Hereford History Preservation Project

11/05/2025

Eve Bowring was the first woman United States Senator from Nebraska. She is considered a significant figure in Nebraska's History, partially because she left the family ranch in Cherry County to the State of Nebraska to be preserved so that future generations could accurately experience ranch life in the sandhills.

Although Eve Bowring wasn't raised on a ranch in the sandhills, she quickly proved she could rope and ride right alongside the cowboys.

In this photo, the newly appointed U.S Senator checks a calf that the ranch hand, Robert Roebuck, had just roped; a moment that captures both her grit and her grace.

This photo is displayed in the Eve Bowring visitor center. Eve's life bridged the worlds of washington and the wide Nebraska prairies, showing leadership and hard work come naturally when your heart belongs to the land.

08/09/2025

A closer look at the poster displayed previously at the Blaine County Fair.

07/29/2025

This display at The Blaine County Fair is sponsored by Hereford Crossroads. It pays tribute to Blaine County Hereford operations from the mid-20th century.

07/25/2025

The Spade Ranch in Northwest Nebraska played a historic role in developing the Hereford breed in Nebraska sandhills. The ranch is a National Historic Landmark.

The Spade Ranch, encompasses land in both Sheridan and Cherry Counties. Founders Bartlett Richards and William Comstock successfully managed the ranch into the early twentieth century. At its peak size in 1905 with open range grazing and ready markets for cattle, the Spade, encompassed over 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) with a herd of 60,000 cattle. Under the direction of the Bixby family, associates of Richards and Comstock since 1908 and owners of the ranch since 1923, the Spade Ranch has continued to produce quality beef cattle as part of Nebraska's large beef industry. That the ranges remain cattle country today attests to the vision of early Nebraska Sandhills ranchers.

06/21/2025

06/14/2025

A worthwhile stop on your sandhills travel is the Bowring Ranch, a gift to the State of Nebraska which preserves the history of commercial Hereford operations and the public service of one of the significant Nebraska ranch women of the previous century.

In April of 1954, Eva (Eve) Bowring was sworn in as the first Nebraska woman to serve in Congress. Appointed by the governor to fill a vacant senate seat, Bowring was initially reluctant to leave her prosperous Sandhills cattle ranch for Washington, D.C. But she relented and explained, “when a job is offered to you, take it. Men can refuse but women are increasingly important in political life.”

Bowring's tenure in congress was short, but her ability to connect and interact within the national scene was impressive. After leaving the senate, she served on the advisory council of the National Institutes of Health and was appointed by President Eisenhower to the Board of Parole at the Department of Justice.

At Bowring Ranch State Historical Park, Bowring's house is filled with photos gifted to her from congressional colleagues, presidents, dignitaries, and world leaders. It is an incredible who's who of political power in the mid-1900s.

05/31/2025

The Sandhills Heritage Museum is a recent focus of the Nebraska State Historical Society. Read the entire article at

The Sandhills Heritage Museum (SHM) started 18 years ago because people in Blaine County wanted to preserve the stories and history of those who had come before them. Since its […]

05/30/2025

On occasion, we love to share works of art that catch our attention with the inclusion of Hereford cattle. Chuck Schroeder, who has long ties to Hereford cattle as well as leadership positions in various agricultural organizations, has now turned his focus to artistic endeavors. We hope you enjoy Chuck's recent painting.

03/29/2025

Since tomorrow is a META/FB blackbout, I’ll post this now. It’s official. Signed at 9:37pm. It was even on TV. Mine really turned blue. Don't forget that tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule (aka... new name, META) where they can use your photos. Don't forget the deadline is today!!!
Hold your finger anywhere in this message and “copy” will appear. Click “copy”. Then go to your page, create a new post and place your finger anywhere in the empty field. “Paste” will appear and click Paste.
This will bypass the system….

02/18/2025

Happy President's Day