Edwards Land & Cattle Co. Named 2022 NALF Commercial Marketing Booster Of The Year

Dexter Edwards and his son, Nicholas (right), accept their award from Kiley McKinna (left) and Randy Ratliff.

The Edwards Family members include Dexter & Pam Edwards, Brittainy Edwards Kildow and husband Kurt, children Arden and Gage, Nicholas Edwards & daughter, Allie. They own and operate Edwards Land & Cattle Co. and currently run roughly 800 head of cattle spread out over three counties. Their land is home to Limousin, Lim-Flex, Angus and Red Angus cattle, as well as more than 12,000 hogs and turkeys.

Dexter said his greatest joy has been having his son come back home to help manage Edwards Land and Cattle Co. Nicholas’ involvement has allowed him to find balance between the work he loves and time for his family, Dexter added.

Nicholas has never doubted that being involved with the family business was what he wanted to do in life, but said it was his father’s dedication that gave him the ability to come home to the operation. When Dexter first started Edwards Land and Cattle Co. after he graduated from college, he only had an acre-and-a-half of land in his name.

“My dad started everything we have from the ground up. He built this farm from nothing,” Nicholas said. “I love working with him, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.”

Nicholas has always looked up to Dexter and said his father is the sole reason he has been able to pursue his passion and find a career in the industry he loves. From the moment Dexter gifted a Limousin bull to him on his third birthday, Nicholas said he has worked to possess and exhibit the same drive as his father.

“He’s taught me everything. He’s been my teacher in everything I’ve done,” Nicholas added.

While the seedstock industry was not originally the operation’s main focus, Nicholas said he and his father are proud of the various successes their livestock have found in show rings and sales across the country.

Edwards Land and Cattle Co. has produced seven All-American Futurity Grand Champions and claimed four titles at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. With these achievements, it is no surprise Dexter and Nicholas have also been recognized as Premier Breeder six years in a row at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville and again in year 2022.

In addition to exhibiting successful strings of cattle at literally every major cattle show in the United States, the cattle carrying their ELCX prefix have been just as widely accepted at sale venues across the country. From hosting their own annual production sale at the farm, to consigning cattle to premier sale events across the country, cattle bred in their program have met much buyer demand.

“Watching him develop has been one of my greatest pleasures,” Dexter said. “The cattle taught him that if you work hard enough at something, you can accomplish your goals and become a leader. That confidence is the reason we have won Premier Breeder six years in a row. That’s his work—not mine.”

Nicholas’ love for the Limousin breed kept Dexter involved in the Association. Dexter said seeing the impact the show industry had on his son inspired him to find ways to get more youth involved in agriculture. This inspiration led to Dexter serving for six years on the North American Limousin Foundation Board including a stint as Vice President.

In 2012, the Edwards Family moved their annual sale to their new sale facility located on the 100-year-old farm originally owned by the Edwards ancestors. The facility was a dream come true for the family and has become not only a sale facility but a place to celebrate many community activities including weddings and gatherings.

While Nicholas said he loves the competitiveness of the show industry, it’s the heart and soul of the people raising the cattle that keeps him coming back to the industry time and time again.

“I would say we’re a dying breed as far as the kind of people we are. It’s real competitive what we do, but at the end of the day, we’re all on the same page,” Nicholas said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a show cattle producer or a commercial producer—we are a family. We have each other’s backs when it comes down to it.”