Stone House Creek Ranch has been a family operation in Southern Jefferson County Kansas since 1893.
The ranch is named after the creek that runs through it which is named for a stone house that was built where the creek joins the Kansas River South of present-day Williamstown.
The stone house was built circa 1825 for Chief White Plume of the Kaw Indians as part of a treaty between White Plume and the United States government. Continue reading »
Stone House Creek Ranch Historical Photos (click to enlarge)
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As with most farms and ranches at the time, Stone House Creek Ranch began as a dairy which produced most of the feed for the cows and the family. Cream from the milk was transported to the train depot at Williamstown to be sold. The left-over skim milk was fed to the hogs. Hogs and chickens were also raised and butchered on the farm. A neighbor provided a steam engine and threshing machine annually to thresh wheat right in front of the house. Eventually, tractors replaced mules and steam engines. The ranch provided an entire livelihood for Glenn Z and Cassie May as well as their 4 children from about 1920 until the 1960’s.
Today, Stone House Creek Ranch raises bison and Balancer beef cattle. The Balancer breed is a combination of Angus and Gelbvieh cattle and capitalizes on the dominant traits of both breeds. We raise our livestock in a low stress environment with very little exposure to influences from other herds. This greatly decreases sickness or need for medication. In order to keep a healthy herd, we do treat our animals with medication as needed but we do not use massive doses of antibiotics. Continue reading »
Stone House Creek Ranch Modern Photos (click to enlarge)
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We now have the 6th generation growing up on Stone House Creek Ranch. We intend to raise them with an understanding and appreciation of agriculture and the natural world around them. The kids commonly feed steers and check cows, although we keep them a safe distance from the bison. We walk cows up the same paths that were used over 100 years ago, walking in the footprints of our ancestors.
We offer beef, bison and dry firewood for sale at Perry Farm to Fork when available.