Sheep business and meat business for the Hollenbecks

Sarah Brown
Feb 28, 2019
Feb 28, 2019 Updated Mar 21, 2019

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

MOLT, Mont. – With baby on the way and organizational guru Marie Kondo on the TV, rancher Sara Hollenbeck set about cleaning out her High Five Meats freezer.

kAm“x 564:565 E@ 5@ 2 A@AF=2C A24<286 E92E 92G6 D@=5 :? E96 A2DE[ 2 d_\A@F?5 3667 4@>3:?2E:@? 7@C 2 Sad_ DA64:2=[ H9:49 :D 2 C62==J 8@@5 562=[” D96 D2:5] “x 8@E 2== E9@D6 A24<2865 2?5 56=:G6C65 =2DE H66< :? E96 7C6D9 D?@H DE@C> @? uC:52J]”k^Am

kAm$2C2 25G6CE:D65 @? u2463@@<[ H9:49 :D ?@E9:?8 ?6H[ 3FE D96 5:5 492?86 :E FA 2 =:EE=6]k^Am

kAm“x 2D<65 2 4@FA=6 @7 7C:6?5D[ ‘x7 E96C6 H2D 2 =@42= C2?49 E92E H2D D6==:?8 E9:D A24<286[ H92E H@F=5 36 J@FC BF6DE:@?Dn’” D96 D2:5] “p?5 E96J <:?5 @7 D2:5[ ‘w@H >F49 DA246 :? >J 7C66K6C H@F=5 E92E E2<6 FAn’ $@[ x 5:5 2 G:56@ @7 2== E96 >62E :? 2 7C66K6C 2D H6== 2D @? 2 E23=6 E@ D9@H 6I24E=J H92E J@FVC6 86EE:?8 2?5 9@H :EVD 8@:?8 E@ 7:E :? J@FC 7C66K6C]”k^Am

kAmxE H@C<65i $2C2 925 2 3F?49 @7 ?6H 4FDE@>6CD] p?5 H:E9 ?6H 4FDE@>6CD[ ?6H BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 9@H E96 >62E :D C2:D65]k^Am

kAm“$@>6 A6@A=6 H6C6 H@?56C:?8 :7 :E H2D 8C2DD 765 2?5 x 6IA=2:?65 E92E 2== @7 @FC 3667 :D A2DEFC6 C2:D65[ 8C2DD 765 F?E:= E96 =2DE e_ 52JD[” D96 D2:5] “(96? H6 5@ 8:G6 :E 2 8C2:? 7:?:D9[ 2== E96 8C2:? 4@>6D 7C@> =@42= 72C>6CD 2C@F?5 FD[ D@ H6VC6 ECJ:?8 E@ 36 DFDE2:?23=6 E92E H2J[ 3FE H6 2=D@ =:<6 E@ AFE D@>6 72E @? @FC 7:?:D965 3667j H6 ;FDE E9:?< :E E2DE6D 36EE6C]”k^Am

kAm$96 2=D@ 86ED BF6DE:@?D 23@FE v|~ 7665[ H9:49 96C 2?:>2=D 5@ 4@?DF>6 :? E96 7@C> @7 DA6?E 366E AF=A 7C@> E96 ?62C3J DF82C 724E@CJ] tG6CJ @?46 :? 2 H9:=6[ D96 86ED 2D<65 23@FE @C82?:4 7665[ H9:49 E96J 5@?’E 86E]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 E96 E:>6D H96? A6@A=6 2C6 2D<:?8 E96D6 3:8 3FKKH@C5 BF6DE:@?D =:<6 8C2DD 765 @C v|~ @C @C82?:4[ :EVD ?@E ?646DD2C:=J E92E E96J 2C6 A2CE:4F=2C 23@FE D@>6E9:?8] xE’D ;FDE E96:C 6?ECJH2J E@ DE2CE 2 5:D4FDD:@? H:E9 J@F 23@FE J@FC AC@5F4E[” $2C2 D2:5] “%96J H2?E E@ 36 6?82865[ E96J H2?E >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 3FE E96JVC6 ?@E 6I24E=J DFC6 >2J36 H92E E96JVC6 E2=<:?8 23@FE @C H92E E96J H2?E E@ <?@H]”k^Am

kAm$96 E2<6D E96 BF6DE:@?D 2E 7246 G2=F6 2?5 EC:6D E@ 36 EC2?DA2C6?E]k^Am

kAm“~?46 x 6IA=2:? 9@H H6 5@ E9:?8D E@ :?BF:C:?8 >:?5D[ E96J <:?5 @7 4@>6 2C@F?5 E@ E96 :562 2?5 F?56CDE2?5[” D96 D2:5] “xE ;FDE 4@>6D 5@H? E@ 65F42E:@? 2?5 =6EE:?8 E96> <?@H J@FC AC24E:46D[ D@ 6G6? :7 :EVD ?@E 6I24E=J H92E E96J H6C6 =@@<:?8 7@C[ E96J 42? F?56CDE2?5 J@FC >6E9@5D]”k^Am

