Millers devote themselves to Sandy Acres Simmental

If you find yourself asking, “Where’s the beef,” in May for beef month, look no further than Sandy Acres Simmental of Neligh. Almost a half of century is dedicated to the cattle on Sandy Acres Simmental involving two generations of hard work, sweat and blood.

Leonard Miller has devoted himself to cattle for most of his life after serving in the Air Force and returning to the family farm. Recently, his daughter Melanie came back to Antelope County to take over the operation after pastoring churches for 22 years. Mark Miller, Leonard’s son, is also an indispensable part of the ranch.

​“This is my first year in charge,” said Melanie.

While Leonard has officially retired, he still offers daily labor and advice. Melanie recalled from her childhood of always having a deep and profound connection to the land and the aquifer under it. She remembered longing for sand between her toes, the bellowing of cows, wind blowing in her hair and the endless expanse of Nebraska’s landscape.
 
“Most warm, clear nights you’ll find me gazing at the stars, still.” said Melanie. “That just never gets old.”

At the end of the day, if a cow has received proper care, attention and nutrients than the Miller’s have done something right. Daily observation is crucial to attend to a cow's nutritional needs. Sandy Acres Simmental is also devoted to running a stress-free cattle operation.

“It’s what our parents and grandparents taught us,” Leonard said. “My dad always said, ‘It takes a lifetime to breed an excellent, productive herd of cows.’ ”

Sandy Acres Simmentals believes that the scientific approach to breeding cattle focuses on the genotype. We believe in science while also focusing on phenotype commented Melanie.

“Breeding cattle is not solely about the numbers, but about understanding genetics to get trouble free, high fertility cattle,” Melanie said.

So what is the goal of Sandy Acres Simmental? To raise powerful cattle with an emphasis on maternal excellence, growth and calving ease.

“We feed the world,” said Melanie. “It’s a great combination of being self-employed and digging into the great cattle breeding traditions but also availing yourself of new technologies.”

A producer can play a significant part in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. While a single cow can produce about 70 to 120 kilograms of methane, it can also return nutrients back to the soil by returning carbon and maintaining pasture health.

Beef is at the heart of Nebraska’s economy where Cherry, Custer, and Holt counties hold the top three spots in the United States for cattle production. Nearly 265,000 cattle are accounted for in those three counties making four times as many cattle in Nebraska than people.

“As a retired pastor, I spent 22 years feeding people spiritually. Now I’m feeding them in a new way,” said Melanie.

While raising their own beef to eat is a great benefit for the Miller’s, their cow-calf operation also has the advantages of calving season. Melanie said the first new baby is always an exciting thrill. Spring brings a new beginning for the pairs of cattle to go out to grass.

But, inclement weather also brings trouble. Battling the conditions of freezing snow and mud isn’t fun. Other challenges that face the cattle industry include unstable markets, trade agreements with other countries, and COOL or country of origin labeling.

“COOL is absolutely crucial. When you go to the grocery store we want you to know that you’re not buying beef from South America,” commented Melanie. “We want American beef producers and consumers to benefit from the label of origin.”

Education is important to the Miller family — for consumers and future producers. By reading and observing, Melanie said you can learn about genetics and decipher facts from the craze.

​“Read, read, read . . . and observe,” Melanie said. “Learning about genetics and keeping track of what works and doesn’t work.”