Annual Cattle Tour
For years, Flat Water Gang has dedicated time to hitting the road and visiting Red Angus operations across North America. These hands-on tours allow us to evaluate genetics in their home environments, build relationships with top breeders, and ultimately bring the best genetic solutions to our commercial clients. Every environment and management style is unique—the best way to understand them is to see them firsthand.
2025 Tour
Ross joined Chuck Steffan of Heart River Red Angus (Belfield, ND) and Bruce Ketchum of Milk Creek Red Angus (Plevna, MT) on a five-day tour of Red Angus operations across Canada. With Sheldon Kyle (KenRay) and Brian Hanel (Flying K) as our guides, the trip offered rich conversations on genetics, personal insights, and a deeper understanding of the Canadian countryside and cattle community.
Day 1
KenRay Ranch
Our first stop was KenRay Ranch (Redvers, Saskatchewan). Sheldon Kyle has been building an exceptional herd of Red Angus cattle. We’ve had the opportunity to purchase cattle from Sheldon in the past—and they’ve performed incredibly well in our environment. Quality genetics and real-world adaptability make his program one to watch.
Moose Creek Red Angus
Our second stop in Canada was at Moose Creek Red Angus with Darren Ippelito (Kisbey, Saskatchewan). Darren and his father have been active and influential in the Red Angus breed for many years, building a program rooted in quality and consistency. This December, they’ve made the significant decision to offer their entire herd in a complete and total liquidation.
There will be outstanding opportunities throughout this offering, and we strongly encourage anyone in the breed to take a serious look. It’s a solid, proven program with genetics worth paying attention to.
Day 2
JJL Livestock
After an overnight stay in Melville, Saskatchewan, we headed to JJL Livestock for a tour with Jarret and Jenna Loveridge. While their herd may be smaller in numbers, the quality is second to none. Their focus on structure, fertility, and disposition has produced a powerful lineup of Red Angus cattle. We are excited to get our new herd bull home from this impressive program!
Flying K Ranch Red Angus
After a great morning with the Loveridge family, we made our way to Swift Current to visit one of the Flying K Ranch Red Angus pastures. Flying K is well-known across the Red Angus industry for delivering superior, highly consistent maternal genetics—and the cow herd did not disappoint.
The quality and uniformity were truly impressive. We wrapped up the week with a full day touring more of the Flying K pastures on Friday—more to come on that soon!
Day 3
Jensen Red Angus
After leaving Flying K headquarters, we made our way to Jensen Red Angus, home of Bob and Tee Jensen in Leader, Saskatchewan. The Jensen family has built a practical, productive herd of Red Angus females—well-balanced cattle that are built to work and thrive in real-world conditions.
Stuart Cattle Station
From Jensen Red Angus, we continued north to Edam, Saskatchewan for a visit to Stuart Cattle Station, operated by David and Mitch Stuart and their families. The Stuarts are committed to the fundamentals of building a top-tier cow herd—prioritizing strong, functional females and letting them raise standout calves.
Their success is no accident—careful genetic selection and doing their homework before introducing new genetics has been key to their program’s consistency and progress.
After an incredible meal featuring homegrown beef and fresh garden produce, we hit the road once again, heading to Lloydminster, Alberta for the night.
Day 4
Hill 70 Quantock Ranch
Our next stop was Hill 70 Quantock Ranch, home to Bill, Ted, and Connor Creech. Known for their annual bull sale offering a wide selection of bulls across multiple breeds, Hill 70 stands out for both scale and quality.
As we toured several cow groups, we were impressed by the consistent phenotype across the herd. Large numbers often bring greater variation, but not here. The cows and the program are clearly well-aligned with their environment, resulting in a herd that’s both uniform and functional.
Day 5
Flying K Ranch
We wrapped up our tour back in Swift Current with a final visit to Flying K Ranch, hosted by Brian, Christine, Shane, and Dylan Hanel. Flying K is home to a truly exceptional cow herd: uniform, functional, and built for real-world performance.
Over the years, we’ve incorporated genetics from Flying K into our own program with great success, and we’re looking forward to continuing that partnership into the future. These cows are the complete package: excellent udders, solid feet with dark hooves, and outstanding dispositions. Their breeding philosophy focuses on consistency—giving bull buyers confidence in the animals they bring home. A top-notch operation, through and through.
Flat Water Gang continues to bring the best product forward for our commercial clients. Fitting an individual or operation into our program isn’t always simple. Every environment and management style is unique, and the best way to truly understand them is to see them firsthand.
For the third year in a row, we’ve dedicated time in our calendar to hit the road, visit operations, and get boots on the ground. These trips consistently reveal opportunities we’d never find behind a desk. This on-the-ground insight helps us improve what we do—and that brings direct value to you. We’re grateful for the continued opportunity to support your herd with long-term genetic solutions, and we firmly believe the best way to serve you is to keep showing up in person.