Hunting Expands Successful Seedstock Business
Since 1909 , the Jorgensen family has cared for the land , animals and natural resources that make up Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal , South Dakota . During those 114 years , the family-run operation has grown to become one of the largest seedstock producers in the U . S ., marketing 6,000 Black Angus bulls each year . In addition to the cattle business , the diversified operation raises small grains and manages an all-inclusive pheasant hunting experience for guests . Whether it is bulls , crops or visitors , the Jorgensen ’ s focus continues to be on soil health , crop diversity and treating the land right so it can remain in the family for another 100 years .
Jorgensen Land & Cattle is located in the “ golden triangle ” in south central South Dakota where pheasants thrive , offering some of the best pheasant hunting in the world . When Cody Jorgensen returned home from college in the late 1990s , his love of hunting sparked the desire to add a new enterprise to the family ’ s business .
For nearly two decades , the Jorgensens offered guided pheasant hunts on their property for a small trespass fee . The endeavor expanded in 2011 when a neighbor wanted to retire and sold his property , lodge and pheasant hunting business to the Jorgensens . While the existing lodge created new opportunities for the family to expand into the hospitality industry , their sights were set on something greater , so they built the 22-bedroom Lazy J Grand Lodge and began offering all-inclusive hunting packages .
At the same time , the seedstock business continued to grow and family members , and their expertise , needed to remain with the livestock part of the operation . The family also quickly realized that hosting guests requires different skills and personalities . Understanding the differences between
Lazy J Grand Lodge
the enterprises led the Jorgensens to hire a lodge manager and chef and create a standalone division of the business , with its own resources , enabling further growth and allowing the family to focus on the seedstock operation .
“ We found that it wasn ’ t efficient to have Cody spend one-third of his time managing a part of the business that generated 10 % of the revenue ,” said Partner CEO Nick Jorgensen with Jorgensen Land & Cattle , Cody ’ s cousin . “ We needed him to focus on the livestock and let someone else manage the hunting operation .”
The lodge hosts 500 hunters every year and in the off season is used for weddings , parties and other events , which allows the facility to generate revenue year-round . The Jorgensens experienced some challenges as they became a destination for hunters from across the country . Hunting customers have different requirements than seedstock customers , and they need to be treated and managed differently . Understanding these differences took time and listening to customer feedback guided changes in structure and pricing .
From L to R : Bryan Jorgensen , Nick Jorgensen , Cody Jorgensen , Greg Jorgensen . Photos provided by Jorgensen Ranch & Cattle
Continued on page 18 16 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN DIRECTIONS 2023