The 2021 Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition–Nebraska Extension jointly-sponsored summer grazing tour is planned June 15. The 2021 tour will feature two Nebraska ranches that manage different grazing resources, including intensively managed cool season perennial pastures and native range, some of which has been rescued from invasive Eastern Red Cedar. Additional financial support comes from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, World Wildlife Fund-US and Pheasants Forever

Jessen Ranch originally was owned by John Jessen. John’s son, Gene, became partners with his dad when he returned from the Army in 1952. Gene bought out his father in the mid 80s when he became interested in rotational grazing. Gene was a pioneer in perfecting rotational grazing and low stress livestock handling.

The third generation, Tim, worked with his father to implement more intensive rotational grazing through additional cross fencing, water line installation, controlled burns, spraying and clearing cedar trees.

Originally, the pasture had a stocking rate of 11-12 acres per cow/calf pair. Rotational grazing over the last nearly 40 years has increased the stocking rate to under seven acres per cow/calf pair. The Jessen Ranch consists of 2,600 acres divided into 20 pastures, running 350-375 pairs per season.

According to Wayne Rasmussen NGLC vice chairman, Gene Jessen was originally exposed to the merits of rotational grazing after listening to Joel Salatin, of PolyFace Farms, in Swoope, Virginia,speak at a grazing school in the mid 1980s. Nearly 40 years later, Tim continues to follow in his father’s footsteps by understanding the needs of the livestock and listening to the land and the livestock for which he cares.

Kalkowski Family Ranch lies in the hills between the Niobrara and Missouri rivers in north central Nebraska. Its beginning occurred in 1957 when Larry Kalkowski purchased 160 acres of grassland in Boyd County while just a young man. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, he married, and he and his wife, Kay Lynn, and eventually their four sons, Jeff, Tim, Chris, and John and then their wives, Jacki, DaNay, Marsha and Anne, continued to expand the ranch.

Later, grandchildren began to help with the operation as the three entities Kalkowski Enterprises, Inc., K Land and Cattle, LLC, and Louse Creek, LLC were run as one unit. As more land was acquired, farmland was reseeded and allowed to return to native grassland. Larry became a pioneer in pasture rotation and a champion of stewardship.

As the Kalkowskis continued to concentrate on their ranch’s grassland, they became involved with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition through which they added such practices as controlled burns and use of cover crops.

Summer grazing tour registration will be at Jessen Ranch, east of Niobrara, June 15, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Registration, payable on arrival, includes boxed lunch and evening steak fry at the Springlake Angus Center near Lynch.

Directions to Jessen Ranch: Approximately 15 miles east of Niobrara, on SR 12. Turn north on Co. Rd.538. Follow tour signs approximately five miles northwest to Jessen Ranch rock sign on right, then one and one-half miles to headquarters. GPS coordinates: 89480 537th Avenue, Bloomfield, NE.

Preregister required no later than June 4 by calling Ben Beckman, Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educator in Cedar County office 402-254-6821 or e-mailing [email protected].