The chronicle's of the von Forell's began in the early 1900s. Hereford Association records show the first cattle registered as early as 1904. Ranch pictures show a Denver Champion bull in 1912. Serious herd development began in 1915 when Ernest von Forell, Nebraska farmer, bought a few registered cows from the world famous Gudgell and Simpson cow herd.
The same year Ernest's son Earl homesteaded northeast of Scottsbluff, NE. The father and son operation grew and prospered. In 1919 the pair held their first bull sale, a tradition that continues today.
During the great depression Ernest lost most his cows, but son Earl managed to hold onto a few. He and his wife, Claudia, moved to Henry, NE. where sons Bruce and Gordon were born
In 1941, Earl purchased a headquarters Ranch below Laramie Peak and moved his family and cows to Wheatland, WY. Earl purchased the Mike Loomis Ranch, on Chugwater Creek, in 1965. That, along with a ranch north of Wheatland, served as the cow and hay ranches for the family. 1953 Bruce married Shirley Memmer and they took over operation of the Laramie River Ranch and cowherd in 1965. Shirley was a local girl, and very active in the bookkeeping, delivery, advertising of the operation. She was at Bruce's side continually as he worked through the Wyoming Stockgrowers, eventually serving as their youngest President. Bruce was active with 4H and the University of Wyoming Agricultural Advisory committee.
During this time von Forell's continued their long tradition of exhibiting at the National Western Stock Show. Early records indicate their first exhibit there was in 1912. von Forell's continued to produce breed leading cattle and hold 2 annual bull sales on both ranches until the early 1990s. Bruce and Shirley had 3 children, all who were quite active in the ranch growing up - Becky, Cindy, and Hardy.
Hardy, took over the reins operating the ranch in 1987. He was married in 1988 to Mary McDonnell from Billing, MT. Their 3 children Kristine, Benjamin and Amanda are fifth generation in the seedstock industry.
The von Forells' added Black Angus cattle to the ranch in the fall of 1989. In 1993, Hardy and Mary bought a Red Angus cowherd from her father's, Leo McDonnell, estate. Leo McDonnell built one of the first performance bull test stations in the world, and this was a cowherd based on years of performance tradition.
In 1993, after Bruce's untimely death, von Forells' consolidated their operations onto the Chugwater Creek Ranch. Shirley remained active in the ranch activities until early 2000.
An expansion in 1997 added, farming and additional rangeland.
Hardy and Mary, and their children, continue to raise seedstock. Red Angus and Angus cattle make up the registered cowherds. The von Forell Ranch now encompasses a diversified ranching and farming operation that includes producing registered seedstock, an all English bred commercial herd, haying and small grains production.
In 2007, the von Forells' are celebrating their 88th year actively involved in the registered business. It is the Ranch's 94th anniversary at the National Western Stock Show, missing once during WWII and once in the early 1970's.
The ranch markets cattle, semen and embryos all across the North American continent, South America and Mexico. The annual bull sale takes place in late March and the Angus Bulls are marketed in conjunction with the Big Country Sale in Columbus, MT.
The ranch continues to exhibit cattle around the country: Denver Stock Show, Fort Worth Stock Show, Louisville NAILE, Kansas City American Royal, and Billings NILE. Look at the scrap book page to see the champions they have exhibited.
Continuing in the footsteps of past generations the von Forell family is dedicated to producing elite purebred genetics. The von Forell name was widely renowned for their Herefords. That has changed to Red Angus and Angus now, but they still follow the tradition of being "not speculators in the cattle business, but seeking to be breeders of high quality cattle."
