By Cheryl Kepes
photos courtesy Lemke family
Lemke Cattle blends more than a century of ranching expertise with modern day
technology to develop balanced and genetically superior seedstock.
ucked between swaths of rich,
well-irrigated Nebraska farmland
lies a 15-mile stretch of dryland -
the type of terrain that makes crop
farmers shake their heads. Yet, the
broken farm ground and native grass
pastures of South Central Nebraska
have proved to be the perfect place
for generations of the Lemke family
to run a vibrant cattle operation.
Today, continuing the lineage
steeped with dedicated cattle ranch
ers, Randy and Leslie Lemke, along
with their children, operate Lemke
Cattle near the town of Lawrence.
They raise Angus, Red Angus, and
Angus hybrid seedstock, selling
more than a hundred bulls a year.
Randy and Leslie’s children are
all an important part of Lemke
Cattle. Tanner is in his third year
of working on the ranch full time.
Daughters Taylor and Samantha,
and Samatha’s husband, Matt, are
always at the ready to pitch in wher
ever work needs to be done.
MATERNAL MOXIE
Randy appreciates and applies
many of the ranching principles he
learned from his father and grand
father. While he attributes much
of his cattle knowledge to his male
mentors, his grit and tenacity most
likely trace to his great-great-grand
mother, Gertrude Lemke.
In 1883, Gertrude and her husband
John, along with their nine children,
settled in South Central Nebraska.
A mere five years after planting
their Nebraska roots, John died in
a drowning accident. Gertude was
left alone to manage the farm and
raise nine children. She rose to the
challenge, laying the foundation for
future Lemke ranchers.
A A Nod to the Past &
od to the Past &
The Lemke family (l-r): Taylor, Tanner, Leslie, Randy, Sammy (Lemke) Kreber, Matt Kreber
an Eye on the Future
an Eye on the Future
20
February 2026 | THE STOCKMAN AG-EXTRA