About Us
Lyons Ranch
OUR STORY
Jan and Frank Lyons started the Lyons Ranch Angus cowherd south of Manhattan, Kansas, half a century ago.
Jan was raised on a small Angus farm in eastern Ohio, helping her dad and brother with the farm and taking care of their cattle. She and Frank, who was also raised on a small farm, wanted to raise their two daughters to appreciate good cattle and the ideals and work ethic they valued so much.
They started to put together a registered and commercial cowherd in the 1970s, with some of the females originating from Jan’s father’s herd. From the beginning, they never chased industry fads, but focused on the solid traits inherent in the Angus breed – moderate, easy fleshing cattle, with great carcass and maternal quality. In the early 1980s, Lyons Ranch invited cattlemen and women to come by to select herd sires from a small group of registered bulls. Jan sold bulls privately behind the old chicken house for many years.
When the demand grew so much that so many customers asked to have “first pick”, it was time to host a production sale. They held their first bull sale in February 1988. The Lyons family was humbled by the acceptance by the crowd who came that day -- they recognize their good fortune to know and work with some of the best people in the world. The first Monday in March in 2026, Lyons Ranch will host its 38th Annual Lyons Ranch Superior Genetics Angus Bull and Female Sale.
Over the years, Jan gave much of her energy and time to the beef industry and people she loved. She first volunteered as a 4-H leader at the local and county level and the Kansas Junior Angus Association. Over the years, Jan’s service included years as the first woman president of the Kansas Angus Association, chair of the Kansas Beef Council, president of the Kansas Livestock Association, chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and, finally, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in 2004. She has mostly retired from the ranch, but still loves seeing Angus cows and calves on Flint Hills grass around their home and helps AI when another good hand is needed.
Frank was a practicing radiologist for more than 45 years and recently retired from Kansas Regenerative Medicine Center, a stem cell therapy clinic. He has always loved medicine and, in a quiet way, has worked to help people improve their quality of life. Caring for the pastures and feeding cattle gave Frank good release from the stress of doctoring in town. Frank and Jan both enjoy seeing friends and talking cattle, especially at sale time.
Jan Lyons was honored as the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Checkoff Visionary Award Winner for 2024.
Throughout her lifetime, Jan has loved the cattle business and raising Angus seedstock, and she has devoted time and effort, working hard for all cattlemen and women.
Perhaps most notably, as a beef industry leader and NCBA president, Jan was a steady presence during and after the "Cow that Stole Christmas" in 2003. Using sound science and resources funded by Checkoff dollars, Jan stood publicly, reassuring consumers and politicians alike, that the US food inspection service worked, and beef was safe and nutritious.
For more information on how Checkoff dollars work for all beef farmers and ranchers, go to Beef Checkoff.
Watch the video to hear about her leadership and commitment to the beef industry.
Jan was named the 2008 Kansas State University Livestock and Meat Industry Council Stockman of the Year. The photo is of Jan and Frank with their grandkids and her dad Harold Ferguson. After World War II, he used his money from the GI bill to buy a few Angus cows for their small farm in northeast Ohio, and started that legacy and love of cattle the family shares.
Frank and Jan Lyons with their seven grandchildren, one decade later --
Allie, Tyler, Trent, Eric, Tanner, Trey, Meghan. They each have families of their own now, and are teaching the next generations to respect livestock and the land.
The Golden Spur Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions and iconic leadership by an individual for devotion to land and livestock, including the preservation of western legacy and it's heritage. It is considered the livestock and ranching industry's most prestigious honor. The Golden Spur is bestowed by six livestock and ranching organizations: American Quarter Horse Association, National Cattleman's Foundation, Ranching Heritage Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers, Texas Cattle Feeders and Texas Farm Bureau.
Jan was named the 47th winner of the National Golden Spur Award in October 2025. She has shown spirit and dedication to the cattle industry and its land and people, and is the first person from Kansas to receive the Golden Spur Award.
"The Rancher" is a larger than life bronze statue that greets visitors to the National Ranching Heritage Center. A smaller statue, created by western sculptor Harold Holden, is presented annually to the winner of the Golden Spur.
More than awards, the whole family counts it’s simple blessings, and they continue to grow. Jan and Frank have moved a few miles south of the ranch headquarters at Manhattan. They keep an eye on things and always will be the backbone of the ranch. Their daughter Amy and son-in-law Karl Langvardt now manage Lyons Ranch. They live in Wabaunsee County, east of Alta Vista, where they raised their sons Tanner and Trey. They work together in all aspects of the ranch, supporting each other and their family's cowherd.
Amy serves on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board and the Kansas Beef Council Executive Committee and helps fellow producers determine how Beef Checkoff dollars are spent.
Karl grew up in the livestock sale barn business and is still involved in marketing. His family owns and operates two sale barns, JC Livestock and Clay Center Livestock Sales Inc. Lyons Ranch has great respect for commercial cattlemen and women and recognizes the role seedstock producers play. The know the value of price discovery and open market trade as well as retained ownership.
Amy and Karl
Trey and his wife Bailey have made the ranch headquarters on McDowell Creek Road their home. They have brought perspective and change to the ranch and our family, but continue with respect for the tried and true and commitment to the brand. They work together as a team, especially fall calving, breeding and sale cattle development. They both are awfully handy and help neighbors and friends with day-work and shipping in addition to taking care of the Lyons Ranch cattle.
Bailey is an award-winning silversmith. She is hard-working and focuses on quiet excellence in everything she does. Check out her beautiful work at basilverjewelry.com and on Instagram and Facebook and watch for her announcements for sought-after custom orders!
They both like to team rope and compete in ranch rodeos at many levels. Trey competed with Lonesome Pine-C5T at WRCA Ranch Rodeos in 2025, qualifying for and winning fourth at Amarillo.
Many things have changed in the last half century. We know there are challenges ahead. Please be assured that the Lyons Ranch commitment to proven, profitable cattle and to our customers hasn’t wavered.
Lyons Ranch has a history and a future. We want to be your partner in taking the beef industry forward.
It will always be our pleasure to be Your Source for Superior Genetics.
Sincerely,
The Lyons and Langvardts
We appreciate your interest in Lyons Ranch.
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