The Big Blue Ranch is a working beef cattle ranch situated in the tall grass prairie hills and woodlands of Southeast Nebraska. It is a custom grazing operation raising, tending and caring for 400 cow/calf pairs and 25 bulls. This ranch operates the way the cattle ranches of yesterday did, but using modern techniques and applications.

The objective of any cattle operation is to grow healthy cattle that gain weight efficiently. While we produce both alfalfa and grass hay, it is more economical and efficient to let cattle eat growing forage. Big Blue Ranch has over 2,000 acres with cross fencing to provide 13 quarter-section pastures.

With a balance of warm season and cool season grasses and forbes, we can utilize the rainfall and sunlight of changing growing seasons. Cattle are rotated to fresh new pastures every three to five days. Each pasture has a minimum of two ponds for watering livestock, in addition to some seeps and springs.

We use registered Nebraska quarter horses, four wheelers (ATV's), and pickup trucks to drive our cattle from one pasture to the next. It is vital that the herd be kept together during cattle drives in an orderly fashion. Out of all the options, a good cutting horse can't be beat for separating one critter from the rest of the herd.

We have a rustic cabin on a three-acre lake and the Big Blue Lodge is built on our 20-acre boomerang lake. Both are fenced out from livestock to protect the banks of the lakes and maintain habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. We often see deer, prairie chicken, turkey, and many birds that use this central flyway for migration.

In spring and summer wildflowers are colorful ranging from yellow black-eyed-susan to pink wild rose, from orange butterfly milkweed to purple prairie plume. In fall the sumac turns orange and the cottonwood trees are golden. Most days on the Big Blue Ranch close with a spectacular Nebraska sunset.

Contact us to learn more about how Big Blue Ranch & Lodge can give you an exciting ranch adventure.