2026 Winter Cattle Journal | Largent and Sons Herefords

The Largent family story starts back in the early 1900s in Texas with C.M. Largent, the third registered Hereford breeder established in the state. Now, over 100 years later, a total of seven generations of Largent’s have been involved in ranching and raising Hereford cattle. Mark Largent, great grandson to C.M. Largent and current owner and operator of what is now known as Largent and Sons, believes that his great grandfather would be “well-pleased with the quality of the cattle, the quality of the family, and the quality of our dedication to Christ,” and for good reason. At Largent and Sons, those three things are the bedrock of what they do.  

Upon C.M.’s passing in 1938, the ranch was handed down to his son, Roy, and later to Mark’s father, David, and uncle, Rust. In 1955, Mark’s parents, David and Freda, bought a ranch near Marfa, Texas, where some of Mark’s earliest memories were made, not all of them rosy– the mid-fifties brought their share of challenges for ranchers. Mark recalls droughts that seemed never-ending, leading his father to seek other opportunities to support his family. Mark credits his “dad’s dedication and reputation for exhibiting cattle” for allowing him to be hired by a prominent Hereford breeder in Arizona to show cattle and operate two ranches. Mark’s father left the ranch in Texas in the care of his brother, Rust, during that time. Years later, Mark’s family returned to Texas to raise and show cattle again.  

In 1970, the family decided it was time to leave Texas once again– this time, for Montana. By then, Mark had fallen in love with Cathy, and the two married before setting off to Montana with Mark’s parents. Fifty-five years later, Mark and Cathy are still happily married, have raised three children and been blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and currently reside on the ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming, where four generations of Largent’s are involved in raising Hereford cattle together.  

Loyalty is important to the Largent family, and Mark believes his father’s loyalty and integrity laid the foundation for their success as ranchers. When speaking of his father, Mark said, “I don’t know of any human being to this day that was so loyal to the Hereford breed. He would say, ‘Son, there are only two breeds of cattle: Herefords and everything else.'” Despite many challenges, including 

struggles with recessive genes that caused dwarfism and hydrocephalus, years of drought, difficult markets, and multiple moves, they have remained loyal to the Hereford breed and have continued to build on the legacy that C.M. started over 100 years ago. Mark said that when it comes to Herefords, there’s something inside that says, “They’re the ones who got us here, and we owe them something.”  

The Largent’s loyalty to the breed and love of tradition have allowed them to experience great success since moving north in 1970. In 1979, a bull they exhibited won the National Western Stock Show. In 1981, David was elected president of the Board of Directors for the American Hereford Association, and in 1982, the family hosted their first annual bull sale to cater to commercial cattlemen, an event that is still going strong 40 years later.  

Mark said his father was a “pioneer in many ways,” using total performance records introduced in the late ’60s and early ’70s to continue to improve his herd and better serve his fellow cattlemen. Though the cattle market has been influenced by different fads over the years, David was always committed to raising high-performing Hereford cattle. By 1990, David and Freda were ready to retire and handed the reins over to Mark and Cathy. Following in his father’s footsteps, Mark was able to continue improving their genetics and the performance of their cattle by focusing on carcass traits and the optimal cross between muscular, high-performing animals with more feminine, productive females. Knowing the ins and outs of the Largent bloodlines and cow families was key for Mark during this time. He said, “I remember the cows all through the ’60s and ’70s and on up to today. I remember the mothers and the great grandmothers. All of that stuff is part of who we are and what we are as breeders.”  

Mark can trace any animal in their herd back to the Largent bloodlines used in the ’30s and ’40s and is always seeking ways to improve their genetics. Largent and Sons seeks to “have something for everyone in the cattle industry” by focusing on carcass, longevity, and maternal surety. For Largent and Sons, the most rewarding part of their program is having customers come back and say their bulls worked well for them. Mark said, “It’s just a thrill to us. It doesn’t make any difference whether the bull brings $2,500 or $15,000 if the customer is happy.” 

Anyone involved in a multi-generational operation knows it comes with its fair share of challenges, but to Mark, there is no other way. He said, “We could not do it without our family.” Mark and Cathy’s son, David and his wife, Heather, live and work on the ranch, along with their son Jordan and his wife, Tori, and their children. David and Heather’s daughter, Kelley, can also be found helping  

out every day, even as she and her husband await the arrival of their fourth child. Mark and Cathy’s daughter, Laura, and her husband, Toby, also ranch nearby and are always willing to lend a hand. Aside from the family members that live on or near the ranch, many others hope to one day return to the ranch as well. Mark said, “We have the family unit all supporting and pulling for the ranch and wanting it to survive and thrive.” Mark’s highest praise goes to Cathy, whom he calls “the most wonderful partner in the world.” Between keeping the books, the kids, and the grandkids, and knowing the business and the customers, she is the one who keeps the family grounded and the business running strong.  

If ranching itself wasn’t enough of a commitment for Mark, 27 years ago, he found himself taking on a pastoral role at a church in Gillette, and just as he’s remained loyal to Herefords, he’s remained loyal to his church as well. Twice a week, he and Cathy make the trip from the ranch to Gillette– 140 miles one way. Mark jokes, “When the people at the church get tired of me, I retreat to the ranch, and when the people at the ranch get tired of me, I retreat to the church.” All jokes aside, Mark feels “unworthy to be either head of the ranch or [the church]” and knows that neither would endure “except for the grace of God.” Through the years he has found that, “You don’t just be a Christian on Sunday. You have to be one at the ranch, too.” Whether tending the herd or shepherding the flock, Mark knows that “we have to have [Christ] every day.”  

On the mantle in their house, Mark and Cathy have a trophy that C.M. Largent won showing cattle in 1912. That trophy is a reminder of a legacy built on hard work, faith, and family. For Mark, Cathy, and the generations that follow, Largent and Sons is more than a ranch—it is a living testament to the enduring power of tradition, family, and faith. To Mark, the mission has always been simple: “Keeping the family together, keeping our faith together, and sticking with Herefords.”