Jason Wells' grandfather, Reuben Rodell, always believed it was cheaper to move the cattle to the feed, rather than the feed to the cattle, and this is what he did when the drought hit Oklahoma in 1970. In May of 1971 Heather Rodell, her parents, and the last of 17 semi loads of Charolais cattle and machinery made their way to Crocker, South Dakota. At the same time Richard Wells was working toward building his ranch just north of Crocker. Fate brought Rodell and Wells together, and the two were married in 1973. In the spring of 1974 they bought their first Charolais bull from the Rodell Ranch to breed 30 crossbred Hereford cows. Then in the fall they bought 15 registered Charolais heifers, also from the Rodell Ranch. And so their registered herd began.
Currently they run 200 head of registered Charolais cows, a small commercial herd for embryo transfers, and a feedlot with a feeding capacity of 1500 head. They hold an annual bull sale in the spring in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Most of the heifers are sold private treaty.
Wells Charolais breed for performance, feed efficiency, longevity, and carcass. Wells cattle have done well at the stock shows. They won Grand Champion heifer for 3 consecutive years at the Black Hills Stock Shows, Grand Champion at the Watertown Farm Show, and Reserve Champion at various other shows.
Wells Charolais Ranch is located near Crocker, South Dakota, in the Crocker Hills.
