Lazy LD is a cattle brand, its is a business that holds land, farm ground and polled shorthorn cattle; but more so it is a mind set, dedicated to honoring those who came before, recognizing those who endeavor today and to prepare for our future. The start was John Peterson, born in Hult, Vernamo, province of Smoland, Sweden; frustrated by many with the same last name he changed his name to Hultine, immigrating through Castle Garden Landing in the United Sates of America arriving the evening of July 4, 1869. In 1870 John married Emma, in 1871 John took work building the B&M/CB&Q railroad that was routed through Nebraska; discovering a place close to present day Saronville, Clay County, Nebraska where they would homestead on ground to call their own, live in a dugout, erect their home, feed roving bands of Indians, hand plant crops, dealing with bands of gypsies, start their cattle herds, fight range fires and raise a family.

A lot has changed since John and Emma; each Hultine family has developed their own identity, however the deep rooted foundation of agriculture and the love for the Great Sate of Nebraska has not changed for Marc and Connie Hultine, their boys Laif and Broden and sister Michelle (Hultine) and her husband John Schneider. Laif and Broden are the seventh generation of Hultine to call central Nebraska home, their domestic ancestry began with John Hultine, then Albert Hultine, to Lloyd Hultine, to Dale Hultine, to Barton Hultine and their father Marc Hultine. 

Albert Hultine was born in January 1877; he worked the family homestead near Saronville, Clay County, Nebraska and pursued his passion for cattle, predominantly the Polled Shorthorn breed. Albert was a board member of the Perpetual Care Association, board member of the National and Nebraska Polled Shorthorn Associations, he was in the first group to be honored as a Builder of the Breed by Shorthorn World, he received the first Nebraska Stock Growers Award of Merit given to a Shorthorn breeder, honored by the Nebraska Block and Bridle Club in 1954 and received the 50 Year Shipper recognition by the Omaha Market Pin. In1954 the Nebraska Cattlemen publication references Albert to be “…respected by many contemporaries as having advances and improved the (Shorthorn) breed more than any other living man.” Albert first showed cattle at the Nebraska State Fair in 1911, from 1916 on the herd showed at many major shows winning ten International Grand Champions including Royal, Western, Fort Worth and San Francisco Expositions; Albert through his Grey Gable’s Stock Farm provided stock to producers in Australia, South Africa, South America, New Zealand, Canada and around the United States.

With the passing of Albert came Lloyd and his brother Cleo, who maintained the Polled Shorthorn herds; however production beef was in demand and although the shorthorn herds played their part many of the bloodlines gave way to the introduction of Angus and Hereford beef. Lloyd’s son Dale continued with production beef and the shorthorn herd dwindled, by the time Dale’s boys, The Three B’s – Bart, Brian and Bruce came of age production beef was prevalent. By 1990 Dale had retired, selling the cattle herds, equipment, crop ground and the sub-irrigated pasture and lagoon ground to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who developed a public access Waterfowl Production Area. The Three B’s had their professional careers and families to pursue; Grey Gables Stock Farm, and the Hultine shorthorn herd was no more.

In 1995 Marc Hultine was looking through an early 1980’s Nebraska brand registration book, there registered to Lloyd Hultine was the Lazy LD brand, hot iron on the left hip. Marc’s interest was peaked and upon contacting the Nebraska Brand Committee learned that the brand had been abandoned and unregistered since the mid 1980’s; without owning anything to brand or dirt to put livestock on Marc registered the Lazy LD brand to his name. Conversations with his father Bart, the other two B’s and a lineage of family members followed; all of whom contributing their own memories of what was and sharing the era of the Shorthorn.

Then in 1996 a letter came from Mr. Rudolf Griess of Sutton, Clay County, Nebraska stating that he had visited with a Hultine family member and heard that Marc was inquisitive as to the shorthorn breed. Mr. Griess’s letter stated that he had raised shorthorns and was familiar with the Hultine herds and that he was in possession of the last twenty five AI units of Meadowbrook Chieftain the 9th and was looking for someone to purchase these units that would be interested in the preservation of the Shorthorn breed. Marc contacted Mr. Griess and a deal was made, however first things first.

Meadowbrook Chieftain the 9th 13 years old

In 1997 Marc and Connie Hultine in partnership with Michelle (Hultine) and John Schneider began to lay the foundation for Lazy LD Inc., home acreages were purchased to accommodate livestock and a long half section of ground was purchased by Marquette, Hamilton County, Nebraska. The ground had been abused by previous tenants, weeds outnumbered the grasses and cedar trees covered the pastures; the work began to establish the Lazy LD River Ranch. Through the insight provided by Hultine family members and friends and local NRCS resources the River Ranch began its long recovery.