Family farm shows it can pay to horse around
Staff writer
In working at their family farm, Jon and Katy Christiansen are continuing a legacy stretching back four generations.
They are also keeping an equestrian tradition alive, with six horses trotting around the place.
The family always has been a big fan of horses, according to Jon.
His father Gordon continues to compete in ranch roping contests.
Jon, too, loves horses, and said if he had any free time, he’d spend it riding.
His great-great-grandfather bought the farmland in 1909 after immigrating to Marion County from Denmark. Gordon grew up on the plot.
He and his wife, Pat, both attended Kansas State University, where they rode on the school’s rodeo team.
In 1974, the couple moved from western Kansas back to the farm.
Jon and Katy also attended K-State, with Jon going on to work as a crop insurance agent with Terra Financial and Katy as a veterinarian in Hillsboro.
They met in Hillsboro, married, and decided to take over the farm. Gordon and Pat continue to live and work on the property.
Children Gus and Cora are the fifth generation to live on the farm.
Katy was born in Wilsey, near Council Grove.
“I married into this,” she said with a laugh. “I like being able to work with my family every day.”
The Christiansens use horses mainly to ride onto their grassland and move cattle.
“Our grass, a lot of it is pretty rough, so it’s really not the safest place for four-wheelers and Rangers and stuff,” Jon said.
The couple, on occasion, wrangle loose cattle like the cowboys of yesteryear. Their neighbors call them whenever one of their herd escapes. They even use lassos.
“We try not to rope them if we don’t have to, but as a last resort, it’s a good one to have,” Katy said.
The Christiansen farm also grows corn, wheat, milo, beans, and sudan for horse feed.
The farm will receive this year’s grass conservation award this year from Marion County Conservation District, for its work in taking care of their prairie.
Jon cited tree removal as being important to health of the land.
“A big thing here is getting rid of trees,” he said. “There’s just so much encroachment on the grassland.”
The family also has begun rotational grazing, Katy said.
“They’re not on the whole pasture for the entire amount of time,” she said of her livestock. “They’re moved around. It just gives rest to the grass.”