Lester Anderson

Modern-era Ranching

Inducted 2025

Lester “Les” Anderson was born May 10th, 1913, on the family homestead in Coburn Township near the Sandhills, south of Leonard, ND. He went to “country school” in Coburn Township for eight years while working on the family farm. At the age of fourteen he was, in his words, a “full-fledged operator”.

Lester’s father had good work horses and he learned to appreciate quality in teams and saddle horses. The drought in the 1930’s had been a disaster for the farm, but the family managed to keep the land. His father died in 1937, leaving 24-old Les in charge.

Les acquired a truck and hauled local livestock from 1937 to 1952 while putting together more land, growing a cowherd, and establishing a grazing permit with the National Grasslands. The L7 Ranch was born. He married Leila Hendrickson from Glenfield, ND in 1941 and had a daughter, Roberta, in 1943, and a son, Paul, in 1944.

In the 1950’s, Les and a few others started the Leonard Ranchers and Riders Club. They produced horse shows and other horse activities. The annual Leonard Fall Festival Horse Show continues today, thanks to Les, who kept it going almost single handedly for many years. He worked this show until his death and also co-managed the Bohnsack Showdeos.

Les was active as a Board Member and President of the Sheyenne Valley Grazing Association for 18 years. He also helped organize and manage the Dakota Sandhill Feeders sale yard in McLeod, ND, a production sale for quality Sandhill calves.

Over the years Les was an order buyer, local brand inspector, and local quack vet.

He was President for a term at the Northern Great Plains Society for Range Management and was a director for the American National Cattlemen’s Association.

In 1958, Les spearheaded the reintroduction of horses into the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City, ND and was a co-organizer of the North Dakota Quarter Horse Association in which he served as the first President.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association was always important to Les, and he rose through the ranks, eventually serving as President from 1976 through 1978.

Over the years, Les purchased horses and colts from Texas always trying to fit the horse to the buyer. Many local folks were introduced to good quarter horses. He also had a stud on the ranch that serviced local mares.