Klint & Lori Swanson - 2265 Gooseberry Lane * Chinook, Montana 59523 * (406) 357-2492 * (406) 357-2298 Fax
Shipwheel Cattle Co. is located on Clear Creek 13 miles south of Chinook, in North Central Montana. The ranch that we reside on was purchased by Lori”s father Ed Williamson in 1945. Ed had his own trucking business, ran some commercial cattle and farmed dry land wheat. Klint & Lori were married in 1998, and lived in Valier, Montana, until Ed decided to retire in June of 2000. We packed up our cows and clothes and moved to Chinook.
Although “Shipwheel Cattle Co.” is a fairly new name, our cattle are not. Klint received his first 3 registered cows in 1984. They were “picks of the herd” from Klint’s parents, Daryle and Pam Swanson. Daryle and Pam founded Apex Angus in the 60’s and had three sons, Kirby, Kurt and Klint. Klint has spent his lifetime building this cowherd.
Our cowherd slowly grew from those original three cows, to the herd it is today. We have been selling bulls in the Apex Angus production sales, until June of 2008 when we formed Shipwheel Cattle Company. This is when we made the tough decision to no longer offer our bulls for sale at Apex Angus. The distance between Valier and Chinook and having the bull sale in the heat of our calving, were the two big factors substantiating our decision. We also find ourselves busier each year chasing kids and cows.
Our cowherd slowly grew from those original three cows, to the herd it is today. We have been selling bulls in the Apex Angus production sales, until June of 2008 when we formed Shipwheel Cattle Company. This is when we made the tough decision to no longer offer our bulls for sale at Apex Angus. The distance between Valier and Chinook and having the bull sale in the heat of our calving, were the two big factors substantiating our decision. We also find ourselves busier each year chasing kids and cows.
In 2006, Dr. Gale Jellem DVM, of West Fork Angus in Chinook, approached us with running his registered cows on shares. Gale had been selling his bulls by private treaty for several years and had been doing very well. In 2009, Gale decided to sell his cows to us. After running his cows for three years and knowing their quality, we were honored to have the opportunity to own them. Gale has been a wonderful mentor and friend and we only hope we can keep him around our outfit for a while longer.
With all of our focus on our ever increasing cowherd, we have pretty much eliminated our wheat farming. Most of the dry-land acres have been planted to hay and the remaining leased out. We want to do one thing and do it as good as we possibly can. We did grow some corn this year with very good results. With the help of some good friends, we silaged the corn and are using it in our bull ration.
For the past several years, we have been sending our "US Verified - Source and Age Verified" steer calves to Poky Feeders in Garden City, Kansas. Poky is a top notch feed yard and have been outstanding to work with. In 2008, our steers graded 98% Choice with 65% making CAB.
With all of our focus on our ever increasing cowherd, we have pretty much eliminated our wheat farming. Most of the dry-land acres have been planted to hay and the remaining leased out. We want to do one thing and do it as good as we possibly can. We did grow some corn this year with very good results. With the help of some good friends, we silaged the corn and are using it in our bull ration.
For the past several years, we have been sending our "US Verified - Source and Age Verified" steer calves to Poky Feeders in Garden City, Kansas. Poky is a top notch feed yard and have been outstanding to work with. In 2008, our steers graded 98% Choice with 65% making CAB.
Dr. Gale Jellum
At Shipwheel Cattle Company,
we believe in supporting those organizations that support us.
For that reason, we are
members of the following:
Montana Angus Association
North Central Montana Stockgrowers Assocation
North Central Montana Angus Association
Montana Stockgrowers Association
North Central Montana CattleWomen
Montana CattleWomen
American National CattleWomen
we believe in supporting those organizations that support us.
For that reason, we are
members of the following:
Montana Angus Association
North Central Montana Stockgrowers Assocation
North Central Montana Angus Association
Montana Stockgrowers Association
North Central Montana CattleWomen
Montana CattleWomen
American National CattleWomen
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Shipwheel Cattle Company - All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2008 - Klint & Lori Swanson
2265 Gooseberry Lane - Chinook, Montana 59523 * (406) 357-2492 * Fax (406) 357-2298 * Email us Here
Site Design by Montana Grafix - Chinook, Montana
Shipwheel Cattle Company - All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2008 - Klint & Lori Swanson
2265 Gooseberry Lane - Chinook, Montana 59523 * (406) 357-2492 * Fax (406) 357-2298 * Email us Here
Site Design by Montana Grafix - Chinook, Montana
POKY Feeders Truck
Corn Silaging at the Ranch
