Dennis Huck practiced veterinary medicine in Larned, KS, for 40 years and has been involved in his family’s commercial ranch operation in Comanche and Kiowa County, KS, for many years. In the late 1980s, Dennis bought his first registered Angus cow from Gardiners with plans of flushing and using embryo transfer to raise bulls for the family’s commercial cow operation.

 

Dennis has continued to expand his registered operation through ET and AI with emphasis on balanced genetic traits. Under his DVAR prefix, Dennis has raised and sold cattle at the National Western Livestock Show, state sales, a cooperative herd with Gordon Stucky, and private treaty.

 

In 2007, Dennis and Shirley moved back to Coldwater, KS, where they both grew up. They have 4 children--Denise Dreiling, Darin, Tami Ireland, and Todd. They have 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and counting!

Bernie Stegman’s interest in cattle began when he helped his Grandpa Schulte with the family farm and cow herd near Spearville, KS. When Grandpa Schulte retired, Bernie and his dad, John Stegman, took over the family business.

 

In the 1980s, Bernie raised Limousins and sold Limousin bulls. In the past 20 years, however, Bernie concentrated on raising commercial black Angus cattle and began including artificial insemination and embryo transfer into his breeding program.

 

In September of 1996, Bernie and his family moved to the family farm near Spearville, KS. John Stegman retired, and Jacob, Adam, and Ben—Bernie’s three sons—joined Bernie to run the farm and herd.

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Bernie had always wanted to have a production sale and proudly launched the first SouthWest Angus Genetics bull sale on February 27, 2015, with a 3-family group. 

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The Stegman family suffered a great loss in August 2019 as Bernie died in a farm-related accident near his home in Spearville. Family, friends, and the surrounding community profoundly feel his loss to this day. 

 

4 Bar S Ranch consists of Debra Stegman, who works for Farm Credit Southwest Kansas in Dodge City, and Bernie & Debra's three sons: Jacob, Adam and Ben.  Jacob, his wife Sarah and their children Emalye, Jace, Katye, and Brinlye farm full-time. Adam, a full-time crop consultant, is married to Kacey, who farms with her family north of Dodge City. Their children are Cayson & Kinlee. Ben also farms and ranches full time. 

Darin Huck grew up helping his father, Dennis Huck, in his vet clinic in Larned, KS, and grandfather, Vernon Huck, a rancher and farmer in Protection, KS. Darin went on to study veterinary medicine at Kansas State University. After graduation, he practiced veterinary medicine at Ellsworth, KS, and moved to his current practice in Dodge City in 1996.

 

Darin has always taken an interest in his family's cattle operation, and Dodge City offered the proximity to take a more active role in the breeding and management of his father's registered Angus herd and develop his own herd with his family.

 

Darin's family includes his wife Kara, a teacher for USD 443, their son Brady, his wife Cara, grandsons Cassius & Camden, their daughter Mara and her husband Clint Goebel, & grandsons Bennett & Bowen, all of whom reside in Dodge City, KS. Darin, Kara and Brady manage the herds, while Clint manages the farming for winter grazing. Mara and Cara help with the sale prep and sale day, and the grandsons help check cows and water year 'round.