In the past, there were endless rolling hills, abundant streams, and lush grasslands stretching to the horizon. In 1886, when the Van Newkirk family first arrived in western Nebraska and acquired land through the Homestead Act, they thought they had found paradise.
Surprisingly, over a century later, there has been little change in the vast region known as the “Nebraska Sandhills”. Large swathes of land remain untouched, with records indicating that farming has never been attempted here and settlers are few.
Just as the hills have remained unchanged, so has the Van Newkirk family: they continue to work as cowboys on the ranch, preserving a tradition that has spanned over a century – while also raising a special breed of cattle.
“This truly is the ultimate experience to reconnect with nature,” said 70-year-old Joe Van Newkirk in an interview with The Epoch Times. He spoke of the sandhill region where his grandfather Lorenzo Don “LD” Van Newkirk raised his first herd of Hereford bulls – a breed that is still bred by their family today.
“However, the level of technology here has also increased,” he added.
To remain competitive in this technological age, the family ranch, “Van Newkirk Hereford Ranch,” has made some adjustments. While the traditional practice of herding cattle will continue (cowboys will continue to saddle up as the cattle need to graze on summer pastures), they have also incorporated modern technologies over the decades.
“In our business of selling breeding bulls, we perform DNA tests on every calf born here to create a DNA profile,” Van Newkirk said. He mentioned that he knows the parental traits of each calf, and the Beef Improvement Federation has provided them with excellent tools.
As he talked about the herd of brightly colored red and white Hereford cattle, his tone was filled with pride.
“The Hereford breed was originally favored by the King of England,” Van Newkirk said.
The registered Hereford cattle he breeds have shown impressive hybrid effects compared to the lean Texas Longhorns once prevalent in the area and the common Black Angus cattle seen today.
“Our beef tastes better, while Angus beef has better marbling,” he explained.
Hereford cattle are described by Van Newkirk as “a complete package” in terms of structure, with low breeding costs and excellent beef quality.
Technology has also aided them in selling cattle. At the 54th Annual Auction held in January, they “sold 20% of the livestock online,” he said. Nowadays, cowboys have also learned how to sell cattle online from the comfort of their homes.
This is beneficial, as winters on the hills can be bone-chilling, Van Newkirk noted.
Joe and his son continue to work the land herding cattle today, with a deep-rooted history in the Van Newkirk family. LD Van Newkirk was the son of Civil War veteran John Van Newkirk, a Dutchman who settled in the sandhill region in the 1880s with his wife Lizzy, before they even had cattle. The government allocated land to families at the time for small farms for subsistence. Over the decades, particularly after the Kincaid Act of 1904, the Van Newkirk family expanded the land, a process known as being “Kincaided,” gradually developing into the operation seen today. The ranch still operates around LD’s homestead.
However, changing times have brought challenges to family farms. Joe mentioned that the Great Depression in the 1930s may have set LD back a few steps.
“They grit their teeth and got through it,” he said.
When Joe’s father AJ “Bud” Van Newkirk took over the ranch, he and his brothers became the workforce and learned the ranching business.
Joe Van Newkirk inherited the ranch during the economic difficulties of the 1980s.
“At that time, interest rates skyrocketed,” he said, “and droughts would reduce cattle numbers, which in turn drove prices up.”
Fortunately, his brothers found success in real estate and the oil industry, but deep down, they still considered themselves cowboys and helped sustain the ranch’s operations. The annual auctions and cattle drives continued.
Today, another threat faced by family ranches is that the newer generation is moving to big cities and not returning.
“The kids nowadays don’t want to come back and do this,” Van Newkirk said. His eldest son had moved to Chicago, then San Diego. Luckily, his son Kolby returned 14 years ago and obtained a degree in agricultural business management from the University of Nebraska. Now, Kolby’s 9-year-old son Barrett dreams of saddling up to herd cattle on the ranch.
Van Newkirk works hard to paint the allure of cowboy life for the next generation.
Rearing breeding bulls is wonderful because they don’t have to slaughter them themselves. The Van Newkirk family enjoys watching calves grow, produce offspring, and continue the lineage.
“It’s a great way of life and a good way to make a living,” he said, “very fulfilling.”
Sometimes, the work itself is the reward. This May, the Van Newkirk family spent ten full days herding the Hereford cattle to the summer pastures – a task that can be chaotic at times.
“We have to cross a highway and a busy railway,” he said.
Fortunately, neighbors and cowboy friends came to help, and hundreds of cows and calves successfully navigated the obstacles to reach the lush pastures. Despite the challenges, Van Newkirk remains grateful for the simple rewards that this life brings – like riding horseback and enjoying the tranquility of the verdant hills left by his ancestors.
“It’s truly relaxing,” he said, “really beautiful.”