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Triple V Ranch is owned and operated by Dan & Alana Van Steelandt & sons Matt, Chris and Jess.  It is situated in southwestern Manitoba, Canada.

Our family immigrated from Belgium in 1920, choosing to settle in the Medora District where they were able to purchase land and begin farming mixed grain and cattle.  Over the years and four generations later our operation has changed focus from a mixed farm to a full time cattle ranch. 

Our introduction to Angus cattle began in the early 1980's breeding them with continental based heifers.  In the feedlot, the steers matured at a younger age and hit the top grades.  A real financial benefit was found with these feeder cattle.  In the cow herd the F1 females had natural fleshing, excellent feet, legs and overall highly functional females.  After nearly ten years of crossbred Angus commercial cattle an expansion was made into the purebred Angus world.

In the spring of 1991 the first purebred Red Angus heifers were purchased from the late Ron Drinnon's Cumnock Red Angus herd as well as a package of Red Angus heifers from Charlie and Ruby Simpson's Tag - A - Long Red Angus herd. Several females were imported from the Bootjack Ranch in Montana.  Foundation Females were also purchased from the long-time running Keystone Klassic Angus Sale which features quality Angus cattle every December in Brandon, MB.  The original Black Angus females were purchased from Blaine & Pauline Canning's Prarielane Farms herd.

Over the years the herd was largely built through purchases of females from consignment and dispersal sales.  Some notable sales include females from the Ron Engelot Dispersal, the late Ron Drinnon's Cumnock Red Angus herd dispersal, Laird & Joyce Senft's New Force Angus dispersal, Charlie & Ruby Simpson's Tag - A - Long Dispersal as well as the Latimer family's Remitall Cattle Co. dispersal.  Several females & one herdsire were also purchased from the late John Frank and his Double J herd. 

In 2007 there was a need to lighten the workload and allow everyone to make some decisions.  All of the pregnant females were sold at auction and are now distributed throughout Western Canada.  All of the open heifer calves were retained and have continued on the bloodlines at Triple V Ranch. 

Currently the herd consists of 150 calving females, about 70% of which are purebred.  The cows calve on grass pasture starting the third week of April and finishing at the end of June. We practice extended grazing well into the fall and early winter through the use of stockpiled pasture, swath grazing and corn grazing.  The calves are weaned in November using fenceline weaning and nose clips.  This works to lower the stress levels of the calves and reduces sickness. The calves are backgrounded over the winter on a largely forage based diet and turned onto pasture in the spring; this is where the majority of their weight gain occurs.  Bulls are marketed through the Pure Country Bull Sale as rising two-year olds; this increase in maturity and size has been very well received by our customers.  The purebred female market has changed, however we are optimistic as the switch to Spring calving continues there will be a strong future market for these spring bred females.  The switch to working with nature rather than against is has led to increased profits, reduced workload, happier people and an overall system that just makes more common sense. 

Dan remains in charge of operations and genetic selections for the ranch.  Alana is kept busy working at her family owned business in Melita, Delmar's Hardware where she is responsible for accounting.  In her spare time she works as an Emergency Medical Technician for the local district.  On the ranch she remains the home-maker, food-cooker, as well as occasional relief with outside help in addition to continuing to keep up the ranch accounting and all paper records.  Matt is currently in his final year at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK.  Chris has just graduated from the Computer Technology program at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, MB and is finishing his practicum for his education.  Jesse has began his training in Carpentry at Assiniboine Community College and is working for a local contractor.  Jesse has recently married Kelsey Anger of Sarcoxie, Missouri and we are excited to welcome her to the family.  On January 17th, 2010 we were blessed with our first grandchild, Cheyenne Denise Van Steelandt.

The Triple V Ranch program continually strives to produce functional, efficient stock that work for us, not the other way around.