Norcutt Livestock LLC
Jesse and Stacey Norcutt manage Norcutt Livestock LLC on the land that Stacey’s ancestors worked for over half a century. Prior to Stacey and Jesse working the land, Stacey’s father sold it to its current owner. However, after sowing different pastures, the Norcutts returned to Ely and worked the land and ranch for the landowner prior to leasing the land for their own cattle operation.
Both Jesse and Stacey grew up ranching, it runs in their blood. Stacey was raised on the land where they live now. Jesse grew up on a ranch on Lovelock, Nevada, on the other side of the state. Today, they continue to spread ranching through the generations as their son and his wife help on the farm. Their grandchildren also love coming to visit and experience life on the ranch. Norcutt Livestock is large enough to also require two additional workers on the payroll.
About the Location
Although headquartered about 50 miles south of Ely, Nevada, the cattle raised on the Norcutt Livestock ranch spend their days travelling the entire eastern side of the state. They spend their winters south in Alamo, Nevada, calving in early February in the warmer temperatures of the south. During summer grazing, they can travel as far north as Elko. The Norcutts do all of their own transportation and trucking of their cattle.
With over 700 mother cows, the Norcutts need a lot of space for grazing. Especially with the difficult and dry climate of eastern Nevada, which gets an average of only 7 inches of rain a year. Therefore, the mostly angus herd of cattle are able to roam around on approximately 325,000 acres of land. Additionally, they travel from elevations as low as near sea level up to over 11,000 feet. This land is not contiguous, and of course it is spread all across the eastern half of the state, but they never run out of grass or space. While in Alamo in the winters, their diet is supplemented with alfalfa hay that Jesse and Stacey are able to grow during the rest of the year.
Quality Genetics = A Visible, Tangible Improvement
Five years ago, Jesse and Stacey purchased bulls from Riverbend Ranch for the first time. The desert climate combined with the large spread of their ranch means a higher cost of operation, and Riverbend genetics were known to bring in a premium from buyers. Riverbend Ranch recognizes this premium and, by becoming partners, Norcutt Livestock has found a sense of financial security that they were hoping for.
What they weren’t expecting was the improvement in their cattle. The increased genetics means their cattle hold up to the arid conditions better than previous herds. Their cattle can travel the 300 miles from the southern calving lands to the northern grazing lands with ease. Additionally, they have no struggles overcoming the extreme elevation differences. Despite the limited variety of grasses that grow in the Nevada desert, the cattle are able to thrive on any feed and continue bulking up to ideal steak conditions. Even visibly, the Norcutts have seen an improvement in their cattle herds. They describe the calves with Riverbend genetics as “heavier, heftier, and with visible uniformity.”
Frank and Belinda VanderSloot, Owners
2880 N 55 W
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
208.528.6635 (office)
[email protected]
Idaho Falls, Idaho • Dillon, Montana
Promontory, Utah • Laneville, Texas
Request a Brochure