Cedar Ridge

Cedar Ridge Ranch sits tucked somewhere in what feels like the middle of nowhere Kansas between blue skies, fields of wild sunflowers and rolling hills.  Driving out to meet and photograph, Jan Pishny, owner and self sustaining grass fed cattle rancher at Cedar Ridge, I immediately felt like I was stepping back into time in my own mind; a young Oklahoma farm girl driving down country roads where only the sky and land meet with miles and miles surrounding me.

Sitting between Lawrence and Gardner, Cedar Ridge lies just south of Eudora, Kansas.  A hidden and pleasant surprise.  A reprise from the suburbs of south Kansas City that continue to eat away at the agricultural land that used to sit unbounded and untouched for generations before.  I was literally stunned by the beauty around me when I arrived at Cedar Ridge.  Native grasses were everywhere; Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Switch grasses filled different pastures.  Wildflowers danced in the autumn wind, vibrant and beautiful in the afternoon light.  Black angus cattle roamed around joyful as they fed, and playful as calves nursed.

I was like a young school kid, riding alongside Jan in her Mule, soaking in every word she spoke about the Kansas prairie, native grasses, humane treatment of animals, grazing practices, agricultural practices, the psychology of cattle and her passion to share with others what she has known her whole life.  She could, without a doubt, lecture a college class on the stewardship of land, animal science and agriculture at any university.

Jan Pishny may not appear from first glance to be your average cattle rancher.  But after only two minutes of listening to Jan share her ranching philosophy, she reminded me of Temple Grandin, an autistic professor and foremost consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior.

Jan, like Temple, is someone who deeply loves and cares about animals and wants only the best for them.  Temple’s work and compassion have inspired Jan.  Her beloved Black Angus cattle are rotated on different grasses during the year, and she raises her own hay for winter feeding. Jan vaccinates the cattle herself, and never uses a hot shot or any kind of a device to startle them. She appreciates Temple Grandin’s philosophy of gentle careful handling of cattle so they are less stressed and consequently, have more tender meat. It didn’t take me long to realize how much in fact Jan cares about her cattle she drove me into one of her pastures and lovingly fed her cattle of all things, apples.

I also learned from Jan that cattle enjoy eating pumpkins too, as she has a small patch with pumpkins for them to snack on hidden away beneath the trees.  Who would have known?  Jan doesn’t just raise these cattle, she truly cares for them.  She even has her favorites among the group, cattle number 44, who made her face light up every time we got near her.

After 40 years as a successful Johnson County dentist, and raising her kids on her own ranch in south Overland Park, Jan retired five years ago and bought 400 acres of land about 35 minutes from the outskirts of where she used to treat patients for her dental practice.  The land was run down, overgrown and neglected. Just a mess, according to Jan.  But something primal spoke to her when she and her husband had the opportunity to purchase the acreage.  You see, Jan Pishny has always had land and cattle in her heart. Jan grew up on a ranch herself and around cattle in south Overland Park.  From an early age, Jan learned to appreciate, respect and care for animals, mainly cattle.  Outdoor healthy living, land stewardship have been engraved upon her heart and this is how she raised her own family, exposing them to these core values and healthy beef that she raised herself.

 

I watched in awe as Jan spoke tenderly to the cattle as if they were her children.  We talked about her passion for providing families with healthy, grass fed beef to feed their families.  Jan accomplishes this dream and goal by raising hormone and antibiotic free Black Angus steers that are grass fed on Kansas pastures.  Jan is environmentally sensitive, incorporating rotational grazing between warm and cool seasonal pastures and maintaining low stocking rates per acre.  I highly respected her undertaking and passion to be both a land conservationist and responsible cattle rancher.  I think I was most impressed by the compassion I could see in Jan.  No one cares more for their animals than a farmer and rancher who greets them every morning to check on them, care for them, doctor them, and make sure their lives are respected and given the utmost dignity. They are in a sense, her pride and joy.  She gives them the best life possible and is proud that the cattle she raises are not overcrowded in feed lots.

Jan also is hands on when it comes to meat processing. She works with a local processor and takes the cattle there herself. Her customer then can select how she/he wants to have the meat packaged–size, weight, quantity, etc. Jan delivers the meat to the customer so can help put in their freezer and answer any questions. Feeding my own large, young family, I value meat that is high quality and raised humanly.  We all should care about those things.  If you are interested in supported a local, hard working and ethical cattle rancher, Cedar Ridge Beef is the place to support.  Jan loves having guests out to the ranch, where she can show customers her hands on approach to raising high quality beef.  Take time to learn a little more about Jan and Cedar Ridge.  You won’t be disappointed.   https://sites.google.com/view/cedarridgebeef/home