Chuck and Annette Steffan chosen as North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s Ranchers of the Year

Posted 09/20/2024

For immediate release:

Sept. 20, 2024

For more information, contact:

Randy Schmitt, NDSA president: (701) 537-3440 • [email protected]

Julie Ellingson, NDSA executive vice president: (701) 223-2522 • [email protected]

Elizabeth Hasenwinkel, NDSA communications director: (701) 833-1162 • [email protected]

Chuck and Annette Steffan chosen as North Dakota Stockmen's Association's Ranchers of the Year

The North Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA) presented 24-year NDSA members Chuck and Annette Steffan of Belfield, N.D., with its 2024 Rancher of the Year Award during the organization's 95th Annual Convention & Trade Show this evening in Bismarck, N.D.

Chuck and Annette both grew up raising commercial Red Angus cattle, and they were committed to having their own ranch from the day their marriage began. The couple began their lives together by renting a 5-acre homestead and raising feeder cattle, sheep and hogs.

In 1995, Chuck and Annette developed a partnership with her parents, Bud and Cecilia Obrigewitch, with the goal of raising registered seedstock. They chose the name Heart River Ranch, because the north fork of the Heart River started on Bud's federal grazing permit and the beginning of the south fork began one-half mile from Chuck's and Annette's place.

From the beginning, the goal of the Heart River Ranch has been to raise cattle with performance. As the ranch developed, the goal has expanded to cattle with moderate, easy-fleshing frames, good feet and leg structure and that can survive on limited feed resources. "The mother cow is always priority on our operation," said Chuck. "The ability for the cow to do her job well every year with efficient utilization of basic ranch resources of grass and water are emphasized." The ranch's registered herd has grown not only in size, but also in its desired genetic traits.

In 2008, an expansion and exchange of operation occurred at Heart River Ranch with a lease of the Short Pines Ranch in South Dakota. A few years later, Cecilia passed away and Chuck and Annette purchased Bud's half of the partnership and a bull development lot was built south of Belfield. In 2013, Chuck and Annette began leasing the Short Pines Ranch in its entirety.

​Heart River Ranch has expanded to more than 425 head of registered mother cows and 120 head of heifers calved annually. "The ranch is continuing to grow its cow numbers and improve our genetics," said Annette. "The Heart River Ranch family is dedicated to providing progressive cattle producers with proven genetics using all the performance tools that are available."

Heart River Ranch has embraced the best in available cattle management technology. "Performance testing, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, carcass ultrasound and HD50K genomic testing have all been utilized to help build a solid and exceptional genetic base for the cattle herd," explained Chuck.

Heart River Ranch sold its bulls private treaty from 1997 until 2001. In 2002, a video sale was held at Heart River Ranch with an auctioneer. They continued to have a sale in this format until 2007. Then, Heart River Ranch teamed up with Open A Angus of Medora, N.D., and held a video sale. This year, 2024, Heart River Ranch hosted their own production sale at the feedlot near Belfield the second Wednesday of March.

Chuck and Annette have three children, Tellan (Kayla), Laura Madzo (Colin) and Quinn Schaffer (Dan), and nine grandchildren, Will, Klane, Dav, Cooper, Britta, Millie, Luke, Siena and Kolbe.

The couple also owns and operates Heart River Genetics, a bovine donor housing and flush facility. Heart River Genetics offers embryo transfer services in house and on the farm. Chuck also works off the farm, and Annette is a local brand inspector for the NDSA and works in sale barns in southwestern North Dakota when needed.

In addition, Chuck and Annette are very active in their community and their breed. Heart River Ranch is a member of the Red Angus Association of America, as well as the North Dakota Red Angus Association, where Annette and Chuck serve as the secretaries/treasurers of the organization. Annette is also an adviser for the North Dakota Junior Red Angus Association and serves on the Home On The Range Board of Directors. Both are active in their church, where Chuck sings in the choir.

The couple also believes in the future of agriculture and has spent many years involved in 4-H and FFA. For 43 years, Annette has taken area youth to the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, N.D., to participate in 4-H and FFA activities. Annette has coached the county's livestock and meats judging teams and helped with other youth activities following her time as an Extension agent and FFA adviser/agricultural education teacher.

"We are so grateful and have been extremely blessed to be doing what we are doing," said Chuck. "The people and the industry have made an impact on us, and we are so fortunate to be living the life that we do."

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