CALF_News_October_November_2020

35 CALF News • October | November 2020 • www.calfnews.net Continued on page 44  T he chronic shortage of young people returning to production agriculture is a serious roadblock plagu- ing our way of life. Few families are as fortunate as the Kohlscheens of Pleasanton, Neb., whose opera- tion is transitioning to the fifth generation. Purchased in 1912 by Harold Kohlscheen, the farm and ranch entity has transformed periodically over the past 109 years to keep up with the times. It is currently run by heads- of-the-family, Don and Linda, who are grateful for their two able-bodied sons to come aboard. Tyler Each brother left home for a while to earn a college degree. They subsequently became seasoned cattlemen while working with other ranchers, gaining experiences outside their home. Tyler, the older of the duo, graduated from Southeast Com- munity College in Beatrice with a degree in ag business with a livestock focus. He interned south of Valentine at Gordon Valley Ranch – a 1,500-cow outfit. Providing summer care of pairs, Tyler also developed a great appreciation for the area. After graduation he opted to stay in the neighborhood, spending six years at the Bow and Arrow Ranch. He provided all manner of care for their 1,200 spring and 500 fall-calving cows. Tyler says he liked everything there, enjoying good fishing and hunting, and plenty of saddle time. Cows were summered in McKelvie National Forest, 116,000 acres of mostly grassland southwest of Valentine. Tyler calls this “big country.” Driving cows to and from grass rather than trailering, the slower paced lifestyle and agreeable people in the Cherry County Sandhills made his job there especially enjoyable. Jon Jon took a similar path when he exited the nest, attending Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kan. He acquired a degree in animal science, played football for a year and took a job with Lazy H Angus Ranch near Hays. His three-year stretch at the purebred operation provided experience in feeding, calving, AI and employee management. An indispensable love of all things ranching was sealed when Jon took his college internship at the Padlock Ranch in Wyoming. The 13,000-head cow outfit provided him with new experiences and a steep learning curve. He loved the open country and time spent honing his skills horseback. young stockman R CALF NEWS PRESENTS R By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor After acquiring his degree, he headed east to the Nebraska Sandhills, landing on a 1,500-cow ranch near the North Loup River at Taylor. He remained there for nearly two years before things started happening at home. Why Go Back? Older brother Tyler was the first to return to the home place in Buffalo County. He describes meeting his dad, Don, at a tractor pull about the same time younger brother, Jon, was leaving for college. Don, having ulterior motives for their day off, approached his son and asked if he’d consider coming back home. Tyler says negotiations took place on the spot, and his bags were packed for Pleasanton shortly thereafter. Jon’s reasoning was a bit more pragmatic.“It’s kind of nice having something to work for that’s in your name,” he says. “You can start your own legacy.” Big Changes The evolution of Kohlscheen farms began long before Jon came home to round out the team. Their cow herd had been dispersed in the early 2000s and a commercial backgrounding Kohlscheen Brothers Putting the Success in Succession Tyler, left, and Jon Kohlscheen are the next generation to run Kohlscheen Farms. They come armed with college degrees and real- world experience.