Guiding 4.5 Cattle Company Toward a Sustainable Future

On the rolling hills near Pender, Nebraska, the roots of 4.5 Cattle Co. run as deep as the native bluestem. The Krusemark family has been feeding cattle here since the late 1800s. Today, fourth generation Samantha Johnson (Krusemark) walks the same ground her great-grandparents did, raising her children in the original family home built in 1904. Despite this deep legacy, Samantha’s approach to cattle feeding is anything but old-fashioned.

As a partner alongside her father and sister, Samantha serves as both steward and strategist for 4.5 Cattle Co.’s 3,500-head feedyard outside Pender and another 9,000-head lot near Wisner. Her responsibilities range from buying and selling cattle and managing nutrition and veterinary care with trusted consultants to overseeing the books and maintaining relationships with customers and suppliers. In addition to her expansive role with the feedlot, she and her father also launched a hay company to ensure local dairies have access to high-quality feed.

Samantha is hands-on in multiple aspects of the business. She is as comfortable managing the cattle as she is managing the financials – all while balancing the demands of both business and family, including raising four young children.

A Philosophy of Care and Longevity

At 86, Samantha’s grandfather still comes to the yard, serving as a daily reminder of the legacy she’s upholding. 4.5 Cattle Co. is built on the notion that sustainability is not a buzzword, but rather a commitment to animal care, environmental responsibility, and the longevity of the family business. Samantha’s approach blends a mother’s intuition with a businesswoman’s savvy.

“The mother in me wants to make sure the cattle are comfortable and healthy,” said Samantha. “My main concern is keeping them comfortable and thriving while they are here. I don’t want anything to inhibit their health.”

That ethic shapes every decision at 4.5 Cattle Co., from choosing a like-minded veterinary and nutritionist team to evaluating innovations for their impact on animal health. For the family, longevity is about both the well-being of the animals and the sustainability of the business.

“For any new product or technology that we incorporate into our operation, we have to see the data behind it, and I’ve got to have clearance from my vet and nutritionist,” said Samantha.

Experior: A Smart, Sustainable Business Decision

That philosophy led Samantha to be among the first in her region to feed Experior® (lubabegron) – Elanco’s feed additive designed to reduce ammonia gas emissions in finishing cattle. When she first heard about Experior, Samantha turned to her nutritionist for guidance. The decision to adopt the product was based on trusted relationships and solid data.

“Before he retired, our Elanco rep – whom I had a great relationship with and trusted a lot – came to me about Experior. I went straight to my nutritionist to discuss it further, since he is always up on new products,” said Samantha. “The data showed that Experior made sense for us. We consistently see the results, and there has never been a negative.”

Her willingness to lead and innovate has kept 4.5 Cattle Co. a step ahead. Experior’s unique label claim of reducing ammonia gas emissions has become a meaningful part of the family’s stewardship story.

“Anyone in farming or cattle is always under a microscope. We value that we’re feeding a product with a sustainability claim,” said Samantha. “It makes us feel like we’re doing our part, and the Elanco team is doing their part to help me.”

Leadership for the Long Haul

For Samantha, sustainability is a partnership between all stakeholders. Her business sense is clear-eyed and unflinching. She knows the challenges of the cattle business and demands value from every partnership, whether it’s with Elanco or her veterinarian or nutritionist.

“As producers, we’re the last to get paid. Our bottom dollar is stretched thin,” she said.

Her leadership style is steady, rooted in relationships and a willingness to trust that is backed up by data and real-world experience. In the tradition-focused world of cattle feeding, Samantha is charting a future that honors the past while embracing the best of what’s new – a smart, business-savvy producer making the most of today with a focus on tomorrow and the next generation.