From 1889 to today, family keeps cattle legacy alive
Staff writer
Cattle is Heath Shields’ family story in Marion County. Today, Shields is working to ensure that legacy continues.
Shields traces his family’s ranching roots back to 1889, when his great-great-grandfather, J.B. Shields, began raising Hereford cattle in the area.
Generations later, Shields is building the next chapter, one pasture and one cow at a time.
“I wanted to continue on my family’s herd,” Shields said. “I didn’t want to see it disappear.”
A graduate of Oklahoma State University with an associate degree in diesel technology, Shields returned home in 2010 and began growing his own cow herd while working for the family operation, Shields Farms Inc. By 2012, he was steadily expanding his cattle numbers.
When the family farm split in 2019, Shields chose to invest in his future locally. He purchased land and cattle from relatives in 2020 and formally established HS Ranch.
Today, Shields manages a cow-calf operation spanning about 1,500 acres of grassland across Marion County, primarily raising spring-calving cattle with a smaller fall-calving herd. His operation includes land near Lincolnville, where his family’s historic cattle facilities remain in use.
Over time, the operation transitioned from Herefords to Simmental Angus cattle, reflecting changes in market demand and production efficiency.
Modern ranching has brought technological improvements, hydraulic chutes, mechanized feeding systems and cab tractors, but Shields said the work remains unpredictable.
“You never know what each year is going to bring,” he said.
He cited weather swings, drought, and disease pressures such as anaplasmosis, a blood disease born from ticks.
Despite those challenges, Shields believes cattle ranching remains central to Marion County’s rural identity.
“This is still important to the community,” he said.
That commitment extends to his family. Shields’ wife and children each own cattle in the operation, reinforcing its multi-generational nature.
“Watching the kids get excited about calves in the spring — that’s the reward,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shields hopes to gradually expand his operation while staying rooted in Marion County.
“This land’s been in our family a long time,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep it going.”