|
|
|
Ranchers use opportunities to continue family traditionBy Jennifer Bremer In the rolling plains of central South Dakota you will find a ranch that definitely will show you what family is all about and has the perseverance to withstand the challenges of ranch life. Thomas Ranch, which is run by Troy and VeaBea Thomas, is located north of the town of Harrold, in Sully County, South Dakota. Troy's parents, Harry and Kay Thomas, are involved in the operation as is Troy and VeaBea's daughter, Cally, a senior at Highmore High School. In 1931, Harry's parents and uncle purchased 320 acres of land where the main ranch sits now. Through the years, the ranch has grown to nearly 7,500 acres of pasture, hay and crop ground. Cattle and horses have also been a mainstay on the ranch. The cattle The first Charolais cattle were purchased in the early 1960s, when Harry returned to the ranch after college. While other breeds have been introduced throughout the years, the Charolais have always been present and are what the Thomases are best known for. Currently, they have about 300 purebred Charolais cows. They have used artificial insemination since 1963 to bring new genetics into the herd and have also produced herd sires which have been used by many other breeders. The cowherd also consists of 300 black Angus cows, which were introduced to the ranch in the early 1990s. A 200-head Red Angus herd is owned in cooperation with another breeder and they also have a small herd of Shorthorns that are "just a hobby," according to Troy. Selecting replacements "We breed about 350 Charolais and Angus heifers each year, which are kept based on visual appraisal first and then we make sure they meet our needs based on performance records," he said. Performance records are important on Thomas Ranch also. Charolais, Angus and Red Angus bulls are developed on the ranch for their annual bull sale, held in April. "We test the bulls for feed efficiency and take ultrasound measurements, as well as birth weights, weaning weights and yearling weights," Troy explained. Information is sent to the respective breed associations to collect further data and expected progeny differences (EPDs) and each bull is registered within their breed. "We have always liked to take a few bulls to the National Western to sell, but we also don't like to take them out of their contemporary group so we have to be very selective and have put less emphasis on showing in recent years," he said. Heifers are AIed to start calving in February, followed by the cows. All are calved out at the main ranch and stay there to be rebred in the spring before being moved to summer pasture. Summer pasture consists of two other 3,000-acre pieces of ground, where the pairs stay until weaning time in the fall. A few elite pairs are selected for a private treaty pasture calf sale held in September. Many of those calves will go on to be shown by junior exhibitors across the nation. Show ring success The Thomases have been successful in the show ring at many levels themselves. Troy and his sister showed many champions while growing up--including major wins at many state fairs, Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, the American Royal in Kansas City and the National Western in Denver. The Black Hills Stock Show has been a successful event for Thomases also, with several wins in the Charolais and Angus rings and in 2001 the title of Supreme Champion heifer, shown by Taylor Thomas, Troy and VeaBea's daughter, who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 14 later that year. In 2002, the Black Hills Stock Show Foundation honored Harry Thomas as the Stockman of the Year for his contributions to the show and the cattle industry as a breeder of exceptional purebred stock. This year, Thomas Ranch was honored by the Charolais breed as Seedstock Producers of the Year. They have exhibited many national champions at various shows--traveling to Denver, Kansas City, Houston and Louisville, as well as other states for the National Junior Charolais Shows. Currently, the Charolais Challenge Trophy is displayed at Thomas Ranch. The trophy is awarded each year at the national show to the breeder accumulating the most points for bred and owned cattle. Thomas Ranch won the honor three years in a row and therefore it was retired. "We had won it various other years, but in 2006, we won it for the third in a row so we got to keep it--the first time in Charolais history," said VeaBea. "The association called several times to get measurements to get the new trophy made." Cally has been successful in the show ring also, exhibiting many champions and also winning showmanship contests at several shows including the National Junior Charolais Show. In 2002, at the National Junior Charolais show, her peers chose her as Outstanding Junior Member. Cally could very likely be the fourth generation to carry on the ranching tradition if she