Tom was raised at a little ranch in Pierce, Nebraska where they raised Shetland ponies, that they sold all over the United States, order bought dairy cattle, and leased out beef and dairy bulls.  His father was Santa Clause with a herd of ponies pulling the sleigh.  Tom had the job of cleaning the truck when his Dad got home from parading them through different towns so he was never impressed.

From the home ranch he went to college in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he participated in college rodeo, the block and bridle club and majored in ag.  He received his induction notice from the army at about graduation time so he bucked hay all summer to get in shape.  He always jokes how he was glad he did as most of his outfit had a terrible time at basic training.

He returned to ranching working in the Nebraska Sand hills then on to work at Fort Robinson and Miles City Range Livestock Experiment Stations before starting to manage private ranches.  Included was a time spent in Alberta with Simmental Breeders of Canada during their growing years and with Pabe Limited raising and showing imported Chianina cattle. In 1982 we struck out on our own leasing ranches, running our cattle, cattle for other people and a cattle service where we A I'd for ABS, boarded, fit and showed cattle as well as trimmed feet.

Jo Lee was raised on the family cattle ranch in the badlands of North Dakota until her folks moved to Canada.  She finished high school and a term of college  in Montana before getting married.  Moving to Simmental Breeders Limited in 1970 where we got in on the ground floor of Simmental in North America.  Also got to help set up the cattle records for their first 4 years going from 400 head to 2000 head by receiving heifer calves from semen contracts all over the US and Canada. 

We also managed to high school rodeo with our two children and see them become educated and good hands around livestock.  Steve is a supervisor of range conservationists with the Forest Service and Cindy has gotten her RN and is practicing in Texas.  They have given us 8 terrific grandchildren.

At present we are on our son's ranch where we slowed down and got Tom's knees replaced.  We are getting spooled up trimming feet again, have a few Simmental cows left, and will see what the Good Lord brings on for the future.  Jo Lee's doing a little cowboy poetry that you can check out at www.cowboypoetry.joleetriley.com.