kAm$2C2 7:?5D BF2?E:EJ E96 >2:? 32CC:6C E@ D6==:?8 >@C6 AC@5F4E]k^Am

kAm“tG6? E9@F89 d_ A@F?5D E@ >6 5@6D?VE D66> =:<6 G6CJ >F49 3642FD6 xVG6 8@E 2 8:2?E 7C66K6C[ E@ 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 H:E9 D>2==6C 72>:=:6D @C @?=J @?6 @C EH@ A6@A=6 :? 2 72>:=J[ E92EVD 2 =@E @7 >62E DE:==[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

People are also reading…

Beef lovers try new farming approaches
Life in a Farmhouse Kitchen
Dig deeper on how tillage methods affect soil health, yield
Finding local beef: South Dakota’s new directory connects producers, consumers
Online tool helps take guess-work out of planting
Spickler Ranch South Annual Production Sale
Wendel Livestock Annual Angus Production Sale
After 24 years, SDSU effort aims to bring back South Dakota custom rates survey
Spring and fall calving strategies differ
Solar power helps keep Illinois farms alive
Always improving: Sandhills cowboy was an early AI adopter
Iowa weed specialist offers tips on timing tough weed control
Bocks build soil, raise crops together with faith, family
Family support propels Iowa Shorthorn ranch success
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts

kAm$2C2’D A:??:?8 96C 9@A6D @? E96 ?2D46?E *6==@HDE@?6 '2==6J u@@5 wF3[ H9:49 @C82?:K65 2 92?57F= @7 A:4<FA A2CE:6D 7@C =@42= 7@@5 3@I6D 2C@F?5 r9C:DE>2DE:>6]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 :? E96 AC@46DD @7 ECJ:?8 E@ 5@ 2?@E96C r$p\EJA6 A:4<FA H:E9 AC@5F4ED 7C@> 2== @7 E96 AC@5F46CD 2?5 H6VC6 9@A:?8 E@ 5@ E9C66\>@?E9 DF3D4C:AE:@?D 2E 2 E:>6 :?DE625 @7 ;FDE 2[ ‘w6J[ xV== 4@>6 @? 5@H?[’” D96 D2:5] “%92E H2J A6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 6?82865 :? @FC AC@5F4ED 2?5 42? 92G6 2446DD E@ E96> >@C6 7C6BF6?E=J[ H9:49 :D 2 =@E @7 E96 7665324< H6 8@E] !6@A=6 2C6 =:<6[ ‘~<2J[ E9:D H2D 8C62E] (6 H@F=5 =:<6 D@>6 >@C6 ?@H]’”k^Am

kAm%6>A6C2EFC6D 92G6 366? 4@=5 96C6 :? 46?EC2= |@?E2?2[ 2?5 E96C6’D BF:E6 2 3:E @7 D?@H @? E96 8C@F?5] u63CF2CJ a_`h :D AC@;64E65 E@ 36 E96 D64@?5 4@=56DE @? C64@C5 :? q:==:?8D H:E9 2? 2G6C286 E6>A6C2EFC6 @7 h]f 568C66D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46] %6>A6C2EFC6D 2G6C2865 ;FDE D=:89E=J 23@G6 `b]c 568C66D[ H9:49 H2D H92E u63CF2CJ `hgh 2G6C2865 7@C E96 E9:C5 4@=56DE @? C64@C5]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 366? :>A@CE2?E 7@C FD E@ >2<6 DFC6 2== E96 2?:>2=D 2C6 86EE:?8 6IEC2 2EE6?E:@?[ 6IEC2 7665[ E@ <66A E96> H2C>[” $2C2 D2:5] “(6’G6 8@E D@>6 4@HD 5@H? :? E96 72CE96DE A@CE:@? @7 @FC AC@A6CEJ 2?5 E96J D66> E@ >2?286 2== C:89E[ 3FE H6 92G6 366? 8@:?8 5@H? E96C6 52:=J E@ 8:G6 E96> @?6 @C EH@ 32=6D @7 92J E@ >2<6 E96> 92AAJ 2?5 4@?E6?E 2?5 H2C>] %96J D66> E@ 2AAC64:2E6 :E 3642FD6 E96J 4@>6 CF??:?8 6G6CJ E:>6 E96J D66 E96 ECF4<D]”k^Am

kAm%96 w@==6?364<D 2=D@ AFE @FE DEC2H 7@C E96 8@2ED[ 3FE E96 D966A 2C6 D@ H6== :?DF=2E65 E96J’C6 FDF2==J 7:?6] %96 H@CCJ :D 566A D?@H[ H9:49 42? 3FCJ 2 H9@=6 7=@4< BF:4<=J]k^Am

