Nebraska Sandhills ranch draws record sale price, shifts to Texas insurance billionaire couple

By Cindy Gonzalez, Nebraska Examiner
Jan 21, 2026
Jan 21, 2026

Sandhills ranch sale.jpeg — Pawnee Springs Ranch based in Lincoln County is headquartered along the North Platte River and has rangeland spanning north into the Sandhills of Nebraska. It now has new owners who want to maintain its cattle ranch and agricultural essence and over a multiyear program build a “world-class cattle operation.”
Courtesy of the Gottsch family

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Cindy Gonzalez, Nebraska Examiner

In what appears to be a record-high buy for a Nebraska ranch, a roughly 40,000-acre Sandhills property with a history of prominent owners has shifted hands to a self-made billionaire insurance couple with a vision to build a “world-class cattle operation.”

kAm$@=5 7@C Sde >:==:@?[ {:?4@=? r@F?EJ’D !2H?66 $AC:?8D #2?49 @? y2?] a_ 3642>6 E96 =2E6DE :?G6DE>6?E 7@C |2C< 2?5 #@3J? y@?6D @7 (6DE=2<6[ %6I2D] %96 9:89 D49@@= DH66E962CED H:E9 2 8C@H:?8 72>:=J @7 D:I <:5D 2?5 a_ 8C2?549:=5C6? D2:5 E96J H6C6 D66<:?8 E@ 5:G6CD:7J E96:C 3FD:?6DD G6?EFC6D]k^Am

kAmp>@?8 @E96C <6J 9@=5:?8D :D A2CE @H?6CD9:A @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@D69625]4@>^23@FE^Qmv@@D69625 x?DFC2?46k^2m[ 2 AF3=:4 4@>A2?J E96 y@?6D6D 7@F?565 2?5 8C6H[ 2?5 2 DAC2H=:?8 7@C6DE65 E:>36C=2?5 C2?49 E96 A2:C 3@F89E 2 76H J62CD 28@ :? |@?E2?2] k^Am

kAm“(92E H6 H2?E65 E@ 5@ :D 92G6 2 D:K23=6 @A6C2E:@? E92E 7@4FD6D @? 24EF2= 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@5F4E:@?[” |2C< y@?6D D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H 52JD 28@ @? 9:D ecE9 3:CE952J] “%96 $2?59:==D BF:4<=J ;F>A65 E@ E96 E@A @7 E96 =:DE]”k^Am

Sandhills ranch sale 3.jpg — Pawnee Springs Ranch
Courtesy of the Gottsch family

k9cm#2?49 762EFC6Dk^9cm

kAm|2C< y@9?D@? @7 w2== 2?5 w2==[ H9:49 92?5=6D 28 C62= 6DE2E6 :? ?:?6 DE2E6D[ D2:5 !2H?66 $AC:?8D #2?49 “6I6>A=:7:6D E96 E@A BF2=:E:6D @7 2 }63C2D<2 $2?59:==D C:G6C C2?49]”k^Am

kAmp>@?8 :ED 762EFC6Dik^Am

kF=mk=:m}62C=J D:I >:=6D @7 }@CE9 !=2EE6 #:G6C 7C@?E286 2?5 ?:?6 46?E6C A:G@ED 4@G6C:?8 23@FE `[f__ :CC:82E65 24C6D]k^=:mk=:mr2=7 324<8C@F?5:?8 =@ED H:E9 4@?4C6E6 3F?<D[ 2? :?5@@C^@FE5@@C 2C6?2]k^=:mk=:mq2=2?465 64@DJDE6> H:E9 76CE:=6 C:G6C 3@EE@>D 2?5 ?2E:G6 $2?59:==D C2?86=2?5 AC@G:5:?8 923:E2E 7@C 566C[ EFC<6J 2?5 H2E6C7@H=]k^=:mk^F=m

