Ryan Sexson

Ryan and his wife, Jamie, and three children, Rylie, James and Addie lease a small ranch on the North Central edge of the Sandhills close to Nenzel, Nebraska.  Both Ryan and Jamie were raised on ranches in the Sandhills but had no opportunity to come back to a family operation so they began building a cowherd in 2010 and searching for the opportunity to lease a ranch.  They found that opportunity in 2014 when the leased the ranch they are currently on.  The Sexson’s operate their ranch as a custom calving operation in the spring followed by a custom grazing operation through the grazing season.  They also provide the summer care for a large number of pairs and yearling steers for a ranch that Ryan has worked on for the last 10 years.  Ryan works as a day laborer for a number of ranches in the area and trains a few horses on the side.  The Sexson’s operate as a family, the kids are an integral part of the day to day operation and have been a part of all aspects of the operation since they leased the ranch, even though they are only 12, 10 and 9. 

Ryan attended a trade school to learn to be a diesel mechanic, he worked in that field a couple of years before returning to ranching.  His experience under Burke Teichert’s management at the Rex Ranch is the basis for most of his educational experiences involving ranch management. 

Ryan is currently the President of the Cherry County 4H Council, the chair of the 4H Horse committee, a board member on the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, and a board member of the National Grazing Lands Coalition.