Montana Rancher Feature – John Henry Beardsley from Terry

This week’s Montana Rancher Feature highlights John Henry Beardsley from Terry. John Henry is 24, grew up on the family ranch and has recently branched out to his operation during the past year. He runs a small cow-calf operation with a small feedlot and row crop operation.

Be sure to leave John Henry any questions in the comments section below and check out other posts in our Montana Rancher Feature series. Know a member of the Montana ranching community who should be featured in a future post? Use this online form to send us the information!


John Henry BeardsleyWhat type and/or breed of livestock and/or crops do you raise? I have an Angus based cow herd. I incorporate cross breeding using Hereford and Irish Black bulls to attain an F1 female. I then in turn take a Charolais bull and put back on the F1 females that have been retained, I feel the 3-way cross calves give me more return and greater performance. I currently raise corn for silage but plan to integrate more crops into the program.

Off the ranch, what type of services or products do you provide to the Montana ranching community? This is my third year as a marketing representative for Superior Livestock Auction. As a marketing representative I travel to various ranches consigning their livestock to our video auction. Traveling the countryside you get to see the great cattle that are being raised in this part of the country along with witnessing the benefits that agriculture has on the environment.

How is your family involved in the Montana ranching community? The family operation recently celebrated it’s Centennial. My great grandfather homesteaded near Ismay, MT and as the fourth generation my siblings and I carry on the tradition of ranching. We are all involved in agriculture and the family operation.

My favorite song is… Troubadour by George Strait

My favorite cut of beef is… As long as it is beef, I am happy

My favorite quote is… “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have” – Theodore Roosevelt

When I’m not ranching, I like to… Team rope, ranch rodeo and golf

I conserve water or work to ensure good water quality on my ranch by… I manage runoff from my feedlot to be utilized as fertilizer and not spill into waterways. Strive to have less tillage in our fields to retain moisture and prevent erosion.

My favorite thing about being a part of the Montana ranching community is… Agriculture is the one business where a disaster will strike and people may have nothing left but they are still willing to take the shirt off their back to help someone out.

I’m working to protect the environment on my ranch by… Implementing cover crops to improve soil health and grazing pastures on a rotational program to improve the grass and the soil. I have the philosophy that we are selling our grass through the cattle. Without a healthy environment, you do not have a healthy business.

I’m working to prevent erosion on my ranch by… Maintaining a healthy cover on fields and pastures decreases erosion greatly.

I think we need more young people involved in ranching because… Throughout the industry, the average age of the rancher is 65 years old. The current demand for beef is higher than it has ever been. There are endless opportunities for young people to get started in Agriculture and we need someone to fill the gap.

I’m working to create healthy soil on my ranch by… Implementing a cover crop rotation along with our regular crops builds up nutrients and organic matter than replenishes soil health. Grazing is very critical as well. The hoof action churns up the soil to allow moisture in and plants to thrive.

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Click the image above to see more Montana Rancher Features!

One way I utilize technology on the ranch is by… GPS on the equipment along with wireless cameras to help check on cattle

Proper handling and welfare of livestock is important to me because… Quiet cattle mean healthy cattle, which in turn makes for happy cattle.

I work to provide for wildlife habitat on my ranch by… I like to leave crop residue and cover for wildlife to flourish. On my operation, there is riverfront with very dense cover, and an abundance of crops to make many species thrive.

I work to ensure we raise a safe and affordable beef product by… Keeping adequate records on animal health along with feedstuffs. My cattle are enrolled in a hormone free and government certified all natural program. This program ensures that customers are getting the product that they have asked for.

What would you like for beef customers to know about your role in the ranching community? I am very young so I have not played a big role yet. What makes me happy is when I can encourage one of my fellow peers to get involved in Agriculture. I like seeing people succeed.

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Montana Stockgrowers Association

The Montana Stockgrowers Association, a non-profit membership organization, has worked on behalf of Montana’s cattle ranching families since 1884. Our mission is to protect and enhance Montana ranch families’ ability to grow and deliver safe, healthy, environmentally wholesome beef to the world.

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