SECTION B Sims Cattle Company, LLC Family operation utilizes holistic management approach Scott Sims and his son Shanon are partners in Sims Cattle Company, LLC, located near McFadden. Sims Cattle Company, LLC is a “family inspired business producing quality livestock for a healthy environment and creating opportunities for personal growth,” according to their mission statement. Scott and his wife April are also shareholders in Sims Land and Livestock. They lease from Sims Land and Livestock, as well as two other ranches. Other family members involved with the ranch include Shanon’s wife Melinda, children Kagan and Jentry and Scott and April’s daughter Kendra. Scott’s dad and his wife also live on the ranch, but his dad is retired from the business. Kagan and Jentry are the fifth generation on the ranch. The ranch runs a closed herd of Angus/Simmental/Gelbvieh crossbred cows and yearlings.
Development Scott says the ranch has gone through many changes over the years. “When I was a kid, we had Angus cattle – my granddad was the first to bring Angus cattle into this valley – everyone else ran Herefords,” he says. Scott and his dad transitioned to Black Baldy cattle for a while, then they started breeding those cows to Gelbvieh, and from there they went to more of a composite breed – Angus with Simmental and Gelbvieh influence. The Sims artificially inseminated (AI) cows for over 30 years and built their genetics. “With AI, we were having trouble getting cattle that would adapt to our environment,” says Scott. “We would think we picked the best AI sires, but then whenever those heifers would come into the herd, we’d find it wasn’t always Please see SIMS on page B2
Educating others – Shanon and Melinda Sims share their experience with ranch management at Ranching for Profit schools. Pictured is Melinda presenting at a school. Courtesy photo
Strategic feeding – The Sims use a windrowed hay system to feed cattle. This helps them save on packaging and hauling expenses. They set up a temporary electric fence and feed the cows in one area for three to four days. Courtesy photo
Family operation – Sims Cattle Company, LLC is a family-inspired business producing quality livestock for a healthy environment and creating opportunities for personal growth. Left to right, Kendra Sims, April Sims, Scott Sims, Cheryl Sims, Don Sims, Shanon Sims, Melinda Sims, Kagan Sims and Jentry Sims. Farm Credit Services of America photo