Well, we were back in Kansas

In 24 hours, can you eat at the #1 BBQ place in KC, travel the length of KS twice, see a 150 year old herd, and visit a historic site? Yes, you can.

Liberal (in name only), Kansas is the geographic center of the cattle business in the United States. So, it’s no surprise that Tim and I ended up going back to Kansas in pretty short order. This time we had a chance to look at another very special herd of Hereford cattle near the Missouri border. These cattle are the direct descendants of the original Gudgell and Simpson herd from 1876. There have been three owners since: the Mousel Brothers, the Lents family, and the current owner. Offspring of that 1876 herd are the cattle that “won the West” and made Hereford the #1 breed in the US until the modern Angus takeover in the 1970’s. There are a few other direct descendants of the Gudgell & Simpson breeding in the US, but just a few. The current owner has the largest group with representatives from 9 of the original cow families. ‍

Check out the pictures from a very hot Saturday in eastern Kansas.

A group of Anxiety 4th yearling heifers (and a few modern polled heifers)

A calf similar to what we hope to get from this herd later.

John among the mama cows.

US Highway 69

We only have 30 minutes to spare. Want to see Fort Scott, KS?

Fort Scott, built in 1842

Duplex houses for officers

Army saddles, pre-McClellan design.. Hearts on the pulling collars. Tapaderos on far stirrups.