kAmsC2H? 3J E96 AC@A6CEJ’D a[d__ >@E96C 4@HD[ H:=5=:76 923:E2E[ ?2E:G6 C2?86[ C:G6C 4@CC:5@CD 2?5 @E96C 28 36?67:ED @7 E96 ~82==2=2 pBF:76C[ y@?6D D2:5 E96 D62C49 =65 E96> E@ E96 }63C2D<2 C2?49=2?5 62DE @7 }@CE9 !=2EE6[ H9@D6 ?2>6 92C<6?D E@ E96 2C62’D @C:8:?2= }2E:G6 p>6C:42? :?923:E2?ED]k^Am

k9cmu2>65 @H?6CD9:A C@@EDk^9cm

kAmw2== 2?5 w2==[ 2? 28 7@4FD65 >F=E:\DE2E6 C62= 6DE2E6 4@>A2?J 32D65 :? '2=6?E:?6[ C6AC6D6?E65 3@E9 E96 3FJ6C 2?5 D6==6C :? E96 AC:G2E6 =:DE:?8 562=[ H:E9 =@42= 286?E |2C< y@9?D@? D6CG:?8 2D =:DE:?8 3C@<6C] k^Am

kAm(96? w2== 2?5 w2== C6AC6D6?E65 @H?6CD @7 E96 }63C2D<2 |6EK86C C2?49 =2DE J62C[ E96 2D<:?8 AC:46 7@C E92E dd[`be\24C6 AC@A6CEJ H2D Sd_ >:==:@?[ 2? 2>@F?E 3C@<6CD 56D4C:365 E96? 2D A@DD:3=6 DE2E6 C64@C5 7@C 2 C2?49 D2=6] y@9?D@? D2:5 E96 |6EK86C 72>:=J F=E:>2E6=J 564:565 E@ <66A E96 r96CCJ r@F?EJ >F=E:86?6C2E:@?2= C2?49 2?5 H@C< E9C@F89 E96 72>:=J 5J?2>:4D]k^Am

kAm!F3=:4=J 2G2:=23=6 5@4F>6?ED D9@H E92E E96 v@EED49 u665:?8 r@CA] D@=5 !2H?66 $AC:?8D {2?5 2?5 r2EE=6 {{r %F6D52J 7@C Sde >:==:@?]k^Am

kAm“xE’D E96 =2C86DE E@E2= 5@==2C C2?49 D2=6 H6’G6 366? 23=6 E@ 56E6C>:?6 7C@> 2?J C64@C5D H6 4@F=5 7:?5[” y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am

kAmp>@?8 A2DE @H?6CD @7 E96 !2H?66 $AC:?8D AC@A6CEJ[ H9:49 52E6D 324< E@ `h`g[ 2C6 ?2>6D E92E C:?8 72>:=:2C E@ }63C2D<2 3FD:?6DD 2?5 D@4:2= 4:C4=6D] p 7@C>6C }63C2D<2 8@G6C?@C[ z6:E9 }6G:==6[ H2D 2 AC6G:@FD @H?6C] r@?DECF4E:@? E:E2? !6E6C z:6H:E 3@F89E E96 @A6C2E:@? :? `hch] w6 @?46 E@=5 E96 }@CE9 !=2EE6 %6=68C2A9 E92E E96 C2?49 56C:G65 :ED ?2>6 7C@> E96 ?2EFC2= DAC:?8D E92E 7=@H65]k^Am

kAm%96 72>:=J 369:?5 v@EED49 u665:?8 r@CA] DE2CE65 =62D:?8 :? `hgd 2?5 6G6?EF2==J AFC492D65 E96 C2?49] x? 2 DE2E6>6?E C682C5:?8 %F6D52J’D D2=6[ E96 v@EED496D D2:5 “H:E9 2 962GJ 962CE” :E 28C665 E@ D6== 2 C2?49 E92E 92D 366? A2CE @7 E96:C 72>:=J 7@C c` J62CD]k^Am

