9 minute read
LEGACY Lives On
by B. Lynn Gordon
photos courtesy Laflin Angus Ranch
Laflin Angus Ranch heritage celebrates 120 years.
Many milestones will be celebrated in 2020. However, not many will carry the honor of that which will be marked by the Laflin family of Olsburg, Kan. Since the 1900s, the Laflin name has been associated with breeding and raising Angus cattle, honored as one of oldest registered Angus herds in the U.S. This year, they will embark on their 120th year of continuous production of Angus cattle.
Currently, under the direction of R.D. and Shelie Laflin and their five children along with, R.D.’s mom, Barb, the Laflin Ranch continues the rich heritage established five generations ago by Eugene B. (E.B.) Laflin near Crab Orchard, Neb. When E.B. Laflin started his herd in 1900, the focus was on producing efficient Angus cattle with exceptional size and bred-in performance. These parameters were the measuring stick incorporated into the breeding program and selection priorities for more than a century, and they have held the test of time, continuing to be the driving force today at Laflin Ranch.
“I’m amazed by what we have witnessed in the last few years in our industry,” says Laflin, referring to the drought, record-high feed prices, and a cold and stormy winter of 2019 in north-central Kansas. Knowing what he has experienced as he works to continue breeding Angus cattle, only makes Laflin have a more profound respect for what his ancestors endured over the past 120 years. They had to survive the depression of the 1930s, limited manpower while several served in the war, loss of market share, the influence of continental genetics, drought, and the list goes on. Their fortitude to push through and not lose focus of being cattlemen through and through has allowed the current generation to celebrate the historical makings of this great Angus herd.
MILESTONE MEMORIES
With a deep and rich history, it is hard to list only a few of the most impactful memories the Laflin family has both experienced and achieved.
“One of the biggest milestones for me,” says Laflin, “is to have been part of consistently maintaining a registered herd of Angus cattle over five generations and now see my children, who are the sixth generation, being raised on the same ranch I grew up on.” Laflin is witnessing his children’s (twins Gus and Colt, 14; Tate and Ellie, 12; and son, Josh, 30) passion for cattle and agriculture grow and develop.
In addition to the pride of family involvement in this milestone, he is keenly aware that breeding and raising multiple Angus trait-leaders over the years and many Pathfinder cows has kept the family business thriving.
R.D and Shelie Laflin and children: (l-r) Tate, Colt, Josh, Gus, and Ellie.
Galxie 369, Grand Champion Cow/Calf pair and Reserve Grand Female at 1996 Western National Futurity, a donor female.
Laflin’s Marvel1801, 2019 Champion Bull at three different state fairs.
Laflin’s Jilt 3098, daughter of Laflin’s Jilt 073 a previous No. 1 REA cow in the breed.
- R.D. Laflin, Laflin Angus Ranch
Establishing and carrying on this strong foothold in the Angus breed also means working to support the goals of the customer. “It’s often said selling cattle to your neighbor is one of the toughest things for a seedstock breeder to accomplish,” says Laflin, “we are proud that roughly 50- 70% of our cattle sell within 200-miles of our ranch.” Additional cattle have sold from California to New York, to Canada, Mexico and many other foreign countries.
FUNCTIONAL FOCUS
Generation after generation fine-tuned the breeding program to meet the needs. Laflin Ranch has incorporated research and experience to adjust their cattle to produce pounds of meat in a new environment with new feed options, new health challenges, and new market strategies. “However, fertility and longevity remain two of the most important traits we select for. Without fertility and longevity, nothing else really matters.” The focus on maternal traits has always been at the forefront. “You need to have a solid female that breeds back consistently with little assistance to help you produce a solid top-end calf. By focusing on productive, reliable females, you create the next breeding group to move your herd forward, consistently,” believes Laflin.
Brothers Guy and R.D. Laflin, 2008 Herdsmen of the Year, presented by Jim Shirley with the American Angus Association.
Evaluating the foundation female and selecting a bull to enhance her traits, while maintaining the goal of a sound, functional performance animal is how Laflin, identifies new genetics to incorporate into his program. “I never select for a single trait and apply it across my herd. Each cow is unique and taking time to evaluate her and choosing a solid mating allows me to produce bulls and females to balance out the top qualities from both sides.”
Laflin spends many hours rummaging through research about potential sire lines with his customer in mind. “Our bull buyers are seeking everything from pounds and performance to a heifer bull to use on first-time calvers, and everything in between, so I need to offer a variety of options to cover these diverse needs.”
Although the selection of breeding stock is ultimately done by Laflin, he often consults trusted friends and breeders who are also following breed trends and sire lines. “This keeps me from having a biased view of my program.”
PROUD HERITAGE
Eugene B. (E.B.) Laflin purchased his first Angus cattle in 1900 where his grandfather had homesteaded near Crab Orchard, Neb., (southwest of Lincoln). His foresight was to introduce the black breed to a cattle industry dominated by Hereford cattle and ‘turn the West black’.
