Heritage & Stewardship
Better Herd. Better Land.
History of innovation.
The Jorgensen operation began in 1909 when Martin Jorgensen, Sr. and his wife Gertrude homesteaded land near Ideal, South Dakota.
Nearly 50 years later, his son Martin Jorgensen Jr. adopted the pioneering beef cattle performance breeding concepts of the late Dr. Jay Lush (Iowa State University). By the 1960s, the Jorgensen’s performance-based, line-breeding program had established their herd as “the source” for performance beef cattle genetics in the U.S. Today, the 3rd- and 4th-generations of the Jorgensen family continue the legacy of innovation through farming and cattle operations. We remain at the forefront of performance measurement, genetic analysis, and conservation. As a result, cattlemen, farmers, and hunters continue to look to “the source.”
"True progress is measured in generations, not seasons."
60 years of disciplined Angus seedstock production.
Martin F. Jorgensen, Jr. was a pioneer. He once told an interviewer, “I’ve never liked tradition for tradition’s sake, nor have I feared new approaches.” Martin was always searching for a better way to do things and was not afraid to swim upstream if he was convinced that was what needed to be done.
Always analytical, Martin’s own analysis of his own commercial cattle operation in the 50s was that he had been doing things the way most ranchers did — producing good but average cows that produced good but average calves, and “average” wasn’t good enough for Martin. Since he couldn’t find the kind of bulls that would do what he wanted bulls to do, he decided to make bulls that would improve commercial cattle herds. He bought some good registered cows, found the leading geneticists who understood what needed to change, and determined to produce the kind of bulls he had wanted to use in his own commercial herd!
“I’d read about the (Line 1 Hereford project) and how successful that program was, and that’s when I just went gung-ho. It’s why I concentrated on getting those performance-tested sires lined-up; and then I bought that herd of cows and heifers. With the best of what I got out of those excellent cows and heifers, we formed our base herd.”
Martin Jorgensen
Performance testing and a performance breeding plan.
The Jorgensens were among the early adopters of the livestock breeding concepts pioneered by Dr. Jay Lush, who is considered to be the father of the science of animal breeding. Dr. Lush (Iowa State University) advocated breeding livestock based on quantitative information rather than by subjective appearance. This fit with Martin’s pursuit of improvement and he began to work closely with four of the leading cattle geneticists of the day: three former students of Dr. Lush and Dr. Ray Woodward who had helped develop the Line 1 Herefords at the Fort Keogh Research Station in Montana.
With the help of Dr. Woodward (ABS & Ft. Keough geneticist) and Dr. Dinkel (SDSU geneticist), Martin transformed his vision into a breeding program. First, he used Skylandmere 2058, Rito N Bar, and “Algoma 48” to build a solid, foundation cow herd.
World-class genetics need world-class land.
"Better Herd. Better Land." is more than a slogan; it's our daily operational mandate. We believe deeply that world-class genetics cannot reach their full potential on degraded resources. Our dedication to soil health and regenerative practices ensures that the prairie remains vibrant, resilient, and productive for the generations that follow us.
Innovation in agriculture isn't just about data and technology — it's about applying that insight to honor the natural systems we oversee. We stay true to our family roots while always looking forward.
Our Story
See the heritage on the land that built it.
Step into the pastures of Ideal, South Dakota and meet the family behind six decades of relentless selection. This is where the cattle, the land, and the people come together.
Healthier land means better herds, and better herds mean a stronger legacy to pass down to the next generation.
What the industry says.
We have bought Jorgensen bulls for at least 10 years. They're strong, healthy, & perform well in our operation in Florida. They dang sure work!
Some of the finest people I have ever had the honor of meeting. Hard, honest working family who live their values... True stewardship of the land they oversee.
The Jorgensen family are stewards of the land, innovative, informed and hard working... Their contributions to agriculture and animal husbandry are recognized world wide.