Mark received his real estate license in 2012 and joined Hall and Hall in 2018. A lifelong resident of Cherry County, Nebraska, which lies in the heart of the renowned Sandhills cattle raising country, Mark received his BS degree from the University of Nebraska in 1995 and then returned to the family ranch. He is currently the owner of the Thirteen Bar Ranch near Valentine, Nebraska, which has been in the family since 1888. Mark has 20 plus years of experience in farming, ranching, land development and is an avid outdoorsman. In addition to his home state, Mark has been involved in agricultural and recreational properties in several neighboring states.
The Niobrara River Irrigation & Grass Ranch presents a rare convergence of live water, irrigated production, and native range in Nebraska's premier cattle country. Anchored by two miles of Niobrara River frontage, the crown jewel of Nebraska's river systems, and situated in Cherry County, the top cattle-producing county in the United States, the ranch offers an exceptional platform for year-round livestock production. Four center-pivot irrigation systems covering 675± acres support high-volume feed production, while 1,000± acres of sub-irrigated meadows add a natural complement to the irrigated base. A comprehensive livestock water distribution system, including an underground pipeline, numerous windmills, and solar-powered wells, ensures reliable water access across the entire operation.
Two well-positioned home sites, extensive cedar windbreak shelter belts for winter protection, and on-site grain storage capacity round out the operational picture. Whether the goal is a traditional 800-head, year-round cow-calf program, an intensive summer grazing operation, or any combination thereof, the diversity of this 13,167± acre ranch provides a range of management options that few properties in the region or the nation can match.
The Niobrara River bisects the ranch from southwest to northeast, dividing the Sandhills rangeland to the south from the hard grass country to the north and establishing the ranch's most defining physical feature. The river valley is timbered and rich with wildlife habitat, while the flat, productive land flanking the valley provides the setting for the ranch's center-pivot irrigation systems. Moving away from the river, the terrain transitions to the gently rolling topography of the Nebraska Sandhills, where excellent grass cover and naturally sub-irrigated meadows have long supported high-capacity livestock operations. These sub-irrigated meadows - a hallmark feature of Sandhills ranching - offer naturally wet grazing and haying ground that requires no mechanical irrigation infrastructure.
A comprehensive livestock water distribution system serves the entire ranch, anchored by an underground water pipeline and supplemented by numerous windmills and solar-powered wells. The combination of hard grass uplands, Sandhills native range, sub-irrigated meadows, and pivot-irrigated ground creates layered and highly productive grazing resources across four seasons. Long rows of cedar tree windbreaks and shelter belts, carefully positioned across the ranch, furnish exceptional winter protection for livestock and enable year-round operations. Two distinct home sites, each with supporting structures, provide operational and residential flexibility, and two newer 35,000-bushel grain bins support the ranch's grain production and storage capabilities.
Rarely does a ranch come to market that brings together live water, irrigated production, sub-irrigated meadows, rolling native Sandhills, and hard grass country with the winter protection and infrastructure needed to support a truly year-round operation. The Niobrara River Irrigation & Grass Ranch delivers all of these in one place - anchored by two miles of the Niobrara River in Cherry County, the top cattle-producing county in the nation.
This ranch has the feed production capacity, water reliability, and land diversity to support a traditional cow-calf operation at scale or an intensive summer grazing program that draws on the full potential of its irrigated ground and native range. The ability to produce hay in volumes sufficient for both ranch use and commercial sale represents a genuine competitive advantage and is complemented by the opportunity for pivot irrigation expansion. For the sportsman and naturalist, the wildlife diversity and recreational access provided by the Niobrara River corridor add a dimension of value that few working ranches can claim.
In terms of sheer diversity of land types, operational strategies, wildlife resources, and recreational opportunities, this is among the most complete ranches to come to market in Cherry County. It is a rare find, and a property with the depth to reward its next steward for generations.
The Niobrara River Irrigation and Grass Ranch is located approximately 11 miles from Gordon, Nebraska, a well-served agricultural community in Cherry County. Access is provided by county road. The Gordon Municipal Airport, with a paved runway of approximately 5,200 feet, is conveniently nearby for private aviation. For those requiring commercial air service, Chadron, Nebraska, lies less than 60 miles to the west and offers a regional airport, state college, and a full complement of major retail and professional services. The ranch sits directly on the Niobrara River along the northern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills, placing it at the geographic and ecological boundary of two distinct and productive landscapes.
Gordon serves as the primary trade center for the ranch, offering a full Main Street with grocery, hardware, schools, implement dealers, hotels, and fuel services - the full suite of amenities that sustain a working agricultural community. The town carries the friendly, agriculture-rooted character typical of the northern Sandhills, where ranching is not simply an industry, but a way of life passed through generations. The surrounding countryside is quintessential Nebraska cattle country, defined by rolling Sandhills native range interspersed with irrigated pivot operations and row-crop fields. The Niobrara River forms a natural dividing line between the gently rolling Sandhills to the south and the harder upland grass country to the north, creating the blend of land types and ecological diversity that distinguishes Cherry County from virtually any other ranching region in the nation. Chadron, with a state college, commercial air service, and all major amenities, provides broader regional connectivity for ranch owners and their families.
