In 1988, Ken and Rick Harding founded Harding Land and Cattle Company when they found an opportunity to buy and scenic and productive ranch. The Brothers had been raised around agriculture. They believed then, as the whole family believes today, that food basic food production is an important and long term business and investment opportunity.

With university backgrounds, Ken and Rick looked quickly to the Fort Keogh Agriculture Research Station located in Miles City, MT. for guidance in populating and improving the ranch. The Lead Researcher at Fort Keogh, Dr. Pat Currie, happened to be a long time friend of Ken’s . Dr. Currie not only encouraged the used of all the research done for the Northern Great Plains, he left the research world to manage Harding Land and Cattle Company and implement many of the ideas born from not only his own research, but that of research stations and universities around the world.

Through the guidance of Dr. Currie, Ken and Rick invested time and money to improve and expand the ranch enterprise. This meant many things such as buying the first breeding stock from the Research Station as well as from several well known local producers. The wells were updated and water lines installed to expand the usable grass area of the ranch. New fences were constructed to better manage the natural resources of grass and water on the ranch. Perhaps, most important, was the acquisition of the farm and feedlot units near the Yellowstone river. This provided a hay base for wintering the cow herd as well as a place to grow and background the calves from the ranch.

In 1996, Jeff Harding (Rick’s son) came to work with the family. Jeff brought a new perspective on some of the operations of the ranch, farm and feedlot. Through droughts, blizzards, wet years and dry years Harding Land and Cattle has benefitted from advanced planning, research, new marketing endevours, and most importantly, a great staff. This all culminates with a premium beef product on your plate and a sustainable beef cattle enterprise on the ground.