ND Ag Hall Of Fame Inductees

Russell Bueling

Developing the BueLingo cattle breed has been one of Russell’s biggest accomplishments.  He teamed up with Russ Danielson, NDSU Beef Unit manager, to develop the distinctive black and white cattle recognized around the world.  He applied rigid selection pressure to his BueLingo herd in order for the breed to reach its highest potential.  The breed is now distributed in 30 states, three Canadian provinces and Australia, with the goal being to produce cattle that solve many of the management problems in beef herds, and are hardy and economical to maintain.  Along with several others, Bueling formed the BueLingo Cattle Society. Today, there are 280 breeder members and more than 4,000 BueLingos on record.  He has served as president and a board member of the BueLingo Cattle Society.

His community service over the past 46 years has included a member of the ND Stockman's Association, Ransom County Soil Conservation Board, Ransom County Fair Board, Ransom County Crop and Livestock Association, Dakota Sandhills Feeders, Sheldon School Board, Sheldon Farmers Elevator Board and the Farm Credit Service Board.

Bueling has been recognized with the Ransom Soil Conservation Award, the Society of Range Management's Ranger Man of the Year Award, the NDSU Agriculturist Award, the Ransom County Crop and Livestock Association’s Man of the Year Award and the Honorary Lifetime NDSA Membership Award.  This versatile gentleman also writes poetry.  A part of one of his poems about his love for his ranch, The Flying Cross, is as follows:

"Our ranch to us is not just land,
Where cattle graze and buildings stand,
To us our ranch is nothing less,
Than all created loveliness."

Bueling and his wife, Violet, have three children - Lance, the late Merrill, and Tracy (Brad) Jordet.  They have eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.  Four generations of Buelings live on the farm today.

Year Inducted: 2005