Our Spring sale will be
Sunday, March 2nd, in
White Sulphur Springs, MT.

Stevenson Down T Angus is a fifth generation Registered Angus Ranch.  Owned by Darrell and Sara Stevenson located in the beautiful valley in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. 

 

Darrell and Sara were integral with Stevenson Angus Ranch of the Judith Basin for twenty-five years.  Through years of marketing seedstock around the world, it was not unusual to host, educate or visit foreign interest.  It was commonplace to export live cattle or frozen genetics to established beef producing countries including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.  In 2010, Darrell was presented an opportunity in Russia.  It was a landmark venture with two Russian businessmen and together as Stevenson Sputnik they established a core nucleus registered herd, a large commercial herd, feed yard and small-scale abattoir to become one of the preeminent beef production units in the country.  It was totally vertically integrated from production to food service and retail.  In conjunction, Darrell assisted with a multitude of other live cattle shipments to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  This magnificent window of opportunity was limited and by 2017 there was an opportunity to divest in his Russian holdings.  Although complicated, the sale of Stevenson Sputnik was successfully finalized.  The cattle and holdings continue today with the Nitsenko family and their Zarechnoe program.  It is currently the second largest beef production unit in Russia.

 

Through that same timeframe, Darrell and Sara were able to start building some cow numbers home in Montana.  Sara and the kids, CJ and Claire, oversaw that growing concern while Darrell spent many months overseas managing Stevenson Sputnik and servicing the ongoing demand for Angus cattle in those Central Asian emerging marketplaces.   

 

The upside-down T (Down T) brand was procured by Darrell and Sara Stevenson as a young married couple.  Their dream of one day having their own place started to come together.  Their initial growth took place on the Sage Creek unit near Denton, MT.  It was remote, tough country and Sage Creek’s lease terms were limited.  In time and out of necessity, cow numbers grew and another more stable option needed to be confirmed. 

 

Through the help and guidance from Sara’s parents, Dewey and Rosana Skelton, the Stevenson Down T was able to permanently settle in Meagher County in 2019.  Located south of White Sulphur Springs, MT on the South Fork of the Smith River, the Stevenson Down T is now proudly operating with the same family tradition and Angus cattle as the home place. 

 

The Stevenson family roots run deep in the Judith Basin of Central Montana and Angus cattle.  Jim and Ida Stevenson originally moved to the Hobson, MT area in 1906 before there was a town or railroad.  Slowly over time, the next generation of Jamie and Jeanette Stevenson was able to put together some land and livestock.  The first registered Angus cattle were purchased in 1947 from the Airyland Angus Ranch herd dispersal, a pioneer breeder located near Lewistown, MT.  As a Charter Member of the Montana Angus Association, Jamie Stevenson established a legacy that now continues through several different family units.  Stevenson Angus Ranch’s first bull sale was in 1961.  Today it is considered the longest established annual bull sale in America.  Keith and Roberta Stevenson took over the reins in 1976 and continues today with sons Bob and Jake and their families. 

 

Creating opportunity through expansion is a typical aspiration for the Stevenson Angus family. Through the generations, more land and cattle inspired additional units.  With the passing of Grandpa Jamie in 1975, brothers Keith and Wayne continued with a formal marketing entity known to the industry as Stevenson Basin.  Founded with Stevenson Angus and Basin Angus additional family units of Diamond Dot, Rich Angus, Carr Angus and now Down T were eventually established.  The final year of marketing together as Stevenson Basin culminated with more than 7,000 head in one three-day sale event December of 2007.  Ranked as the largest seedstock supplier in America by National Cattleman’s Beef Association, it was due time to back off and start marketing independently.  It was an amazing collaboration and monumental effort working at that size and scale.  In the long run, it was in everyone’s best interest to continue autonomously and to host their own production sales. 

 

Today, the Stevenson Down T is proudly honored to continue this family legacy with their own version of that tradition. 

 

Set in a beautiful mountain valley at 5000’, growing seasons are short, and winters are long.  Only good cattle perform, they have got to be easy fleshing, sound footed and fertile.  In trying to work with mother nature, they now calve later spring and develop bulls into a more mature age group.  The Stevenson Down T bulls are still marketed with Stevenson Angus Ranch and the Hobson headquarter sale barn.  Together they host two sales a year.  The fall offering is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in Hobson and the spring sale is the first Sunday in March at the White Sulphur Ranch.