The year was 1928. The Dutch immigrants Jake and Lutske Zilverberg  moved their family of four sons and one daughter to northern Hyde County, South Dakota. They had lived several different places in southeastern South Dakota before settling permanently 13 miles north of Holabird on the prairie. In those days fences were few and far between. Cattle and horses both roamed at will. Sometimes Lutske would flap her apron to scare away bands of horses who ran through her yard.

  John Zilverberg, the second son, was a teenager at this time. He and his family worked hard on the ranch. In 1940 John purchased three Hereford heifers. Ranching was put on hold, however, during his stint in the Marines during World War II. In 1945 after his marriage to Dorothy Boehmer and his discharge, he started ranching in earnest and Bar JZ Ranches began.

   Through the 50's and 60's John raised Polled Herefords and started having production sales, first at the local auction barn and later in his own sale barn on the south ranch. Then in 1970 Limousin cattle were also introduced into the Bar JZ herd. Bar JZ is one of the original 100 members of the North American Limousin Foundation.  Today Bar JZ is one of only 3 of the original 100 founding members that is still actively raising Limousin cattle. April 21, 2009 will be the 58th Annual Production Sale of Polled Hereford, Limousin, and Lim-Flex bulls.

  The third and fourth generations of Zilverbergs (Don, Peg & Seth) live on the home place and continue the Bar JZ tradition of raising Polled Hereford and Limousin cattle. Cody & Kevin both lend their computer expertise from a distance to keep the ranch technology up to date. Visitors are always welcome to view the cattle, and the coffee pot is always on.
   
                                                   
    Left: Dorothy and John with their growing family in 1948.
    Above: 1994 John was inducted in the Polled Hereford Hall of Fame.