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SPOTLIGHT
Torgerson Ranch. Lyman, Utah by Derek Sample
On the left, regular client Jeff Loveless, visiting with Wyatt and Liz Torgerson
photos by Derek Sample
Derek@ABPmag.com
On the way back home from our Fall Cattle and Client tours (see Nov/Dec issue, page 30), I stopped to visit with Jeff Loveless. Jeff owns the Loveless Gelbvieh Ranch in Spanish Fork, Utah and serves on the board of the American Gelbvieh Association. What started out as an interview/photography stop for a couple hours, ended up being a continuous and extraordinary adventure that lasted 48 hours. Jeff and I hit it off and I was talked into staying longer since there was so much more for me to see, and see we did. We toured more of his land, watered his heifers in Fillmore, traveled north to visit Joe of the famous Sacco Brothers Ranch, we drank whiskey while watching late night presidential election results and there was the visit with Liz and Wyatt Torgerson in Lyman, who are watching over Jeff ’s prize bulls. To say I was impressed with Liz and Wyatt’s operation would be an understatement. From Wyatt‘s expertise and skilled craftmanship to Liz‘s boundless energy and proficient management skills, the cattle here couldn’t be happier. They both run a feedlot and a cow/calf operation for various clients. Meeting Liz as she jumps out of a John Deere, I’m guessing she has done that since she was 5. It turns out I guessed right. She’s a total pro moving about 48
their ranch and she runs it like a swiss watch. This place is organized. As I was given a tour of their property by Liz, Wyatt updated Jeff on the status of his bulls that are in their care. I was rather intrigued with their operation, so I asked Liz a week later if I could interview her. Below she shares some insight as to how she became such a strong yet humble player in the art of cattle farming. - Hi Liz, tell us about yourself and how you got started I grew up in Grover, which is 20 miles SE of here. My grandparents raised my brothers and I on a small farm where we were immersed in agriculture. Wyatt and I purchased 20 acres of farm ground in Lyman the the first year we were married. Eventually we were able to purchase more land as it became available. We also lease property from the land owners in the area. Good farm land is a hot commodity around here. - I understand you got started as a feedlot? No, we started farming first. After we built our home we worked to build corrals. In order to afford the materials for the feedlot pens, we purchased pole permits from the forest service and logged the poles to build fences. We saved up to buy railroad ties, gates, and other materials
American Beef Producer
January 2021