Sandhills ranch sale 4.jpg — Pawnee Springs Ranch
Courtesy of Hall and Hall

kAm“(:E9 E9C66 86?6C2E:@?D 36:?8 2 A2CE @7 E96 DAC:?8 3C2?5:?8D[ DF>>6C 8C2DD 2?5 72==^H:?E6C 324<8C@F?5:?8D[ !2H?66 92D D92A65 >2?J =:G6D[” E96 v@EED496D D2:5[ @776C:?8 DA64:2= E92?<D E@ E96 q@6D92CE 72>:=J 42C6E2<6CD 2?5 E@ ?6:893@CD H9@ A:E4965 :? E@ 96=A 5FC:?8 3C2?5:?8 D62D@?] “%9@D6 >6>@C:6D H:== 2=H2JD 36 496C:D965]”k^Am

kAm%96 v@EED49 DE2E6>6?E D2:5 :ED 72>:=J 3FD:?6DD 7@@EAC:?E DA2?D }63C2D<2[ z2?D2D[ |:DD@FC: 2?5 %6I2D[ 2?5 :ED 4@>>:E>6?E DEC6E496D D6G6? 564256D @7 “3C:58:?8 E96 82A 36EH66? C2?49:?8[ 9:89\E649 7665=@E >2?286>6?E 2?5 DFDE2:?23=6 72C>:?8]”k^Am

k9cm‘{@?8\E6C> 4@>>:E>6?E’k^9cm

People are also reading…

Missouri cowgirl bakes to fund her trick-riding ambitions
Finding her niche on family farm: Newman Grove farm wife builds pork business
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Variety of fencing meets needs on the farm
Wildfires: Yearning to help, prompted to plan
Fast-Dohrmann-Strommen 55th Annual Production Sale
Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus
Effertz Key Ranch 48th Annual Bull Sale
Highmore cattleman elected to American Simmental board
Berwald Red Angus 4th Annual Bull & Female Sale
First South Dakotan named chairman of U.S. Soybean Export Council
Helping wildfire victims, the Nebraska way
Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus
Heart River Ranch Annual Production Sale
'We need more first-generation farmers'

kAm&?56C E96 ?6H @H?6CD9:A[ !2H?66 $AC:?8D 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE H:== >2:?E2:? 4FCC6?E @A6C2E:@?D[ D2:5 #J2? {2?8DE@?[ D@?\:?\=2H E@ y@?6D 2?5 ?6H rt~ @7 E96 C2?49] %92E :?4=F56D C2:D:?8 42=G6D 7C@> 3:CE9 E@ H62?:?8 2?5 C6EFC?:?8 E96> E@ 8C2DD 2D J62C=:?8D[ 2D H6== 2D CF??:?8 28 A:G@ED]k^Am

kAm%9C66 4@H3@JD H9@ ?@H =:G6 2?5 H@C< @? E96 C2?49 H:== DE2J[ {2?8DE@? D2:5[ 2?5 2 ?6H >2?286C :D E@ 36 9:C65 E@ C6A=246 E96 4FCC6?E @?6 H9@ 96 D2:5 :D >@G:?8 @? H:E9 E96 v@EED496D]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 >2<:?8 2 =@?8\E6C> 4@>>:E>6?E E@ E96 2C62[” {2?8DE@? D2:5] “(6 :?E6?5 E@ 9:C6 =@42= E2=6?E H96C6 A@DD:3=6[ A2CE?6C H:E9 @FC ?6:893@CD 2?5 >2<6 >62?:?87F= 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ E96 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am

