Our story

Ostrand Angus Ranch, owned and operated by Kory & Danielle Ostrand, is located south of Ansley in the rolling hills of Custer County. The ranch has been in the Ostrand family since 1884, when Kory’s Great-Great-Grandparents, August and Caroline Ostrand, came from Sweden and registered their homestead southwest of Mason City. 

Kory is the 5th generation raising cattle and farming on the Ostrand Ranch but is the 1st generation with registered Angus. Kory purchased his first registered Angus heifer from Boyles Angus when he was nine years old. He grew his herd by purchasing additional females from the money he received from his 4-H projects. In 2001, Kory held his first bull sale at Huss Livestock Market in Kearney, when he was still in high school. He continued to manage and grow his cow herd while attending college.  Following his college graduation, he moved back to the ranch to continue farming and ranching. 

The Ostrand Angus herd grew in late 2012 when they had the opportunity to purchase the mature cow herd from Slagle Angus of Sargent. This expanded their registered herd from 120 to 420 head.  For the next seven years, they worked side by side with Slagle Angus hosting joint production sales at the Slagle Ranch. Through this time, they learned so much; gained many new friends and customers; and walked with Mark Slagle as he battled an illness.  In 2019, after Mark’s passing, Ostrand Angus was blessed with the opportunity to purchase the remaining of the Slagle family’s cows to carry on the Slagle Angus reputation.

Presently, the breeding program includes 500 registered Angus cows and 130 registered Angus bred heifers which all calve mid-December through February. Ostrand Angus puts great emphasis on their AI breeding program with some embryo transfer work.  The cattle graze on owned and leased native grass.  Other crops that are included in the operation are corn, alfalfa, cane, and irrigated grass.  Presently, they hold their annual production sale on the third Wednesday in February at their ranch south of Ansley. They will market 160 yearling Angus bulls and 35 yearling replacement heifers.  Private treaty bulls are also for sale in late spring. The steer mates to the bulls are finished at the Ostrand ranch where they receive individual carcass data to ensure their cattle have superior carcass merit.

Kory and Danielle have four children. Their son, Brexton, is 11 years old. Twin girls, Avery & Olivia, are 9 years old. The youngest ranch hand, Merrik, is 5 years old. The children are great ranch hands and love being a part of the various ranch duties. Kory and Danielle love the teamwork that comes from running a registered cattle business together. From raising calves to chasing kids, bull sale picture days to late night catalog proofing, recordkeeping to bull shopping, juggling children’s activities to hours together chute side, from working in the sorting pen to the AI barn, and working in the hay field and silage field they find such joy in doing it together. To carry on the family ranching heritage, Kory partners with his father Neil, who runs the commercial cow herd. Also, Kory’s aunt, Kathy Ostrand, his cousin Chris Hogg, and neighbor Chase help make the operation work. Ostrand Angus has helped their children each start their own registered Angus herd, which is laying the foundation for the 6th generation on the ranch. The children look forward to helping sell their bulls each year on the production sale. The family has also found a passion for showing cattle at the country fair and has branched out to the Nebraska Junior Angus winter and state shows and hopefully will attend a national show in the future.  When the cattle work is done, the family loves to go camping, run in a barrel race, or compete at a junior rodeo.