CALF_News_August_September_2019

28 CALF News • August | September 2019 • www.calfnews.net he Ostrand Angus story is a blend of old and new, of family and one person’s faith in another’s integ- rity. It’s a refreshing look at how things can work out when people open their minds to new ideas. Ranching legacy Kory Ostrand was born and raised on the family ranch south of Ansley, Neb. He is a product of pioneers who home- steaded in Custer County. August and Caroline Ostrand emi- grated from Sweden in 1884 to settle the original homestead. It still serves as the hub of the family operation and home to Kory’s parents, aunt and grandmother. The family is smart enough to know that change is an inevitable key to survival. Neil, Kory’s father, raised purebred Duroc hogs for years, hosting an annual production sale. His reputation herd was sadly dispersed when the hog market tanked in the 1990s and his customer base disappeared. Kory says he worked many hours in the swine facility as a youth. Despite learning a great deal, the hogs were very labor intensive. He says he “endured them.” The Ostrand Ranch traditionally ran Hereford cows. In the 1970s, senior family members began a transition to Angus that took about 15 years to com- plete. Neil now runs the black commercial herd. Kory, however, embarked on a different route. When he was still only a sprout, the youngster saved his money from 4-H projects until he had squirreled enough away to buy a registered Angus heifer when he was nine years old. He repeated his method over and over until he had put together a nice group of cows. The single-minded vision of a young boy turned into a sizeable herd for a man and his family. Current management Today, the commercial and registered Angus cows are run separately, but haying, farming and machinery are kept as one unit between father and son. The two herds complement one another. Angus-sired com- mercial calves are retained on an adjoining site and finished. Genetics from Kory’s herd have contributed to the quality of these fed cattle. The younger Ostrand says they are worth more when they’re eligible for the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB) Program. Additionally, individual carcass data is collected on the steer mates to bulls coming out of the purebred operation; these are fed alongside the commercial cattle at the same location. The family wants to assure they are producing quality genetics from ranch to rail. The operation retains and feeds 900 head annu- ally at their feedlot. A Fresh Look at a Successful Transition By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor T Kory Ostrand with Olivia and Merrik on Jade, Avery and Brexton on Stormy. Each child has started their own registered Angus herd. Photo by Danielle Ostrand