Our
History
Equal
parts hard
work and
innovation
Our founder, Russ Adams, was an entrepreneur who was ahead of his time with his commitment to innovation, technology and continuous improvement. That commitment and ingenuity are things that we remain passionate about at Adams Land & Cattle.
A big part of our success at Adams comes from our need to make every part of our operation run as efficiently and effectively as possible – from the way we design our feedlots, to the way we produce the food for our animals, to the way we track and monitor each animal’s progress. That takes ingenuity and innovative thinking. We’re proud of the advancements we’ve made in design, technology and sustainability throughout our operation. We’re not afraid of change – we embrace it. It makes us the industry leader that we have become.
Scroll through our history to learn more about us …
1945
Russ and Angenette Adams purchased 300 acres of land one mile east of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and started a dairy. They supported their growing family by milking cows, feeding a few head of cattle and hogs, and raising corn and hay.
1950
Russ begins “backgrounding” cattle – meaning raising them from unweaned calves to yearling weight. Then the cattle are sold at local auction barns to finishers. This was the most efficient way to make the most of the roughage the farm provided.
1970
Russ and Angenette purchase 1,063 acres of land in 1971, which becomes the south lot. At this time, it had a one-time capacity for around 8,000 calves and the farm had nine employees.
Jerry Adams returns to the family business in 1972, saying he would stay around until he figured out the cattle feeding business.
1973
In 1973, Russ and Angenette incorporate their business under the name of Adams Land & Cattle Company. This is the year the business began finishing cattle as well as backgrounding them.
1974
Bill Adams, youngest of the Adams sons, returns to join the family farming and cattle business after serving in the National Guard.
1980
Never one to be satisfied with “industry standards,” Russ and his sons Bill and Jerry were always looking for better solutions, including installing 20’ of concrete behind bunks (instead of the standard 8’ to 12’) to increase cattle comfort and reduce injuries due to mud in 1986.
They designed collection and containment systems that allowed for the re-use of water, effluent, and manure.
They developed their own feedlot and accounting software systems to replace “off-the-shelf” software that didn’t fit their business.
1990
The 1990s were a pivotal decade for Adams Land & Cattle. For example, a major expansion of the south lot begins.
The company starts its own research & development department to provide proprietary data and technology for continuous improvement. This leads to building pens of multiple sizes to fit various research project needs.
An automated feed mill is added to the operation, allowing for development of proprietary feed blends to optimize productivity and product quality.
Updates are made to the technology and data systems in the processing facility.
Bill and a team of employees create the mobile veterinary hospital, a mobile doctoring facility for cattle in the feedlots.
Adams adopts Individual Animal Management (IAM) technology, allowing for the identification and tracing of all activities in an individual animal’s life, from the day it enters the Adams feedlot until it goes to harvest.
2000
Bill designed a trolley system for the processing barn, where animals ride the trolley to their assigned door. This automated the sorting process and reduced stress from animal handling, also allowing Adams the ability to sort cattle 11 ways without mixing any lot numbers.
2008
Bill and Jerry, wanting to grow business without owning more feedlots, increased their head count by starting the backgrounding network. By 2009, Adams had grown their backgrounding capacity to 35,000 head.
2010
Leveraging EIDs in their cattle with proprietary software, Adams built verification alleyways in 2010 to electronically verify every head as they leave the yard.
2013
In 2013, Adams implemented their patented sorting technology (BMI) which leverages hardware and artificial intelligence to optimize individual animal endpoint. We built our own IT system, originally called Cattle Com, now Revoro™, which allows us to collect data on individual animals and make data-based decisions.
Today
Adams Land & Cattle has a finishing capacity of 125,000 head. In addition, the company has more than 130,000 head of cattle in more than 80 different backgrounding operations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Latest News
Jerry Adams to be inducted into Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame
Over $3,781 and 5,548 items Donated During Adams Land & Cattle’s Food 4 Youth Challenge
Adams Land & Cattle Employees Donate Beef and over 280 Gifts to local families
Adams Kicks off Food 4 Youth Challenge
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 Transparency Coverage
Women’s History Month: Angenette Adams
Adams Kicks off 3rd Food 4 Youth Challenge
ALCC Food 4 Youth Challenge a Success
ALCC Kicks off 2nd Food 4 Youth Challenge
Jerry Adams Recognized by UNL Block & Brindle Club
In Loving Memory of Angenette Adams-Denesia
ALCC Food 4 Youth Challenge a Success
Bill and Jerry Adams Receive Award from Nebraska Bankers Association
Adams Kicks off Food 4 Youth Challenge (September 3-13)
Jerry Adams 2019 Distinguished Broken Bow Alumni Recipient
Adams Received Business Innovator Award
2019 Animal Quality Assurance Youth Training is a Success
Adams Holds First Annual ADAMS Compost Days
ALCC to Co-Host 2018 Youth Quality Assurance Training
Flooding and Blizzard Conditions in Nebraska
Over 3,100 Items donated during Have a Heart Food Bank Challenge
6th Annual Have a Heart Food Bank Challenge
Corn Flakes – They’re Not Just For Breakfast Anymore!
We recently completed our third annual Compost Days giveaway!
Over $6,800 and 5,600 Items Donated for Food 4 Youth
Adams to Provide Incentives for Employee Referral
2021 Adams Giving Tree