KEG Hereford Ranch – Valentine, Nebraska
Bos Sires Genetic Partner
Caden & Ken
Just north of Valentine, Nebraska, where the Sandhills begin to roll, sits Keg Hereford Ranch, a family operation built on decades of discipline, stewardship, and honest cattle. What began with Ken and Marilyn Stephens in Broken Bow more than half a century ago moved to Valentine in 1972, where the focus sharpened on raising cattle that thrive on grass and perform in every segment of the beef industry.
From the beginning, Ken understood that good cattle do not need pampering. They need an environment that rewards the ones that work. That philosophy shaped the program and still guides Caden Billings, who now manages day-to-day operations. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Grazing Livestock Systems, Caden returned home to partner with the Stephens family, bringing new energy and insight into grazing and pasture management while carrying forward the same uncompromising standards.
The herd is built around Hereford and Red Angus genetics, with a commercial base of Hereford-Angus crosses that have been refined through years of real-world testing. Keg Hereford Ranch has long believed in blending traditional cowboy logic with modern tools that help identify the best cattle. Alongside hands-on stockmanship, they incorporate feedlot data, ultrasound, and annual efficiency testing through the GrowSafe and RFI systems, always balancing what can be measured with what can be seen in the pasture.
Crossbreeding remains a cornerstone of their philosophy. The simple two-breed crisscross between Hereford and Angus has proven its worth through cows that stay fertile, handle the elements, and raise steers that finish profitably and consistently grade in the top third for net return. That practical, balanced approach keeps the herd functional without chasing fads.
For Ken, Marilyn, and Caden, success is not about records or ribbons. It is about cattle that hold their condition, breed back on time, and raise calves that can stand on their own. Each generation of selection has moved the herd closer to that goal, producing efficient, quiet-natured cattle that last.
The Keg Hereford program is built on patience, data, and a respect for the land that shaped it. It is a place where tradition meets progress, where efficiency is proven the hard way, and where every animal is bred to work honestly from the cow-calf phase to the feedlot and beyond.
These cattle are not made to impress; they are made to last.
