor, as Arlen had passed away in 2019 after decades of leading and growing the operation.
Today, Becky co-owns the ranch with her son Adam Sawyer and daughter Jessica Sawyer-Slingsby. Adam and his wife Jenessa, along with their children Augustus and Truett, manage day-to-day operations, while Jessica and her husband Brian remain actively involved. Becky still handles the books — and, as Adam notes, continues to provide plenty of “advice.” The operation is now officially Sawyer A&B Cattle, LLC, though most still know them simply as A&B Cattle — a respected, long-standing family program running about 600 spring- and fall-calving cows.
In 2008, Sherry and Ben began managing Spring Valley Ranch’s Angus herd, staying until its dispersal in 2023. They still operate on that same ground—where Derek and I once visited—and now lease pasture nearby under new ownership. Last fall they purchased the WR Bar herd from Richard, fulfilling Sherry’s lifelong goal to carry forward her father’s work.
Today the cattle graze just 20 miles from the ranch Richard’s grandparents owned in the 1920s. Ben calls their approach “progressively old-school,” using multi-sire natural-service pastures, selective AI to raise their own herd bulls, and a focus on maternal traits, AgBoost genomics, and balance.
Their management reflects a century of Sandhills tradition—simple, sustainable, and honest. The result: functional, easy-fleshing Angus cattle that Richard would still be proud of. Ben and Sherry Andrews continue the WR Bar legacy through DVAuction online and private-treaty sales, ensuring both the cattle — and the philosophy — endure.
From the start, A&B’s breeding philosophy has emphasized calving ease, vigor, moderate frames, and docility, along with growth to yearling age. They were among the first herds to participate in Maternal Plus and have contributed to research projects on fertility and performance. With over 45 years of phenotypic data and 17 years of genomic records, A&B remains one of the most data-driven herds in the country.
Now, as the next generation steps forward, Adam’s drive to “do better” is shaping the ranch’s evolution. He’s expanded rotational grazing, added solar wells to replace aging windmills, and taken an aggressive approach to cedar tree control while planting new shelterbelts for winter protection. The program continues to refine phenotype and balance genotype to meet the needs of commercial customers. Even with an extensive AI program, Adam has increased herd sire acquisitions to complement and strengthen the genetics.
The goal remains the same: to raise moderate-framed cattle with exceptional early growth, maternal strength, and carcass quality. The Sawyer A&B Annual Sale will be held April 6th at the ranch near Bassett.
OHARE RANCH
MASON ANGUS
LOCAL SHERIFF
Baldridge Drag Iron - MILLER ANGUS
HALL RANCH
BOWLIN CATTLE
CALAMUS CATTLE CO
f = female sale
22-Nov Bowman Superior Genetics Greens Fork, IN
22-Nov Butler Creek Farm Milton, TN
22-Nov Chiefline Red Angus Abernathy, TX
22-Nov Dalebanks Ranch Eureka, KS
22-Nov Golden Age Farm Wagyu disp. Lexington, KY
22-Nov Great Lakes Beef Connection f Clare, MI
22-Nov Folden Age Farm Wagyu disp. Lexington, KY
22-Nov Frank Cattle f Lodgepole, NE
22-Nov Iron Table Wagyu Gatesville, TX
22-Nov J-3 Angus Wernersville, PA
22-Nov Jorgensen Land & Cattle f Ideal, SD
22-Nov Ludvigson Herd Builder Shepherd, MT
22-Nov McGuffee Polled Herefords New Hebron, MS
22-Nov Ohio Angus Fall Classic Newark, OH
22-Nov Ponderosa Farms New Hebron, MS
22-Nov Quaker Hill Angus Gordonsville, VA
22-Nov Raven Angus Colome, SD
22-Nov Redland Angus Buffalo, WY
22-Nov Rudow Family Cattle Pana, IL
22-Nov Spring Cove Ranch Bliss, ID
22-Nov Stanley Martins Farms Fleckvieh f Decorah, IA
22-Nov Southern Partners in Performance Union Grove, NC
22-Nov Sunshine State Classic online 22-Nov Sydenstricker Angus Mexico, MO
23-Nov Farrer Stock Farm Royal Center, IN 23-Nov Heart of America Hereford Assoc. Shelbyville, IL
23-Nov Stone Creek Angus online
23-Nov Windy Creek Cattle Co. f Spencer, SD 24-Nov Berry Herefords Cheyenne, WY
Rugged R Cavill 7079E
100X Direct Deposit 3047L
Purchased by David Eberhardt, Sperry, Iowa
RWR Sully 9E
Clearwater Rigs 4J
BLL Bourbon Street 155J
100X Boom Town 3045L
Purchased by Trevor Barner, Lusk, Wyoming
Brick
18-Dec B obcat Angus Great Falls, MT