Gordon receives approximately 18 to 20 inches of annual precipitation, the majority of which falls between April and August, aligning well with the growing season and pasture production needs. Winters tend to be markedly drier. The region enjoys relatively low humidity and characteristically cool summer nights. Average summer high temperatures reach the mid to upper 80s Fahrenheit, while winter highs typically range from the low 30s to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate is considered highly favorable for agriculture, supporting a long and productive growing season.
The ranch encompasses 13,167± total acres, of which 12,530± are deeded. The remaining 637± acres consist of a state school section lease. Within the deeded land base, approximately 675± acres are under center-pivot irrigation and 1,000± acres are classified as sub-irrigated meadow. The balance comprises rolling Sandhills native range and hard-grass upland pastures that extend along the river valley.
The ranch is improved with two distinct home sites, each positioned to serve the operational needs of its respective area. The northern home site is located near the center-pivot irrigation systems, providing convenient access to the irrigated production ground. The centrally located home site benefits from excellent winter protection afforded by the surrounding cedar windbreaks and sits in close proximity to the hay production and feed base. Two newer 35,000-bushel grain bins provide substantial on-site storage capacity for harvested hay and grain.
The ranch's water resources are among its most compelling attributes. The Niobrara River runs for approximately two miles along the property, offering scenic, timbered bottomlands fed by natural springs that maintain very consistent, year-round flows. Irrigation water is supplied by two high-capacity groundwater wells and a 594-acre surface water appropriation from the Niobrara River, permitted at 8.5 cubic feet per second, or approximately 3,815 gallons per minute.
The first high-capacity well serves the 140-acre pivot, producing 600 gallons per minute from a depth of 280 feet, with the pump set at 200 feet and a pumping water level of 170 feet. The second serves the 134-acre pivot, producing 825 gallons per minute from a depth of 220 feet, with the pump set at 190 feet and a static water level of 45 feet.
Livestock water is distributed across the ranch through an extensive underground pipeline complemented by numerous windmills and solar-powered wells. These stock wells average approximately 100 feet in depth with pumping rates of 15 to 25 gallons per minute. Many watering sites are served by multiple water sources, providing redundancy and reliability across the entire grazing system.
All water rights owned by the seller will convey to the buyer at closing.
All mineral rights owned by the seller will convey to the buyer at closing.
Annual property taxes are estimated at $55,854 based on the most recent available assessment.
The combination of timbered river bottoms, irrigated crop production, and diverse native range creates outstanding wildlife habitat across the ranch. Both mule deer and whitetail deer are well represented, benefiting from the protective cover of the Niobrara River corridor and the forage availability of the irrigated ground. Pronghorn antelope range across the upland pastures, while pheasant, wild turkey, and grouse round out a diverse upland game population. The river valley supports a rich community of migratory and resident bird species, providing excellent opportunities for birdwatching and hunting. The diversity of wildlife across the ranch's varied land types is exceptional by any measure.
The Niobrara River is central to the ranch's recreational appeal. Known for its consistent, shallow flows and spring-fed clarity, the river invites a wide range of warm-weather activities - from kayaking and canoeing to tubing and swimming. The timbered river valley provides a stunning backdrop for wildlife observation, hunting, and birding. Away from the river, the scale of the ranch - more than 13,000± acres of rolling range and meadow - offers countless miles of exploration on horseback or by ATV. The varied terrain, diverse wildlife, and dramatic seasonal transitions ensure that every excursion presents something new.
The ranch has traditionally been operated as an 800-head, year-round cow-calf operation which is a testament to the depth and reliability of its feed and water resources. The ranch's diversity of land types and irrigation capacity also create compelling alternatives. With the pivot systems contributing substantial forage production, the ranch is well positioned as a summer grazing unit capable of carrying an exceptional number of cattle on a seasonal basis, whether cow-calf pairs or yearlings.
Pivots are typically grazed in the spring and then transitioned to hay production, with the potential for two or more cuttings per season after spring grazing. Under proper management, the irrigated ground has demonstrated the capacity to produce up to seven tons of hay per acre. The pivot systems are planted to a grass-alfalfa mix as well as straight alfalfa, providing high-quality forage for grazing and haying programs alike. Cedar tree windbreaks and shelter belts furnish extensive winter protection for livestock, enabling year-round operations. The combination of exceptional native range, high-volume hay production, reliable water, and superior winter protection also makes the ranch well-suited to a combined cow-calf and yearling operation with backgrounding capability.
The ranch holds a 637± acre state school section lease, which provides additional rangeland acreage that complements the deeded land base.
[We] are forever grateful to you for your support and trust, as well as your professionalism that did not waiver.
I have not forgotten the “Dream Team”. I would like to thank you both for going above and beyond what I know any of us thought would happen. You pulled off a feat that, I know, put that whole community in a tailspin. Jackie and I are forever grateful to you for your support and trust,...
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