Otto Cattle Co was founded by Jason and Sara Otto in 2018 with the purchase of their first set of bred cows as a way to offset poor corn prices by creating a value added product. The initial idea was to sell locker beef but that idea has long since been replaced.  Before we get into current day, let’s rewind and start back at the beginning with a little history.  

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​Jason grew up with farming in his blood, following his dad and grandpa everywhere around the farm from a very young age. He purchased his first sheep and started his first herd when he was only 8. After high school, Jason continued his education in farm management at Iowa Lakes Community College. He built his first hog barn in 2002 and his second in 2005 at which time he also moved into the farmhouse he was raised in. In 2006 he followed his passion and made the leap into full time farming with row crops, bottle calves, hog barns and his original sheep herd that had been growing since his childhood purchases.   ​

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In early 2011, Jason met Sara and they quickly became inseparable, marrying in 2014. Sara’s upbringing was a bit different than Jason’s, having grown up on a small acreage outside a sleepy town in central Minnesota. She had little farming experience but quickly adapted to farm life, helping Jason whenever and wherever she could. In the early days, she mostly took care of their 6 children, tending the house and working full time as an office manager. Today she still works as an office manager off the farm but also helps Jason with anything from driving the combine to branding cattle.  

 

​Jason and Sara’s first bred cows were nothing special, 4 older commercial cows picked up on a whim at the sale barn with no idea what they were bred to. The first calving season went quite smooth with healthy calves all being born in nice weather. Realizing quickly how much they enjoyed calving, the Otto’s rented an angus bull from a friend to re-breed their commercial cows. Their interest in the Angus breed grew quickly after seeing the first set of calves. The following breeding season they purchased their first registered angus bull followed with a registered bred heifer and a few cows from local producers.   The herd has since multiplied, nearly becoming a full-time job for 2 people.

 

Jason and Sara take great pride in the hard work and perseverance it took to build their farm and herd from the ground up. They have a profound respect for their land and want to see it kept in production and passed down within their family for generations. ​Today, the Otto’s, with help from their 6 children, calve out 50-60 head, retaining most of their heifers to keep growing their herd.  Jason and Sara use a handful of outstanding AI bulls as well as natural service from their two main herd sires: Connealy Cashflow and KM Big Glory. In the last few years, only the top-tier bulls have been kept and sold private treaty. Otto Cattle Co will hold their first production sale in 2026, offering approximately 14 registered angus bulls as well as a few elite bred heifers and select bred cows and cow/calf pairs. Jason and Sara love to show off their herd & talk cattle, so if you're in the area, swing on by and say hello!