Landowner Spotlight: Building a First-Generation Ranch with Luke Kovarik

When you drive through the Nebraska Sandhills, it’s easy to get caught up in the rolling hills, the hidden marshes, and the unexpected diversity of the land. But for Luke and Natalie Kovarik of Kovarik Cattle Company, this landscape is more than a view — it’s the foundation of a first-generation ranching dream.

Luke grew up around agriculture, though his immediate family didn’t make their living from it. After studying ruminant nutrition at the University of Nebraska and graduate school, he took a leap of faith: building a ranch from the ground up. “Diversification was the key,” he recalls. “From custom AI to backgrounding cattle to alternative calving dates, I had to find multiple ways to generate income so I could grow equity and keep the ranch alive.”

Today, on 2,000 acres just outside Ord, Nebraska, Luke and Natalie are raising cattle, managing habitat, and opening their gates to LandTrust guests eager to experience the outdoors in its purest form.

A Landscape Built for Both Cattle and Wildlife

The Kovarik ranch is a study in diversity. Within a few miles, the land shifts from warm-season prairie sandhills to heavier clay soils, to timber along a live creek, and finally to river and cropland. This variety supports both a balanced cattle operation and an abundance of wildlife — deer, turkey, waterfowl, upland birds, and even one of the largest populations of dove Luke has ever seen.

“It’s very balanced,” Luke says. “We’ve got the feed, the range, the summer grass, and plenty of wildlife. Guests come out here and say, ‘This isn’t what I imagined Nebraska to look like.’ That’s 

Why LandTrust? Flexibility and Connection

For Luke, LandTrust offered the perfect way to bring in extra income without the overhead of running a guiding service. But more than that, it was about flexibility and connection.

“We don’t need all of the property for ourselves,” Luke explains. “With LandTrust, I can block off certain areas for my son to hunt deer, while still letting guests enjoy other parts of the ranch. It gives us control, but also lets us share the land.”

And while income matters, Luke says some of the best parts of hosting have been the people. “I’m an extrovert. I love meeting new folks. More than half the time, we’ll end up grabbing a steak together at the end of their hunt. We’ve met people from Pennsylvania to Utah to right here in Nebraska.”

Legacy, Family, and the Next Generation

Luke and Natalie are raising three kids on the ranch, with their oldest now 18 and the younger two not far behind. They’re already deeply involved in ranch life, but Luke takes care to make their experiences positive and rewarding.

“I want them to feel like they helped and enjoyed it,” he says. “I don’t want it to be high-stress or something they dread. At the end of the day, I hope they look back and think it was a good day together.”

While Luke jokes that he constantly reminds his kids they’ll come back and help him one day, his real focus is building something worth passing on — a ranch that balances stewardship, family, and opportunity.

Advice to Other Landowners

For landowners considering LandTrust, Luke keeps it simple: “It doesn’t cost anything to start a profile. You’ve got total flexibility. Try a few hunts and see what you think. If you don’t like it, step away. If you enjoy the people or the extra cash, keep going. It’s that easy.”

The Kovariks’ story is one of grit, innovation, and a deep love for the land. By opening their gates through LandTrust, they’re not just diversifying income — they’re building relationships, sharing Nebraska’s hidden treasures, and shaping a legacy for the next generation.

Find out more about Kovarik Cattle Company and their LandTrust Listing.

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