Meet the Nehls
Beef is central to Jess’s life southwest of Mandan, where he and his family run a direct-to-consumer ranch built on strong herd health, responsible land stewardship, and the belief that agriculture is both a business and a meaningful family tradition.
Meet Jess:
DESCRIBE YOUR OPERATION:
We operate a direct-to-consumer beef business southwest of Mandan, North Dakota. In addition to ranching, I work as a CPA, balancing both roles to stay connected to the industry and the people within it.
HOW DO YOU KEEP ANIMALS SAFE AND HEALTHY?
A good vaccination program, proper nutrition, and responsible cattle handling are essential. Taking care of our herd’s health is a top priority and part of our everyday management.
HOW DO YOU CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
We focus on responsible land stewardship by avoiding overgrazing, maintaining strong weed control practices, and continually planting trees to enhance sustainability for the future.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE TO PASS ON TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT FARMING AND PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE?
I want them to understand that agriculture is not just a lifestyle—it’s a business. But it’s a business that offers the unique reward of working side-by-side with family, building something meaningful together.
Nehl Operation
Mandan, ND
Cow/Calf Ranch
Cows are bred and calves are born and raised every year on cow-calf farms and ranches, spending time grazing on grass pastures within sight of their mothers.
Feedyard
Cattle spend their final 4-6 months at a feedyard being fed a scientifically-balanced diet and receiving daily care.
Backgrounding
Between 6-12 months of age, cattle spend time at stocker and backgrounder farms and ranches where they graze on a variety of pastures. Here they gain weight and convert forage and grass into lean protein.
