Nebraska family carries on patriarch’s Angus legacy

For many people, raising cattle isn’t just a job —it’s a legacy passed down from generation to generation.

To celebrate National Beef Month, we want to introduce you to a Nebraska family that was determined to carry on — even after tragedy struck.

Keith Bartos began Frederick Angus over 50 years ago with a dream of producing outstanding cattle. Bartos started adding a few registered cows to the herd, and by 2009, 65 percent of the herd was registered Angus beef.

Bartos lost a battle with cancer in 2007, but with dedication and determination, his family continues on his legacy today.

“He loved people, in general, and was always wanting to know more about somebody and have a genuine concern for everyone,” says Bartos’ daughter, Jemi Frederick. “There wouldn’t have been any way to continue this without all of the volunteer help.”

Frederick runs the ranch with her husband, Brent, and their two children. Today, Fredrick Angus runs 400 cow-calf pairs, along with up to 1,500 heads of start-to-finish feedlot cattle. Each year in February, they host an annual sale where they sell between 60 and 100 yearling bulls, and around 100 bred heifers.

“When we look to the future, it’s all about those two kids and the opportunities that we can put in front of them for when they’re deciding their career choices,” she says.

Related Stories
Outdated reporting thresholds reduce cash-market visibility and increase the urgency of comprehensive Mandatory Price Reporting reform.
Rancher David Kroa of One Man Ranch joins us to share the story of his remarkable Shorthorn cow, Trish, who is beating the odds.
Cattle imports from Mexico remain stalled amid the New World screwworm outbreak. At the same time, Tyson closures add pressure on Nebraska producers and markets ahead of the USDA’s upcoming Cattle on Feed Report.
The Lexington shutdown pushes national slaughter capacity utilization nearer long-run averages, underscoring how tight cattle supplies are reshaping packer operations.
Texas livestock producers face a heightened biosecurity threat as New World screwworm detections in northern Mexico coincide with FDA approval of the first topical treatment.
Rooster is a full-time farmhand, right-hand man on Shawn Raff’s cattle and dairy operation in Eatonton, Georgia.
Milk output is rising, but steep drops in Class I–IV prices are tightening margins heading into 2026.
Tight cattle supplies continue to drive lower beef output despite heavier weights.
Weaker U.S. dairy prices come as value-added exports expand and ingredient inventories tighten, creating mixed market signals for producers.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Beekeepers across the nation face a common challenge during winter—helping bee colonies survive the harsh conditions. Now, a new product developed by an innovated apiarist is changing the game. Enter, the Hive Hugger.
In the rolling fields and fertile lands of America’s Heartland, John Deere and Farm Rescue are nurturing a partnership protecting the rural way of life.
Now that Washington lawmakers have passed a 45-day stopgap, they have some breathing room to work through some hot-button topics like the high cost of the upcoming Farm Bill, which is due in large part to the funding necessary to support the Nutrition Title.
Explore the culinary wonders of Camino’s Apple Hill, where tradition meets delicious innovation at community institutions like Larsen Apple Barn.
Seven out of the eight major fertilizers saw recent price decreases. However, one key type of fertilizer bucked the overall trend with an 11-percent rise.
Egg prices have been on a roller coaster this year, soaring sky-high and falling back down to Earth in just a few months.
Agriculture Shows
Crop yield champions David Hula from Virginia and Randy Dowdy from Georgia are back for another season with the aim of schooling more growers across the country in their winning ways.
“Texas Agriculture Matters” is a fun, informative look at the role of agriculture in our daily lives. The show utilizes the trademark wit and wisdom of its host Commissioner Sid Miller — an 8th-generation farmer-rancher and 12-time World Champion rodeo cowboy — to explore a new Texas ag-related topic each week.
From barnyards and back roads to metros and highways, Simply Southern TV on RFD-TV explores all of Alabama to bring you the best stories on farming, gardening, forestry, rural living, and youth in agriculture.
In the first week of each month, “Down Home Virginia,” produced by the Virginia Farm Bureau, airs its half-hour program. Other states’ Farm Bureaus featured on different weeks include Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Idaho, and New York, and news from the American Farm Bureau from Washington, D.C.
Created by former Louisiana Farm Bureau PR Director and former host Regnal Wallace, “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture,” is one of the state’s longest-running TV programs.