By CLINTON LAFLIN
Midway Extension District Livestock Agent
RUSSELL COUNTY - The Ken and Pat Stielow family, Bar S Ranch, of rural Paradise was recently nominated as a candidate for the 2023 Master Farm Family of the Year award. They were nominated by members of the Midway District Extension Board.
The Master Farm Family award recognizes up to six farm families across Kansas each year representing excellence in the development and operation of a farm or ranch enterprise. Selection will be based on lifelong accomplishments in agriculture, alongside involvement in community and rural development.
Bar S Ranch was homesteaded near Paradise, Kansas in 1900. In 1945, Ken’s father, Frank, bought 15 purebred Angus heifers and a bull to start what became a highly reputable commercial Angus herd. The family began to register cattle in the early 1970s. The registered cow herd is currently comprised of Angus, Red Angus and Charolais cattle. This year, 2023, marked the 33rd annual sale for the operation, held at the ranch headquarters.
This annual bull and commercial female sale is held on the second Saturday in March where they sell over 100 bulls each year. The operation still includes a multidimensional farming operation and commercial cow herd.
Like many farms and ranches across Kansas, Bar S Ranch is family owned and operated. Ken and Pat work alongside their daughter Stephanie, son Chris, son-in-law David Dickerson, and three grandsons, Grady, Ethan and Jayce, in the daily operation of the ranch.
Ken and Pat are active members of the Otterbein Methodist Church in Russell. Ken is an active member of the Kansas Livestock Association, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, NCBA. He also served as chairman of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board.
The Midway Extension District in Russell and Ellsworth Counties wishes the best of luck to this deserving family as they are considered for this award that will be presented in early spring 2024.