ANKENY ACRES

 

 

 

Thank you for visiting our website to learn about our farm.   We, at Ankeny Acres, have a rich heritage in the livestock industry. Greta grew up on a ranch on the Sacramento River in northern California. Greta’s dad raised dairy heifers for the Chino Valley dairyman. Bruce grew up on an irrigated farm in the Treasure Valley in southwestern Idaho, not far from where we now live. 

Bruce, has always had a interest in livestock. he bought a registered Guernsey heifer for his first 4-H project when he was eight. The heifer later became the family milk cow. Three 4-H steers later, Bruce purchased his first registered Angus heifer. That heifer over the next few years was a major contributor to Bruce’s college education. Meeting at college, Bruce and Greta pursued teaching careers. Bruce cut his teaching career short and Greta recently retired from her career as a teacher and elementary principal.  Bruce now runs the livestock farm.

Ankeny Acres is a livestock operation based around irrigated pastures. We believe in maintaining the livestock in as close to a natural environment as possible. After being in the sheep business for many years we decided to go back to our early upbringing and develop a cattle business as well. As we looked to establish the cattle part of the farm we looked extensively for the breed that had a bright future. The Aberdeen Angus was our breed of choice. 

There are several reasons we made the Aberdeen our choice:  the coming demand on energy products, the growing demand for a grass finishing type of cow and the idea of making cattle production profitable. Aberdeens also fit with our sheep philosophy of smaller, heavy muscled and efficient sheep.  Polled Dorsets filled these criteria and we  have been raising them for many years.

The Polled Dorset sheep have been our workhorse livestock since 1985. We have worked hard to maintain the traditional style Dorset.  We pride ourselves in this accomplishment.  We are known across the nation for the true dorset character of our sheep.  Our sheep have been sold into more than 20 states including the big island of Hawaii.

 

These two breeds of livestock are serving our farm well.  

Thanks for visiting today, 
Bruce & Greta Ankeny