How it all began......

Formerly known as JD Red Angus and Luvaas Red Angus, John and Stephanie made the decision to change ranch names when they were married in August 2009.   The Lazy J Bar brand was first registered to John's grandfather and after a few years of not being seen by the cattle industry, the brand is back.   We have a blended family of four children Alex, Brooke, Kale and Jacob that keep us busy with their activities.   Alex is in college, Brooke in high school, Kale in grade school and Jacob isn't in school yet, however he runs the whole ranch!   Just ask him if you don't believe us!!   Alex and Jacob like showing cattle, riding horses and bulls, Brooke enjoys hanging with friends and playing softball, Kale enjoys playing all kinds of sports, riding horse,   showing cattle, and goats, and as I mentioned before Jacob does everything the rest of them can do and then more.   

Technically the Lazy J Bar Ranch is a new name in the Red Angus world but as we stated before it was formed from two people with a passion for Red Angus cattle, agriculture and the country "way of life".   We are a true family run ranch with ourselves and the children helping to get all the work done on time.   Of course there is plenty of help from grandparents!   We host a New Year's Eve production sale each year where we offer all of our registered heifer calves, select bull calves, bred heifers or pairs, and eventually we will be adding some top of the line, hand-picked working ranch horses.   We run about 200-250 head of mother cows, with plans for expansion in 2012.   In the fall of 2010 we added a herd of Boer goats to our operation, so will be offering show and breeding quality goats for sale beginning in the spring of 2012.   Keep checking the website as we will be adding that info soon!

  The former JD Red Angus that John was known by hosted a fall female sale and spring bull sale each year.   John started in the Red Angus business in 1993.   He grew up on a cattle and grain operation between Roscoe and Bowdle, SD where they ran about 250 head of mother cows, some of those being Registered Simmental and hosting a production sale each year until they made the decision to breed all the Simmental cows Red Angus.    1998 thru the fall of 2010 John worked full time at a local Purina Dealer as a Livestock feed consultant and salesman.   Currently John works as a consultant for a few customers.   We also have an AI service that keeps us on our toes in late spring.

Stephanie grew up on a cattle and grain operation near Bradley, SD where they raised up to 400 head of commercial and Registered Angus cattle.   Stephanie's love for the Red Angus breed was formed when her dad brought her home a red cow from the local livestock auction market.   In the eighth grade she was able to purchase her first Registered Red Angus cows from Ed Artz.   As time went on she grew her herd of registered "mama" cows to 80 head while still working full time in town.   She offered her cattle for sale thru select winter shows and private treaty sales.   Stephanie made the decision in the fall of 2010 to quit working off the ranch and currently is enjoying being a ranch wife and all of the duties that includes.   However, she is pretty sure that we had more time to attend sales and cattle activities when we both worked full time in town and ranched compared to now when she keeps finding improvements to make around the ranch.  

Philosiphy......

We expect our registered cows to perform in a ranch setting where they have to graze all summer and fall until the snow gets too deep, then they are supplemented with a TMR until the next spring.   In South Dakota we see extreme temperatures into the 100's in mid-summer and down to -40 actual temps in the winter.   We try to produce the cattle that our customers demand, which means the cattle are a frame score 5-6 1/2, easy fleshing, sound feet and legs, and highly maternal.   We demand that our cattle have great dispositions and even though some of our birth weights are high, we breed for calving ease, assisting in less than .5% of our calf births.   We don't chase extremes, whether that be moderate birth weights, carcass, or playing a number's game. Our cattle need to perform like a commercial herd.    We believe in breeding to proven sires while sampling a few new sires but still offering plenty of proven genetics to our customers each year.   We utilize AI technology and do our own ET work, flushing some of our top cows to provide our customers a better opportunity to purchase what they need to better their herds.

For the Kid in all of us.....

As for the Boer goats we are producing kids that will perform in the show ring while trying to keep the Boer standards.   We run a doe herd of about 70 head of Registered and Commercial Boer does.   Our commercial does are 7/8 Boer and higher.   I searched the internet in the spring of 2011 looking for Bucks that could produce kids with plenty of bone and muscle in an attractive package.    We traveled to Texas and brought back a few Bucks that we thought would do just those things.   Hopefully the spring of 2012 will prove that we made the correct decision.   Our does run on grass all summer and are supplemented in the winter months with hay and grain.   Steph grew up raising dairy goats and through some friends was introduced to Boer goats in 2004.   Finally in 2010 we decided to add the goats for various reasons, one of them to have show goats available but also to help control weeds in pastures.  

Although this is lengthy we appreciate you reading about us.   We would love to have you visit us any time that you are in the area.   The best part of being involved in the Agriculture Industry is the people we meet and the friendships we have formed.   God has been great to provide us with the opportunity to make many friends along the way.   Stop on in the coffee pot is on and we always have time to visit.   If you happen to stop by in late fall the pheasant hunting is abundant in our area.