MEET THE \ AN HORNS—Harry anil Helen Van Horn, their
grandson, Alan, and their daughter-in-law and son, Marian and
Robert Van Horn. They are shown here in front of the Harry Van
Horn home at the ranch southeast of Page.
Hospitality Is
Shown at the
Van Horn Ranch
City people driving through
Nebraska on Highway 20 may
spot the lush, green valley east
of the weighing station at the in
tersection of 20 and 275 but will
never know the beauty hidden
behind the hills which make up
the countryside of the H. A. and
Robert Van Horn Ranch.
On this ranch reside two fam
ilies, Harry and Helen Van Horn
and their son and daughter-in
law, Robert and Marian Van
Horn. Very dear to all of them
is Robert and Marian’s son, Alan,
who is five years old and ready
for the first grade next school
term.
Harry and Helen were born and
raised in Knox county, and were
married in O'Neill June 20, 1916.
They started their married life
farming near Verdigre and on
the edge of Holt county until 1929
when they moved to their present
ranch which they later bought
and now consists of 2,000 acres.
Only one building still stands
from the several that were on the
place when they first took over.
It was homesteaded years ago
by William Wunder. His son,
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to the Van Homs to recapture
some childhood memories of the
home place. He was 16 when he
left there with his parents.
Marian and Robert wcie mar
ried May 31, 1948 and their home
isn’t too far away from the
EMMET HAY CO.
Dealers and Producers
Hay — Grain — Livestock
Phone 524-R1 Emmet, Nebr.
—_„J
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Highways 20 and 275
MR. AND MRS. LEONARD OLBERDING
Phone 798 O'Neill, Nebr.
. .
BEFORE YOIT ATTEND
The Holt Fair
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school where Robert went for
his early education, District 31.
The two couples live in smart
ly decorated homes built side by
side with large expanses of neat
ly trimmed lawns in between.
Harry’s house was built in 1950
and Robert’s house in 1948. Or
namental shrubs, colorful flower
beds and gardens combine to
make the place look like a resi
dential area instead of a ranch
out in the country.
Harry and Robert didn't plan
to go into the purebred business
originally. It started in 1937 when
Harry bought 15 Hereford cows
from the Britton Brothers at
Taylor. These cows were pure
breds and Robert got interested
in their pedigrees and convinced
his father that they should re
gister the calves and go into the
business of raising purebred
Herefords. Later that year they
bought 26 cows from George
Christopher of Valentine to make
up their herd of foundation fe
males.
A drive over the ranch reveals
quiet valleys with a lake, and pas
tures with new crops of frisky
calves and fat curly haired cows.
The pastures are divided by
fences that are all four wire
with posts a rod apart with a
steel post every 10th post for
lightning protection and good so- >
lid corners.
The men do their own work
with the capable assistance of
Milan Welke, with the exception
of putting up 1,200 to 1,500 tons of
hay when they have the help of
two or three other hands. Their
usual ranch routine includes
keeping close tab during calving,
keeping the out buildings in good
repair, riding over the pasture
on their horses for constant check
on their cattle. Their work is typ
ical of that on most Sandhills
ranches.
Being in the purebred Hereford
business involves a lot of travel
to various states as well as Ne
braska to secure other blood
lines for herd improvement. The
Van Horns, wives and Alan in
cluded, think nothing of driving
SNYDER TRANSFER
LIA'ESTOCK HAULING
Phone 6331
Atkinson, Nebr.
wherever necessary to buy Here
fords of the highest quality to add
to their herd. According to the
Van Horns, “Half the fun of run
ning a business like this is the
enjoyment of making friends with
people who attend these sales and
running into the same folks all
over the country.”
Helen and Marian are well
versed on the lines and charact
eristics of their Herefords and
with a practiced eye, check the
new crop of calves and discuss
their top herd bulls such as F
Zato Heir 25, Battle Intense 319,
Real Prince Anxiety 371, and D
Regulator Domino 23—all well
known bloodlines in the Hereford
industry. Both women belong to
several organizations as well as
keeping busy in their homes, help
ing on the place and accompany
ing their husbands on trips. They
each attend WSCS of the Meth
odist church and belong to the
Nebraska Cowbelles. Marian was
recently elected to the executive
board of the Cowbelles from Dis
trict 2. Helen belongs to Facts
and Fun Extension club and HOA
club.
The big event of the year- at the
Van Horn ranch is the annual
sale, to be held October 24 this
year, at which time the year’s
work is displayed for approxi
mately 300-400 people. With the
help of their good neighbors the
Van Homs prepare for this sale
which is held in a large tent on
the ranch. Lunch is served by
the King’s Daughter s of the Page
Methodist church to the sale
crowd.
The Van Horns are members
of the American Hereford asso
ciation, the Nebraska Hereford
association, the Northwest Ne
braska Hereford association,
Northcentral Nebraska Hereford
association, Holt County Hereford
association, Nebraska Stockgrow
ers association and the Sandhills
Cattle association. Robert is past
president of the Nebraska, the
Northwest Nebraska and the
Northcentral Hereford associa
tions.
You may not be able to get
these quiet, reserved Van Horn
men to talk much about their
trophies, or their excellent busi
ness reputation, but one thing you
can be sure of is a warm wel
come and a kind invitation to
join them at a meal. The Van
Homs always find time to greet
their many friends and business
visitors.
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HEALTH PRODUCTS
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CHAMBERS) NEBRASKA
Phones IV 2-2236 — IV 2-2946
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