The Lonker Ranching History
The Lonker family ranching history in the Gypsum Hills of south central Kansas spans 110 years and 6 generations, with the last 40 years involving the purebred cattle business. In 1885, William Lonker (Don's great grandfather) began ranching in the area. From father to son the ranching tradition continued through Earnest T. Lonker, William's son, followed by his son, Melvah Lonker, who operated the ranch until his death in 1959.

Melvah and his wife Mildred had two sons, Don and Jim, who took over the ranch upon Melvah's passing. Prior to his death, Melvah, like his father and grandfather before him, ran a sizable herd of commercial Hereford cows. Don and Jim decided at this time to add a purebred Hereford herd and began operating the ranch as the partnership of Lonker Brothers Herefords. This was the start of the Lonker's purebred breeding operation. For the next decade or so, Don and Jim successfully built the purebred Hereford program. They successfully showed the cattle and often topped the then-highly prestious Barber-Commanche Bull Sale held every February in Kiowa, Kansas.

The years that the ranch was known as Lonker Brother Herefords were memorable ones for the family. Don and his wife Barbara had four children; Elizabeth, Clint, Brent and Andrea while Jim and wife Bobbie had three; Dale, Jamie and John. Don and Jim's mother Mildred ("Mimi" to her grandkids) was still living during this time and took an active interest in the ranch until her death. Don and Jim eventually decided to divide the operation in 1971 with Don taking the registered herd and Jim the commercial herd. The Lonker registered Hereford operation was known subsequent to that time as Lonker Herefords, consisting of Don and his family.

The Lonker cattle became popular in the area, with many champions and high sellers at the Barber-Commanche Hereford sale in Kiowa, Kansas. The cattle were also successfully shown extensively at national, regional and local shows. All four of Don's children participated in the junior organization as well as 4-H and FFA, showing the cattle at these youth events. Elizabeth, Clint, Brent and Andrea are all currently involved in the purebred operation.

Prior to the first production sale in 1982, the cattle were sold through private treaty and consignment sales. The upcoming production cattle sale on March 5, 2003 will mark the 22nd annual sale. Sales are held at the headquarters south and west of Medicine Lodge at a new facility built in 1999. 2003 will mark the family's 44th year in the purebred business. As has been the case the last few years, the sale will be held jointly with Poland Angus Ranch, of Isabel Kansas. The Poland operation is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the top Black Angus carcass programs in the country.

Beginning several years ago, the Lonker family began considering the addition of a second breed of cattle. In the winter of 1998, the decision was made to add registered Red Angus. The firm name was changed to Lonker Herefords & Red Angus. It has been exciting to see the easy way these cattle have adapted to the area. We are excited to see them compliment our Hereford operation in a way that benefits the ranch and its customers.

Don, Brent & John Fisher

Horned Hereford History

Since the 1880's the Lonker family has operated a commercial Hereford herd. The registered Hereford operation was started as Lonker Brothers Herefords by Don and his brother Jim. In 1963, the brothers purchased 10 head of registered Pioneer Shadow cows from S.F. Depew at Norton, Kansas. Females were subsequently purchased from Willard Keller in Nebraska, S.F. Depew, W.H. Schudel at North Loup, Nebraska, and Chester Kinder at Frederick, Oklahoma. Later, females were added from the Turner Ranch dispersion in Oklahoma and the OK Ranch at Junction City. The Lonkers have been enrolled in the AHA's TPR program since they began in business.

In 1971, following Don and Jim's decision to divide the partnerwhip, Don took his first trip to Montana in search of higher performing cattle. He visited six herds, traveling over 2600 miles. Included in his stops was the U.S. Range Livestock Experiment Station in Miles City. This trip resulted in the eventual purchase of interests in two herd bulls from the station that same year: L1 CL3 Domino 69470 and 70382. Later, other Miles City bulls were added, including "70546" (sire of "73197"), "71151", "72373" and "75349". Most of these bulls were owned in partnership with Parcel Herefords and/or Lee Ranch. "70546" would go on to sire Denver's Reserve Champion Bull for Parcels in 1977 out of a "69470" dam. These same bulls sired numerous winners for Lonkers and others on a national scale. Later line one bulls purchased from other sources were CL 1 Domino 867, HH Advance N191 and O&S Domino 179 ET. The current Line One influence is carried on by KB L1 Domino 484, CL 1 Domino 0033 and LS Domino C344.

Early on, it was found that the Line One cattle were complimented well by outcrossing with Canadian genetics. Hence, the present breeding program consists of both Line One and Canadian genetics, with the cowherd composed of Line/Canadian females. The first Canadian outcross sire used in the program was the highly acclaimed Britisher Mo Le 14F, purchased from Scott Holden, who had purchased the bull from his breeder, Doug Fraser of Hussar, Alberta, Canada. "14F" is best remembered as the sire of JC Mo Le 14F 719, who sold in Denver to 26 Bar Ranch for $101,000. Other Canadian genetics have been added over the years through bulls such as SH Stanway 528, F Montana Power 4ET, F Spectre 203 and most recently, RVH Silver 50B 26E.

The goal of the Lonker program has remained the same over the years: to produce powerful, high performing, heavy muscled, productive cattle with quality enough to compete (but not necessarily win) in the show ring, while maintaining moderate birth weights and fertility. Highly maternal cattle have been heavily selected for, with many of the herd bulls having as his mother a top cow in the breed with excellent udder quality. In this way, the influence of these superior cows is constantly improving the maternal traits of the entire cowherd. Breeding and culling decisions are based on peformance, with those cattle that can't meet certain standards culled. In an effort to identify the genetics that will work best for our customers, the cow herd is managed under commercial conditions. The cows are expected to maintain themselves, re-breed and raise a healthy calf on range cubes and hay. The cows are flushed at the time of breeding.

Several goals are at the forefront of the current program:

1) to continue to improve the quality and maternal performance of the cow herd, with special emphasis on udder quality and fleshing ability on native grass;

2) to continue to intensify the genetics of those cattle that demonstrate superior performance under range conditions;

3) to find and use the cattle that demonstrate superior carcass traits;

4) to take an active role in assisting our customers with the marketing of their cattle.

Red Angus History

The current Red Angus herd was purchased in the winter of 1997 by Don & Brent Lonker. The cows have been purchased from Aquila Red Angus in Bliss, Idaho, and Bradbury Land & Cattle in Byers, Colorado, Boot Jack Ranch dispersal and Eggen Red Angus in Alberta, Canada.
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The Lonker's feature herd sire, BJR JR 107 was also purchased at this time. "JR" is one of the top total performance sires of the breed.

Future sire power comes in the form of a powerful yearling known as "Ivan", who was purchased in Canada from Eggen Red Angus.