A Way of Life

Situated on the border of Blaine and Custer counties in the Sandhills of Nebraska, the McGinn Ranch comprises thousands of acres of grazing land. Originally homesteaded in 1891 with a single section of land, the ranch has grown many times over.

The McGinn Ranch has survived over 115 years of crippling drought, torrential rains, extreme heat, and bone-numbing cold, not to mention the changing diet of the American public for beef. Throw in government policies that seem to change on a whim, and it becomes all the more impressive what has been created here.

Instinctively following sustainable land management policies, The McGinn's have grown or reduced the herd size as weather patterns and market conditions have modified over the decades. With an eye towards the future, the ranch continues to update it's practices and facilities to keep this family operation viable.

The kindness and generosity of the McGinn Family allowed photographer Georg Joutras to capture over 300 images of ranch operations in a truly inspirational & natural setting. These photographs present a compelling, multi-year look at the realities of ranching on the plains of America in the 21st century.