18-Dec Glendenning J Bar J Ramch online
18-Dec Wyoming Angus Assoc. f online
19-Dec Buck Creek Ranch Yale, OK
19-Dec Cigar City Cattle Co. Tampa, FL
19-Dec North Country comm. repl. F Billings, MT
19-Dec Pine Creek Angus Faith, SD
19-Dec Wagyu Under The Christmas Tree online
20-Dec CJ&L Livestock Hermosa, SD
20-Dec Griswold Cattle Co. Stillwater, OK
20-Dec Matrons of the Bluegrass Angus Russell Springs, KY
20-Dec Schaack Ranch f Wall, SD
20-Dec Turtle River Cattle Co. f online
23-Dec Sandeen Genetics Blakesburg, IA
3-Jan Adams Angus Farm Union Springs, AL
3-Jan Genetic Excellence Cookeville, TN
3-Jan North Dakota Angus Assoc. Mandan, ND
4-Jan Registered 4 Success bred f Anita, IA
6-Jan Bases Loaded Oklahoma City, OK
7-Jan Denim & Diamonds Oklahoma City, OK
7-Jan Sibernagel Angus comp. disp. Napoleon, ND
7-Jan Warner Beef Genetics Denver, CO
8-Jan Angus at the Congress Oklahoma City, OK
9-Jan National Angus Oklahoma City, OK
10-Jan Carl Dethlefs & Sons Rockville, NE
10-Jan Orton Ranch Red Angus Bassett, NE
10-Jan Rafter T Angus Buffalo, WY
12-Jan The Diamond Ring Billings, MT
14-Jan Edisto Pines embryo online
15-Jan Ingalls Angus Riverton, WY
15-Jan Linz Heritage Angus Byars, OK
15-Jan Walking 5 Ranch Lavina, MT
16-Jan Foundation Angus Denver, CO
16-Jan Urlacher Angus B owman, ND
17-Jan Oesterling Angus Batesville, IN
17-Jan Redland Angus Buffalo, WY
17-Jan Un. Of Florida Bull Test Greenwood, FL
18-Jan Jallo Angus Fordville, ND
18-Jan The One & Only Simmental Denver, CO
19-Jan Currant Creek Angus Roundup, MT
19-Jan Koupal Midwest Winner, SD
19-Jan Powers Angus Ranch Valentine, NE
19-Jan Van Newkirk Herefords Oshkosh, NE
20-Jan Ken Haas Angus LaGrange, WY
20-Jan Knippling Herefords online
20-Jan Mrnak Hereford Ranch B owman, ND
20-Jan Powerline Genetics Arapahoe, NE
22-Jan Diamond Lazy J Valentine, NE
22-Jan Lau Angus Armour, SD
22-Jan Macy Livestock Gordon, NE
23-Jan Ellingson Simmental Dahlen, ND
23-Jan Flesch Angus Ranch Shelby, MT
23-Jan McConnell Angus Dix, NE
23-Jan Ruggles Angus McCook, NE
23-Jan Texas Angus Assoc. Fort Worth, TX
24-Jan Eco Angus age advantage Gering, NE
24-Jan Little Goose Angus Ranch Buffalo, WY
24-Jan Louisiana Angus Assoc. Alexandria, LA
24-Jan Melcher Herefords Page, NE
24-Jan Nichols Farms Open House Bridgewater, IA
24-Jan Texas Angus Assoc. Stars of Texas f Fort Worth, TX
24-Jan Thompson Angus Ranch Kintyre, ND
26-Jan Apex Cattle Dannebrog, NE
26-Jan Bullis Creek Wood Lake, NE
26-Jan Deer Valley embryo online
26-Jan Edgar Bros. Rockham, SD
26-Jan Gardiner Angus Ranch Ashland, KS
26-Jan Hunt Angus Milburn, NE
26-Jan Schriefer Red Angus online
27-Jan Angus Verified feeder B eaver, OK
27-Jan Churchill Cattle Co. Manhattan, MT
27-Jan Scott Angus Cattle Belgrade, OK
27-Jan Weigel Angus Ranch Kintyre, ND
28-Jan Geppert’s Rock Creek Livestock Mitchell, SD
28-Jan Raasch PT Creston, IA
29-Jan Mohnen Angus White Lake, SD
29-Jan Ridder Hereford Ranch Callaway, NE
30-Jan Kovarik Angus Ord, NE
31-Jan 21 Angus Ranch New England, ND
31-Jan Baldridge Performance Angus North Platte, NE
31-Jan Schaff Angus Valley – NEW DATE Saint Anthony, ND
31-Jan Texas Hereford Assoc. Fort Worth, TX
31-Jan Tokeena Angus Seneca, SC
1-Feb Frey Angus Ranch Granville, ND
2-Feb Black Hills Stock Show Rapid City, SD
2-Feb Gateway Simmental Lewiston, MT
2-Feb Mike Sitz Angus Ranch/ Joel Johnston Burwell, NE
2-Feb Pelton Polled Herefords Halliday, ND
3-Feb Babcock Angus Long Pine, NE
3-Feb Hoover Angus Elson, IA
3-Feb Taubenheim Gelbvieh Amherst, NE
3-Feb Twedt Red Angus McHenry, ND
4-Feb B egger’s Diamond V Wibaux, MT
4-Feb Cline Angus Valentine, NE
4-Feb Durbin Creek Ranch Worland, WY
4-Feb Huwa Cattle Co. Roggen, CO
5-Feb B ear Mountain Angus Palisade, NE
5-Feb Black Hills Stock Show Gelbvieh Rapid City, SD
5-Feb Ressler Angus Ranch Cooperstown, ND
5-Feb Stroh Hereford Ranch Killdeer, ND
6-Feb Baumgarten Cattle Co. B elfield, ND
6-Feb Dvorak Herefords Lake Andes, SD
6-Feb Elkington Polled Herefords Idaho Falls, ID
7-Feb Messner Ranch Slapout, OK
7-Feb Upstream Ranch Taylor, NE
7-Feb Walker Herefords Morrison, TN
9-Feb BB Cattle Co. Connell, WA
9-Feb Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch Ree Heights, SD
9-Feb Nelson Livestock Co. Wibaux, MT
10-Feb Kaelberer Ranch Mandan, ND
11-Feb Friedt Herefords Dickinson, ND
13-Feb Topp Herefords Grace City, ND