Sandhills ranch sale 5.jpg — Pawnee Springs Ranch
Courtesy of Hall and Hall

kAmz?@H? 2=D@ 7@C A9:=2?E9C@AJ[ E96 y@?6D6D :? a_a` 5@?2E65 S`_` >:==:@? E@ E96 |@?E2?2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ ?FCD:?8 AC@8C2> — E96 9@>6 DE2E6 @7 E96 D46?:4 u=2E9625 #:586 #2?49 E96J 3@F89E E92E J62C] %96 4@FA=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>@?E2?2]65F^?6HD^a`c`a^2\52J\@7\?6H\368:??:?8D\>DF\?FCD:?8\4@==686\C646:G6D\`_`\>:==:@?\8:7E\7C@>\7@F?56CD\@7\8@@D69625\:?DFC2?46QmE@=5 E96 F?:G6CD:EJk^2m ?6HD D6CG:46 E96:C :?E6?E:@? H2D E@ 96=A 255C6DD @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 567:?:?8 492==6?86D @7 E96 E:>6i 2446DD E@ 962=E9 42C6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C C6D:56?ED @7 CFC2= 2?5 C6>@E6 2C62D]k^Am

kAm%96 F?:G6CD:EJ 2E E96 E:>6 42==65 :E E96 =2C86DE 6G6C 5@?2E:@? E@ 2 4@==686 @7 ?FCD:?8 2?5 E96 =2C86DE AC:G2E6 8:7E :? E96 DE2E6’D 9:DE@CJ]k^Am

kAm#682C5:?8 E96 }63C2D<2 AFC492D6[ y@?6D E@=5 E96 tI2>:?6C 96 2?5 9:D H:76 9@A6 :E :D E96 7:CDE @7 >@C6 24BF:D:E:@?D :? E96 C68:@?] w6 D2:5 E96J H6C6 6286C E@ :?G6DE :? 2?5 3F:=5 2 “=2C86\D42=6[ ECF=J H@C=5\4=2DD 3667 AC@5F4E:@? @A6C2E:@? … E92E :? :ED >@DE 7F?52>6?E2= 7@C> :D 4@?G6CE:?8 8C2DD E@ AC@E6:?]” k^Am

kAmw6 D66D E96 72>:=J’D 7@4FD 36:?8 :? }63C2D<2[ z2?D2D[ (J@>:?8 2?5 |@?E2?2] %96 !2H?66 $AC:?8D @A6C2E:@?[ 96 D2:5[ “H:== 36 2 A=2E7@C> H6 42? 3F:=5 @?E@]”k^Am

kAmpD 2 4@>>6C4:2= 6?E6CAC:D6[ E96 }63C2D<2 EC24E 5:776CD 7C@> E96 y@?6D’ `ad[___\24C6 2=A:?6 C2?49 :? |@?E2?2[ H9:49 E96J C676C E@ 2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7=2E96253624@?]4@>^a_a`^_a^_g^E6I2D\A@H6C\4@FA=6\24BF:C6D\`adg__\24C6D\@7\E:>36C=2?5\H6DE\@7\<2=:DA6==^Qm“72>:=J =6824J :?G6DE>6?E]k^2m” y@?6D D2:5 96 2?5 9:D H:76 92G6 EC:65 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E92E AC@A6CEJ’D 9:DE@C:42= FD6 3J <66A:?8 E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @A6? E@ AF3=:4 C64C62E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96C6[ 96 D2:5[ “@FC @3;64E:G6 :D C62==J E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7=2E96253624@?]4@>^a_a`^_e^_h^>66E\E96\;@?6D6D^Qm4@?D6CG6 E96 =2?5k^2m] xE’D 366? 72:C=J 962G:=J =@8865 … $@ H6’C6 G6CJ 7@4FD65 @? ?FCD:?8 E96 7@C6DE 324< E@ @AE:>2= 962=E9]” k^Am

k9cm‘y@?6D 92D =@DE 9:D >:?5’k^9cm

kAm%96 y@?6D6D 2C6 ?@E A=2??:?8 E@ =:G6 :? }63C2D<2[ 3FE 9@A6 E@ 36 “24E:G6 A2CE:4:A2?ED” :? E96 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

