Sometimes it seems as if beef producers are faced with a million details to attend to in order to make a ranch successful and cattle happy and healthy. Selenium is one of those details.

Michael Thompson walks the same Kansas fields his great-great-grandfather broke in 1888, but his vision reaches far beyond tradition.

For Deer Creek Ranch, a 1,200-head cow-calf operation spread across 24,000 acres of leased land and 21,000 acres of deeded land, productive success builds on a healthy ecosystem where wildlife thrives alongside livestock.

Doug Lathem and Chad Schoonover weren’t trying to prove any kind of point when they made the decision to convert their farming and beef cattle operation near Dalhart, in the Texas Panhandle, to organic production. But when they sat down and took a good, long look at their resources, operating costs and market, it became clear: If they wanted to give the next generation a shot at coming back and making a living on the place, the conventional route wasn’t going to cut it.

One of the largest cattle operations in North America, Douglas Lake Cattle Company in British Columbia, has a long history. Founded in 1884, Douglas Lake has been operating continuously for 141 years.

Composite breeds of cattle are built on the concept of breed complementarity – combining the desirable characteristics of two or more breeds of cattle in a way that simultaneously masks or lessens each breed’s weaknesses.

John Moes has dedicated 38 years to developing his feedlot just south of Florence, South Dakota, where he combines innovation, environmental stewardship and strategic expansion, all fueled by his passion for cattle and land management. 

Nestled just north and east of some of Alberta’s most stunning scenery is Soderglen Ranch, where cattle act like they’ve belonged on the terrain for thousands of years.

“By nature of its excellence and rarity, this elite beef should not be viewed, marketed or sold as a basic commodity,” says Amanda Radke. “In 2023, we put this concept to work through a new auction platform called Bid on Beef.”

Steppler Farms, located in Miami, Manitoba, is the largest registered purebred Charolais herd in the province. Run by Andre Steppler, his wife Katie and their three kids (Brynn, Brayden and Declan), the operation continues to breed cattle for productivity and show ring appeal, while creating a legacy for generations to come.