history

Rishel Angus began with the purchase of one registered Angus female, PS Primrose 299, from the late Herman Purdy at Pennsylvania State University in 1966 while Bill was a student in Animal Science. PS Primrose 299 still has descendants in the herd today.

Following graduation and completion of a master's degree in animal breeding, Bill, Barb, and oldest daughter Jill moved to Phelps, NY, to co-manage with Bill’s brother Ed at Sayre Farms. During their stay at Sayre Farms, Bill was involved with the purchase of Ankonian Dynamo who went on to be named both the International and National Western Grand Champion Bull and Georgina of Valleymere 44 who was declared International Grand Champion Female. In 1972, Bill and Barb, along with their two daughters Jill and Joy, moved to Hillsdale, NY, to manage Topp Hill Farm. While at Topp Hill, Bill went to Alberta, Canada and purchased the bull Bandolier Eston Durness 42B who he nicknamed "Pacesetter" and was recognized 20 years later for siring the very popular Paramont Ambush. While at Topp Hill, Bill also bred two National Champion Females, Topp Hill Annie 4106 and Hedgerows Jestress.

With the sale of the Topp Hill herd in 1975, the Rishels along with daughters Jill, Joy and Judy moved to North Platte, NE, with a baker’s dozen of their own registered Angus females. During these early years the development of the herd was slow, but the need to make a living with these cattle was a powerful economic force and it created the foundation for a herd of cattle that had to function efficiently within their environment.

In 1977, Rishel Angus was one of the five breeders that purchased the bull calf Ken Caryl Mr Angus 8017 for $55,000. "Mr Angus" progeny proved to be outstanding carcass cattle and his daughters possessed the same outstanding udder strength and attachment as that of his tremendous mother. Perhaps the best investment Rishel Angus ever made in the business was the purchase of a bull calf in 1981 for $10,000 from Arntzen Angus in Montana. We named the bull calf AAR New Trend and today he is known as the foundation sire of one of the most superior lines of cattle in the Angus industry. AAR New Trend sired the $73,000 VDAR New Trend 315 who was used in the Rishel Angus herd to produce B/R New Design 036 who is considered to be among the most superior balanced trait sires of the breed today. The use of "036" at Rishel Angus produced B/R New Design 323 who is one of the most superior carcass sires in the history of the Angus breed.

Today, the Rishel herd consists of approximately 250 producing-age females with approximately 70 yearling heifers bred annually. We calve and winter our cows on our ranch 10 miles south of North Platte. Our summer pasture is located ten miles north of North Platte in the Sandhills. Our annual rainfall is 17 inches. We raise a good portion of our winter feed, which consists of alfalfa hay, prairie hay, millet and triticale.