Sandhills ranch sale 2.jpg — Mark and Robyn Jones with their children and grandchildren. The Texas couple now owns Nebraska’s Pawnee Springs Ranch.
Courtesy of the Jones family

kAm$2:5 y@?6Di “*@F D9@F=5 6IA64E FD E@ 92G6 2 G6CJ C62= 2?5 @?8@:?8 AC6D6?46 2?5 6?8286>6?E H:E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am

kAm%96 4@FA=6’D 7@CEF?6 :D 3F:=E FA@? 2 C6=2E:@?D9:A E92E DE2CE65 2D E66?D :? p=36CE2[ r2?252] |2CC:65 J@F?8 2?5 H:E9 E96:C 7:CDE 76H <:5D[ y@?6D D2:5 96 6?C@==65 :? 4@==686 :? E96 >:5\`hg_D] x? `hgh[ E96 72>:=J >@G65 E@ q@DE@? D@ 96 4@F=5 2EE6?5 w2CG2C5 qFD:?6DD $49@@=]k^Am

kAm“#@3J? H2D AC68?2?E 2E E92E E:>6 H:E9 @FC 7:7E9 52F89E6C] x 36=:6G6 E92E H6 DE:== 9@=5 E96 C64@C5 7@C E96 8C62E6DE ?F>36C @7 <:5D 7@C 2?J w2CG2C5 qFD:?6DD $49@@= DEF56?E[” y@?6D D2:5 H:E9 2 49F4<=6]k^Am

kAmw6 H@C<65 D6G6C2= J62CD 2E q2:? 8=@32= >2?286>6?E 4@?DF=E:?8 7:C>] #@3J? H6?E 7C@> DE2J\2E\9@>6 >@> E@ H@C< E92E =65 96C E@ 6DE23=:D9 E96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?J E96 4@FA=6 4@?E:?F65 E@ 8C@H E@86E96C[ 27E6C 96C 9FD32?5 >256 2 ;@3 DH:E49]k^Am

kAm“(96? x E@=5 >J A2CE?6CD W2E q2:?X x H2D =62G:?8[ E96J 2== =2F8965[” y@?6D C642==65] “%96J E9@F89E[ ‘%9:D y@?6D 92D =@DE 9:D >:?5]’ qFE J@F <?@H[ H6’C6 G6CJ 4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 A6@A=6 =2F89:?8 2E FD]”k^Am

kAm%96 y@?6D6D C6>2:? 492:C 2?5 G:46 492:C @7 v@@D69625[ 2 =2C86 ?2E:@?2= :?DFC2?46 3C@<6C E92E 4@??64ED A6@A=6 H:E9 G2C:@FD 9@>6[ 2FE@[ 7=@@5 2?5 @E96C :?DFC2?46 42CC:6CD] u@C36D 6DE:>2E6D E96 4@FA=6’D 4@>3:?65 ?6E H@CE9 2E Sa 3:==:@?[ 2?5 :?4=F565 #@3J? @? 2 a_ad =:DE @7 p>6C:42’D C:496DE “D6=7\>256” H@>6? 6?EC6AC6?6FCD[ ?@E:?8 2 ?6E H@CE9 7@C 96C @7 S`]a 3:==:@?]k^Am

kAmp? 2AA62=:?8 A2CE @7 E96 }63C2D<2 C2?49 AFC492D6[ D2:5 y@?6D[ H9@D6 62C=J ;@3D :?4=F565 =2J:?8 A:A6 2?5 5C:G:?8 2 ECF4<[ H2D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 92G6 E96:C 8C2?5<:5D H@C< E96C6] k^Am

kAm“(6 H2?E @FC 8C2?5<:5D E@ =62C? 2?5 D66 E96 G2=F6 @7 92C5 H@C<[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 9:D 562=:?8D H:E9 E96 D6==6CD C67=64E65 2? :?E68C:EJ 96 6BF2E6D E@ E96 C2?49:?8 @A6C2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“%96D6 2C6 E96 <:?5 @7 A6@A=6 H6 =@G6 E@ 5@ 3FD:?6DD H:E9[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Aaron Sanderford for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com.