“Every ranch has a beginning. Ours has been generations in the making.” 

CCRS Fleckvieh was not built overnight, nor was it built without adversity. It is the result of decades of hard work, countless early mornings, and a family that refused to quit when life demanded everything they had to give. While the cattle are at the heart of what we do, the story of CCRS is one of resilience, heritage, and the belief that every generation has a responsibility to leave something better for the next.

That belief was tested in 2010. While working in public service, Rod Mathers suffered a traumatic brain injury when a cottonwood log struck him during a tree removal project. Over the course of months, and many crucial hours, Rod had to relearn many of the things most people never think twice about—walking, speaking, and regaining the independence that had once come naturally. The road forward was anything but easy. Yet, through sheer determination, and the support of his family, Rod refused to let that moment define him. Instead, it became the beginning of a new chapter.

Long before CCRS Fleckvieh existed, another story was unfolding across the farms of north-central Nebraska. Rod's mother, Marge Thurlow Mathers, was raised on a family farm near Atkinson, Nebraska, where responsibility “began before sunrise.” As a young girl, she helped milk eighteen cows every day, hand-cranked the cream separator, cared for livestock, and worked alongside her mother to keep the farm running. There was little time for the extracurricular school activities, but there was never a shortage of lessons. She learned that honest work mattered, that animals deserved proper care, and that success was earned rather than given.

Marge's curiosity extended beyond the pasture. Throughout her life she developed a passion for history, genealogy, and preserving the stories of those who came before her. Years of research allowed her to trace the Thurlow family back to Richard Thurlow, an early colonial settler whose bridge over the Parker River in seventeenth-century Massachusetts became one of the earliest privately operated toll bridges in America. For Marge, genealogy has never been about famous names or distant relatives. It has always been about understanding where we come from, appreciating the sacrifices of previous generations, and recognizing that every family leaves its mark by the way it lives and serves others. That same philosophy continues to shape the way CCRS approaches ranching today.

Determination also led Marge to pursue opportunities that few rural women of her generation had the chance to experience. She attended IBM technical training in Omaha before realizing her heart remained in agriculture and service to others. After moving to South Dakota, she raised her family while earning a bachelor's, and later a master's degrees from South Dakota State University; while at the same time building a career in counseling and public service. Along the way, she became an accomplished artist, completed commissioned lettering and paintings throughout South Dakota, studied the Lakota language, and worked alongside Native American communities. Yet if you ask Marge about her greatest accomplishment, she will never mention degrees, awards, or artwork. She will tell you it is her family.

Growing up, Rod learned to work cattle, sheep, and goats while watching his mother demonstrate what discipline, responsibility, and stewardship looked like every single day. She taught him practical lessons that still guide the ranch today. Even as a young boy, Rod learned about saving money, borrowing responsibly, and paying back his first small loan because Marge has always believed character was built through accountability.

Before his accident, Rod managed a large commercial Simmental herd. After months of recovery, however, it became clear that returning to the same operation would require a different approach. Rather than stepping away from agriculture, Rod and Marge chose to build something even more intentional. They recognized an opportunity to develop one of South Dakota's premier Fleckvieh breeding programs by focusing on quality instead of quantity.

 “Our first purchase of twelve Fleckvieh females became the beginning of a new vision.” 

Rod had admired Fleckvieh cattle since he was young. Their distinctive markings first caught his attention, but it was their disposition, maternal strength, longevity, and performance that convinced him they represented the future of the operation. Every breeding decision at CCRS is made with one goal in mind: producing practical, functional cattle that excel in the real world while preserving the maternal traits commercial cattlemen depend upon. Today, every calf born at CCRS represents generations of hard work, careful planning, and a commitment to producing cattle with purpose.

At the end of the day, CCRS Fleckvieh is not simply about raising registered cattle, but about honoring those who came before us, learning from every challenge we have faced, and building something our children and grandchildren can be proud to carry forward. We believe that great cattle are built through sound genetics, but great ranches are built through character. Our family is grateful for the opportunity to steward both.

We invite YOU to become part of that story.