Business Spotlight: Plus One Cattle Company
July 11, 2023, is Cow Appreciation Day! This lighthearted day was established in the early 2000s as an extension of Chick-fil-A’s famous “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign. While sometimes accompanied by great steals from your local fast food restaurant, this day is also meant to highlight the many products that come from dairy cows and cattle that you likely enjoy each day.
In 2022, the U.S. had the world’s largest fed-cattle industry; in turn, we were the largest beef consumer across the globe. With such heavy reliance on beef and cattle products across the country, we believe supporting high-quality cattle ranches is essential.
That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with businesses like Plus One Cattle Company. Their work encompasses everything great about the cattle farmers working here in America’s Breadbasket.
Hometown Beginnings
Ben and Lalane McClure, the owners and chief operators of Plus One Cattle Company, love working in the state they have always called home. Both attended high school and college in the Hugoton, KS, area while pursuing degrees related to agricultural science.
In 1999, they set up their own farming and ranching operation, all while Ben continued to gain experience as an employee of Kramer Seed Farms. Over the next decade, as their family grew, the couple expanded their operations to provide seeds, grains, and beef products to consumers nationwide.
Farming
Plus One Cattle Company does much more than raise cattle and produce beef. They have thousands of acres of irrigated land and hundreds of acres of dryland farm ground. With this much space, they grow many crops, including milo, corn, wheat, and sunflowers.
Throughout the summer months, Plus One’s sunflower fields stretch far and wide. At the end of the growing season, they ship many of the blooms to Red River Commodities in Colby, KS, which distributes some of America’s favorite snacks. So if you enjoy David or Bigs sunflower seeds, you might have had some of Plus One’s crops!
Plus One also helps other American farmers with their planting. When wheat is harvested at its peak, usually sometime in June or July, most of Plus One’s share is sold to Kramer Farm Management. Among other activities, this organization sells seed wheat, which farmers use to plant their upcoming harvest’s wheat crop.
Cattle Ranching
Of course, Plus One Cattle Company is incredibly proud of its cattle ranching operation. Their hundreds of cows graze on both irrigated and native grassland pastures before moving on to cornstalks and other grain-based feeding strategies.
Plus One utilizes the latest technology in its breeding strategy to continue providing the highest quality cattle and beef products. They use a vast artificial insemination and embryo transfer system to ensure optimal calf birthing and weaning times. In addition, multiple industry-leading sires also breed cows not bred artificially.
In the winter, their stocker cattle continue to thrive. Hundreds of these cattle consume a wheat-based diet during the colder months before being sent to a local feed farm. This process means that the final beef product will be excellent every time.
Businesses like Plus One Cattle Company inspire us at Dream First Bank to keep putting our best foot forward. We love helping partners like Plus One continue to drive the national economy and provide our community with high-quality goods. To learn more about our financial solutions for businesses, check out our website.
And, if you’re in the mood for the best steak in town, visit Plus One’s Facebook page for their updated Cuts of the Month.