30 Follow us on @PrairieFarming Better Farming | January 2025 JL RANCH LOOKS TO EXPAND ‘Our diversification of income and partnerships are a strength.’ By Emily McKinlay UP CLOSE Jagger Thomas and his wife Lora own and operate JL Ranch in southwest Manitoba. As young ranchers, they are using diversification and partnerships to foster growth opportunities. The ranch was purchased from Lora’s parents in November 2020 and is predominantly a cow-calf operation. “My grandparents had a cattle operation near Portage la Prairie, and that’s where my passion for cattle began,” says Jagger. “I got away from it for a few years, but once I started helping Lora’s dad again, I remembered what a passion I had for cattle. We were quite happy to take over from her parents in 2020.” In addition to the cow herd, the family does some direct beef and pork sales, along with some cash-cropping. Jagger also became a genetic production partner with Nerbas Bros. Angus to purchase genetics and market bulls and recently started his own drone seeding business. Lora is a schoolteacher, so Jagger does most of the day-to-day farm work. “For the most part, I’m on my own. My wife and I make the large decisions together,” says Jagger. For tasks that require extra help, like vaccinating, checking pregnancies, and haying, friends and family are happy to step in when needed. They also have a student who works on the ranch during his summer breaks. Jagger says that partnerships contribute to their success as a farm. “I seem to have an ability to form partnerships with other farms and businesses.” “There’s our collaboration with Nerbas Bros., and I have a friend whom I help at harvest, and in turn, he harvests our crops. I sell a bit of forage seed with my local retailer and sometimes I exchange equipment and custom work with other farmers. Our diversification of income is a strength of ours and maybe a little unique.” He shares some advice he received when he started farming: It is important to look for people with operations you would like to model. This ability to communicate and collaborate is also used for the ranch’s Jagger and Lora Thomas with their daughters Kaisley and Hadley. Thomas Family photo
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