The foundation herd originated from the Escher herd in Iowa. Selection was based on efficiency, size, and bred-in performance and E.B. grew the herd to 200 females with heritage maternal lines recognized today as Blackbirds, Ericas, Barbaras, and Queen Mothers.
Active in the Nebraska Angus Association, E.B. served as the association’s second president and was the first man from Nebraska to serve on the National Board of Directors of the American Angus Association in 1924, full-filling the role of Vice-President.
His son, Lewis (L.E.) followed in his footsteps serving as the fifth president of the Nebraska Angus Association and an American Angus Association board member from 1935-1941.
Times were difficult in the depression years, and the story is often told of L.E. giving $500 of his own money to keep the Nebraska Association afloat.
The 1930’s drought meant no grass, no crops, and the tough decision of whether to sell off the herd of cattle. Through research L.E., became aware of the Flint Hills area of Kansas along the Tuttle Creek Reservoir near Manhattan, where he decided to ship his cattle by rail for summer grazing, returning them to Nebraska for wintering, a feat he continued for 30 years. During this time, he continued to expand the market for his Angus selling them as far away as Maryland and Texas and building a well-known herd.
In the 1940-50s, L.E’s sons’ Bob and Lew were in partnership in Crab Orchard, raising Angus cattle, taking turns managing the herd while the other served in the military during the Korean War. L.E. passed away in 1956. In 1962, Bob and Lew realized they should consider relocation of the herd to Kansas, where grass was abundant rather than constant shipment back and forth. They bought a ranch south of Olsburg, KS, which remains the current home of Laflin Ranch. Bob moved his family to Kansas and Lew and his family remained managing the Nebraska division.
Bob, his wife Barbara and four children, Sharee, R.D., Karen, and Guy, continued to grow the operation carrying on the Emulous influence in the herd (from Carlton Corbin, Stoneybook Angus, Fitztown, OK) and launching their first bull sale in 1968. Bob lead the way in developing cattle with performance and size, but had steered away from the showring, until exhibiting TN9 Duplicate, a son Emulous of Tail N 9, who was named reserve champion bull at the 1971 Arizona National. Duplicate created such a buzz at the National Western Stock Show, the family was offered, but turned down $75,000 for the bull as they ‘believed he was the next step in their breeding program.’
The operation grew to over 3,000 acres and about 300 cows. All four children actively showed in the Kansas Junior Angus Shows, 4-H, and other local fairs. Guy and R.D. began to extensively exhibit Laflin genetics nationally in 1995 growing marketability and demand for their cattle. Laflin Ranch won many honors at state, regional and national shows.
Bob passed away in 2004. Barb, at 87-years-old still assists with paperwork and registration papers. Guy and his son Clinton, run an Angus operation in Montana; Daughter Sharee married Chris Sankey, Council Grove, Kan., where they raise Angus and daughter Karen, lives at Alta Vista, KS. R.D, Shelie and family currently own and operate Laflin Ranch.
120 YEARS LATER
The family operation sought out the available grass of the Flint Hills of Kansas in the mid1930s, when their home base in Nebraska was drought-stricken. Today, this site also delivers a true test for structure and soundness. “You figure out which cattle will last and have good feet, due to the rough terrain where they must climb the rocky hills to gain access to the grass and water.”
“Our current direction is to raise sound, solid performing cattle. This is the direction my family tried to maintain over the last century, and I believe it’s what has given us our longevity and sustainability.”
These sound, functional cattle and their offspring representing some of the industry’s top sire lines such as Final Answer, Upward, Consensus, Bismarck, New Design, Right Time, Emulous 2617, Warm Front, and Southern Charm. These bulls are the foundation that will keep Laflin Angus Ranch a mainstay in the Angus breed.
learn more laflinranch.com
Laflin Ranch Annual Bull Sale, March 7, 2020, at the ranch, Olsburg, Kan. Selling 100 Herd Bulls, 45 Fancy Females, 9 Big Time Junior Show Heifer Prospects, Bred Heifers, Bred Cows, Donor Prospects and Embryos
TN9 Duplicate, a son of Emulous of Tail N 9, 1971 Arizona National Reserve Champion.
Laflin Angus Ranch, Barbara and children Sharee (Sankey); R.D.; Guy; and Karen and their families presented the 100-year member award from the American Angus Association at the National Angus Convention in 2015.
L.E. surveying cattle. L.E.’s father, E.B. Laflin purchased his first Angus cattle in 1900. L.E. served on the American Angus Association (AAA) board of directors in 1935-1941 and was also Vice-President of the AAA in 1929 and 1930.
HISTORICALLY INFLUENTIAL SIRE LINES
Emulous of Tail N9 (b. 1958) - Certified Meat Sire #12
Emulous 54 (b. 1961) - Certified Meat Sire #55
Emulous 335 “The Contented Bull” (b. 1963)
Prince Rowley of BAR 260 (b. 1959)
Laflin’s Bard 568 (b. 1963) E
arly Sunset Emulous 44D (b. 1972)
Emulous 2617 (b. 1972) - Golden Certified Meat Sire
Baldridge Oscar (b. 1980)
Circle A Western Hauler (b. 1994) - AAA Bull of the Year 1995
