About Arhart Land & Cattle-Alpena, Sd

Established in 2023,  Arhart Land & Cattle is committed to carrying on the legacy of the Arhart Homestead established in 1882. We are rooted in honoring the cattleman, and their families, that operated this land before us. We deeply believe in the knowledge and operating concepts that have been passed down, while also prioritizing change and flexibility that will allow us to continue this tradition for years to come.

We started Arhart Land & Cattle with the philosophy that our family unit is the most important aspect of our business. This foundation keeps us focused on conservation and motivated to implement practices for sustainability. Each new sunrise gives us the opportunity to learn, to conserve and to become better operators of the resources around us.  

Andrew grew up working beside his dad on his family's feedlot, cow-calf, pig and farming operation. From a young age he knew he wanted to farm. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated with a degree in Accounting and Business. In addition to farming, he worked as a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards and then for Scoular Grain as a grain merchandiser. A few years later he returned to the farm full time alongside his dad and bother. 

I grew up in Pennsylvania where I was introduced to ag through my love of horses and 4-H. I attended The Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute for Dairy Science where I was immersed in ag.  With OSU-ATI’s unique program, I learned through hands on experience, including the 4am milkings, TMR feedings,  AI-ing, calving and the various other responsibilities I had while working beside my classmates.  

During this time, I also worked at the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center assisting with reproductive physiology research that was involved in studying the function and regulation of the corpus luteum on the ovary, to better understand cattle estrus synchronization protocols.  Applied research techniques included performing corpus luteum/ovary surgeries in beef heifers, ultrasounding of ovaries, and collecting blood samples for analysis. Much of this work focused on the use of Lutalyse and CIDRS.

This experience, the  professors at OSU-ATI and the mentors I had at the OARDC played a major role in developing my passion for the cattle industry.  I then finished my degree in Animal Science at main campus Ohio State.  During those two years, I assisted with ovarian cancer research at The Ohio State Medical School, specifically the role of primordial ovarian cells as it applies to recovering ovarian cancer patients. Sheep were used as a model for study. I  also worked in the Animal Science labs and feedlot facilities, feeding research groups and collecting data. 

With a deep appreciation for research and wanting to head west, I had an amazing opportunity to do my internship with SDSU, assisting a PhD student with his study of rumen volatile fatty acids (VFAs) as it applies to transition cow nutrition. I learned new lab techniques while also gaining more experience at the dairy collecting samples and feeding cattle.  

The wide open spaces of South Dakota amazed me as well as the abundance of agriculture.  The next summer my graduation cake read “South Dakota or Bust”.  

I came across a job posting for a livestock extension educator position in Miller, SD. I had no idea where Miller was located but I packed my belongings, cranked up Free Bird on the radio and set out alone on the 20 hour drive. Shortly after my interview, Hand Co. took me in as their own when I was hired as their livestock extension educator. 

A couple months later, about the same time Andrew returned to farming full time, our paths crossed at the cattle sale in Miller. He was there to buy cattle and I was advertising an upcoming manure management meeting. Though we never met that day, we were later set up on a blind date and have continued to share a passion for the cattle industry ever since. We are excited to share this passion with our daughter Zoey, along with a great appreciation for the land we operate and the livestock in our care.