The histories of generational ranches represent a deep-rooted connection to the land, tradition, and family legacy. Ranching is more than just a way of life—it’s a testament to resilience, hard work, and the ability to adapt through changing times. Families who have managed ranches and cattle herds for generations know this well and strive to pass down invaluable knowledge about stewardship, cattle husbandry, and practices that ensure the ranch's future. Their history fosters a strong sense of identity and pride, binding generations together through shared experiences and a commitment to preserving both the land and the cattle that come with it.

70 years ago, the Gallatin Valley became home to one of the Angus industry’s most influential ranches and one of the nation’s premier Angus herds. In 1955, Clarence Van Dyke bought 35 head of Black Angus cows and set out to develop what we know today as the Van Dyke Angus Ranch, a historic cattle operation located near Manhattan, Montana, specializing in breeding high-quality Angus cattle.

As one of twelve children raised on a dairy farm, Clarence learned early on that a good cow is a good cow. In setting out to develop his Angus herd, he knew that his focus would be on cow quality. This emphasis on cow quality has never wavered and it has built the Van Dyke Angus Ranch’s reputation for quality maternal genetics. Throughout Clarence’s work to develop his herd and the ranch, he made improvements on the land that his father purchased in the early 1900s, the same land that used to be the family dairy farm before making the switch to Angus cattle. He also acquired more ground with his family in mind, hoping to set up the ranch in a way that would allow his sons to follow in his footsteps. 

In the late 1950s, American Breeders Service (ABS) approached Clarence, along with a few other select Angus breeders, hoping to have his herd be a part of a test program. It was Clarence’s extensive recordkeeping and the fact that he abundantly used artificial insemination (AI) in his herd that brought him this opportunity; the ranch was one of the first herds to widely use AI across their cows. For many years, Van Dyke Angus Ranch continued to be a test herd for ABS. 

Clarence received numerous awards throughout his life, including many awards in the dairy industry, and the 1985 Performance Man of the Year, 1989 Outstanding Farmer/Rancher, 1997 Wayne Stevenson Award of Excellence, 1999 Certified Angus Commitment of Excellence, and 2003 Gallatin County Outstanding Conservationist. In 2017, Clarence was inducted into the Angus Heritage Foundation, which recognized his passion, dedication, and perseverance, as well as honoring his lasting influence on the Angus breed. 

Over the decades, Clarence and his sons, John, Keith, and Lee, built Van Dyke Angus Ranch through their hard work and dedication to great cattle. Today, Clarence’s vision for the ranch is upheld by his son, Lee Van Dyke, as well as Tom Wulff (who bought out Keith) and Tim Crabtree, Lee’s son-in-law. Together, the three of them strive to produce breeding stock that is problem-free and long-lived for their customers. The ranch’s breeding program maintained a focus on an extremely fertile, highly maternal cowherd. They are culled for feet and leg structure, as well as for temperament, which has helped them to provide a unique line-bred genetic package. Tim Crabtree tells me that “our whole program can still be summed up with a quote from Clarence: ‘The first thing a bull has to do is make a good cow. If he can’t do that, he’s no good.’” Maternal traits and structure are of utmost importance when it comes to the ranch’s cattle. 

The mother cow is what ensures a ranch’s success and Van Dyke Angus Ranch’s understanding of this has been a key factor in contributing to their leadership in the Angus industry. Their focus on the Angus female is unwavering; they have remained dedicated to perfecting their genetics, lending to some of the ranch’s females making lasting impacts on the breed. “We firmly believe in the relentless pursuit of the traits that made the Angus cow great in the first place: sound, functional cattle that bring in a calf year after year,” Tim explains. It’s this commitment to Clarence’s original vision that showcases their deep understanding of what’s important in the industry. 

As with most ranches these days, technology has brought about its own changes. Technology has drastically changed Van Dyke Angus Ranch, allowing them to further improve their day-to-day operations. “One of my favorites [referring to technologies] is putting microchips under the skin in our calves’ ears. When it’s cold, we don’t have to tag, but I can scan the ear and know what calf it is,” Tim explains. Technology plays a vital role for the ranch, but it’s important to note that all of their cattle are still evaluated by cattlemen and not just computers. 

Many industry-leading bulls have been raised on Van Dyke Angus Ranch, including VDAR Lucys Boy. “If I had to pick 2 bulls from the last 20 years that have drastically influenced our program, it’s been VDAR Sonny Boy 1194 and VDAR Cedar Wind 8111,” Tim states, adding that “Sonny Boy added bone, and improved feet and disposition while making beautiful daughters. [...] Cedar Wind was the high-selling bull in 2012. He was a high calving ease bull; he throws great attitudes and perfect udders.” In recent sales, many of the ranch’s high-selling bulls have been out of Sonny Boy daughters. Across 21 herds, 154 of his daughters have an average nursing ratio of 101. The ranch currently has 5 Cedar Wind daughters who are 11 or older and still in their herd. Three of these are donor cows. Cedar Wind is also in the top 25 bulls for functional longevity for the Angus breed, along with two of his sons and a grandson. 

Next to breeding the best females possible, Van Dyke Angus Ranch remains committed to customer service and ensuring that they can offer their customers quality cattle they can actually stand behind. They recognize that the most valuable insights come from commercial cattlemen and seek to learn about how their cattle are performing for their customers. Furthermore, Van Dyke Angus Ranch has had buyers coming back to their sales, year after year, which is only a testament to the emphasis they place on maintaining relationships with buyers. Those at the ranch go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Tim shares something with me that he always tells new customers, which is that “if you decide that you don’t like our cattle, that’s fine, but I hope after we’re done, you’ll say that we were good to work with and treated you well.” This sentiment showcases the honesty and care that Van Dyke Angus Ranch puts into working with other producers. 

The heart of Van Dyke Angus Ranch is family, a notion that is exemplified through everything that they do. “My wife and I are currently raising the fifth generation that will be on the home place. It’s pretty special to be a part of that much family history on one ranch,” Tim says. In the 70 years that the ranch has been in operation, the dedication to the family has remained unchanged. The Van Dyke’s roots run deep, just as their passion for their cattle rings true.

When asked what it means for Van Dyke Angus Ranch to be a family operation, Tim tells me that “it gives purpose and meaning to what we do, if you’re not working towards the next generation, what’s the point?” Those of us in the cattle industry know that truer words have never been spoken. While we all strive to produce top-notch, well-functioning, and performing cattle, it’s important to note that so much of what we do in our work is also to preserve our heritage. By continuing tradition and implementing new technologies and practices where needed, we can ensure that future generations are not only able to pick up where we left off but able to continue to improve. 

Van Dyke Angus Ranch remains at the forefront of the Angus business and the cattle industry as a whole. Their rich, living history is one to be proud of and one they strive to carry on, each and every day. Through their continual dedication to the commercial cattleman, they have solidified their reputation as purebred producers and leaders in a continuously evolving industry.