kAm“(6 2=H2JD 4964< E96 7@C642DE 367@C6 H6 8@ E@ 365 2?5 :7 :EVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 H:?5J E92? H6 >2<6 DFC6 H6VC6 FA 7:CDE E9:?8 :? E96 >@C?:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E :7 2?J 2C6 3FC:65[ E96JVC6 AF==65 @FE :>>65:2E6=J[” D96 D2:5] “pD =@?8 2D H6 42? 86E E96> @FE BF:4<=J[ E96JVC6 FDF2==J 2=H2JD @<2J]”k^Am

kAm%96 w@==6?364<D D@=5 E96:C AC68?2?E 6H6D 2?5 8@2ED 2E 2F4E:@? :? q:==:?8D 2 76H H66<D 28@] xE’D 2 @?46\2\J62C D2=6 E96J H6C6 AC6A2C65 E@ H2=< 2H2J 7C@> H:E9 ?@ D2=6 :7 E96 AC:46D H6C6?’E BF:E6 C:89E] %92E 5:5?’E 92AA6?i E96J D@=5 bca 3C65 6H6D[ g @A6? 6H6D 2?5 cg ?2??J 8@2ED] $2C2 4C:65]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 92AAJ 3642FD6 J@F ?6G6C <?@H H:E9 E9:D >2C<6E[” $2C2 D2:5] “w6?CJ 2?5 9:D 525[ E96J 2=H2JD 92G6 2 766=:?8 H92E E9:?8D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ D6== 7@C[ 3FE x 2> 2=H2JD D<6AE:42= 2?5 ?6CG@FD E92E E9:?8D 2C6?VE 8@:?8 E@ 8@ E96 H2J J@F H2?E E96> E@] x <?6H E92E D6E @7 6H6D E92E H6 H6C6 AFEE:?8 E9C@F89 E96 C:?8 H2D 2 C62==J D@=:5 D6E @7 6H6D 2?5 H6 H@C<65 92C5 E@ AC@>@E6 E96> 2?5 >2C<6E E96>] w6?CJ 925 2 A9@?6 2EE24965 E@ 9:D 9625 7@C E96 H66< AC6G:@FD ;FDE E2<:?8 42==D 23@FE E96>] xE ;FDE 76=E =:<6 6G6CJE9:?8 A2:5 @77]”k^Am

kAm%92E 5@6D?’E >62? E96J H6?E 9@>6 H:E9 2? 6>AEJ EC2:=6C] w6?CJ[ 2 D966A 3FJ6C[ 2=D@ AFC492D65 D@>6 3C65 3=24<7246 6H6D 5F6 E@ 368:? =2>3:?8 D@@?]k^Am

kAm“%96J’C6 >@C6 D9@CE\E6C> 6H6D E92E H6 AC@323=J H@?VE 92?8 @? E@ G6CJ =@?8[ 3FE H6V== 86E E96 =2>3 @77 @7 E96> 2?5 AC@323=J C6D6== E96 6H6 2?5 E96? E96 =2>3[ H96? :ED A6C764E H6:89E 4@>6D 2C@F?5[” $2C2 D2:5] “(6 5@?VE C62==J 92G6 2?JE9:?8 =2>3:?8 C:89E ?@H 2?5 H6 92G6 E96 DA246 7@C E96> E@ =2>3 C:89E ?@H[ D@]”k^Am

kAm%96 w@==6?364<D 2C6 D6E FA 7@C :E H:E9 2 DA24:@FD 32C? 2?5 ?F>6C@FD A6?D ?62C E96 J2C5[ 2D H6== 2D 96=A 7C@> E96:C D:I !6CFG:2? D96A96C5D]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 A6@A=6 H@F=5?VE >2<6 E92E 564:D:@? C:89E E96? 2?5 E96C6 2D E96 6H6D 2C6 8@:?8 E9C@F89 E96 C:?8[ E96J AC@323=J 92G6 E9@F89E 23@FE E96:C H9@=6 =2>3:?8 D62D@? 2?5 H96? E96J H2?E E96> 2?5 H96? E96J 5@?VE H2?E E96>[” $2C2 D2:5] “(96C62D H:E9 FD[ H6VC6 =:<6 ‘(6== J@F <?@H H6 92G6 E96 32C? DA246 C:89E ?@H] %96JVC6 8@:?8 7@C 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 AC:46] $FC6] (9J ?@En’ x 5@?VE E9:?< 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 >2<6 564:D:@?D =:<6 E92E]”k^Am

kAmu@==@H E96 w@==6?364<D @? *6==@HDE@?6 !F3=:4 #25:@UCDBF@jD u:6=5 s2JD |@?52JD f A]>] 2?5 @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]JAC25:@]@C8^AC@8C2>D^7:6=5\52JDQm9EEAi^^HHH]JAC25:@]@C8^AC@8C2>D^7:6=5\52JDk^2m]k^Am