would return after college. Horses play a role Another passion of Cally's is rodeo--where she participates in pole bending, barrel racing and breakaway roping. None of which would be possible, without a good horse. Thomas Ranch has not only produced high quality cattle through the years, but they have also raised quality Quarter Horses. One of their top horses--a gray stallion--1984 Mr. Illuminator has sired several high quality horses for family members and others. Due to the extreme continuous drought, the brood mares and Illuminator were sold in 2005. "We kept several of the Illuminator-bred progeny. Cally has won many awards on an Illuminator mare and our niece is riding an Illuminator gelding," said VeaBea. One of the best-known Illuminator-sired horses would be Dolly, a mare ridden by Jill Moody, a National Finals Rodeo barrel-racing qualifier. Moody has captured many titles on the mare. Dolly was also named Horse of the Year in the South Dakota Rodeo Association and The Badlands Circuit finals. While the majority of the mares were sold, a few were kept back. Horses are used on the ranch nearly every day. Crops for feed About 2,500 acres of the main ranch is used for crops, including corn for silage, alfalfa and grass hay and sometimes wheat, sorghum and sunflowers. "Nearly all the crops that are raised here are used to feed the cattle," said Troy. "Because of the challenges of a high-priced feed bill, we have also started utilizing distillers grains to make feeding the cattle more economical." Several months are spent cutting, raking, baling and moving hay. "It seems like we put up and haul hay for six months and feed all of it during the other six months," added VeaBea. Continual improvements One exciting improvement at the ranch is the addition of a new sale barn. In years past they had held their bull sale in nearby Highmore. However, the sale barn in Highmore was recently closed, which led to the decision of building a barn near the entrance of the main building site on their ranch. "The construction is ahead of schedule, which we are pleased about," said Troy. "It will be nice to have the sale here as the cattle will look better for our customers in an environment they are used to." He has also been surprised by recent calls from neighbors and fellow cattle producers inquiring about renting the facility for their production sales. While Troy said he had not originally intended it for that use, it would be something they would think about. One of the other main uses for the barn would be to use it as a hospitality area for groups of hunters, which they host on the ranch for pheasant hunting each year. From September through March they entertain 200-plus clients from across the U.S. in one- to three-day hunts. "We generally wait until the crop is out and then it's hunting season around here," said VeaBea. "Our friend, Jamie Nye, from Onida, serves as the guide for the group and we serve hunters a meal here at the ranch." Pheasant hunting is available for either the more experienced hunter or the not so adventuresome hunter. According to their website (www.thomasranchcattle.com), knowledgeable guides take hunters out relative to what type of hunt they want to experience. Their ranch is located along a creek where there is plenty of water and feed for the bird population. Since the cattle are fed all winter long, it also provides a good amount of feed for the pheasants as well as the food plots they plant each year to help ensure nutrition for the wildlife. Challenges for the future High feed costs, extreme weather conditions, markets and the trials of everyday life on the ranch are a continual challenge. Troy said his biggest challenge is how to make the ranch and the cattle more efficient and more profitable. "It may mean making changes in our cow herds--changing the type of cattle we are raising to make them lower maintenance and more efficient," he said. "I don't necessarily know the changes that I need to make in the future, but I do know I am willing to make those changes to stay in business," he added. "Commercial cattlemen are going to need to be willing to look at crossbreeding techniques and new blood lines in order to get the hybrid vigor and performance back in the cattle that we may have lost in recent years." Making their cattle be the ones sought after by both purebred breeders and commercial cattlemen is a longtime and ongoing goal at Thomas Ranch--something that keeps challenging them now and in the future. The Thomases have dealt with many challenges through the past 77 years on their South Dakota ranch, but you can guarantee their continual success is proof they will keep the family tradition going on for future generations. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by e-mail at jbremermaj@hotmail.com.
Date: 10/10/08 Advertisement
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
Market Snapshot Inside Futures |
