Oak Coulee Ranch

Ranches

Inducted 2026

R. John Dawson was born in England in 1873. He came to Iowa with his parents when an infant. In 1901, Dawson bought the land that was to become the Oak Coulee Ranch. In 1902 Dawson stocked his ranch by shipping 100 head of cattle from Iowa to Mandan.

In the book “Morton Prairie Roots” his daughter writes: “While my father came to N. Dak. with the intention of ranching only, he soon realized the productivity of the soil. In 1906, he started breaking the sod and the ranch soon became one of the finest diversified ranches in the county, consisting of raising Angus cattle, Chester White hogs, corn and all kinds of small grain.”

Dawson established his herd of registered Angus cattle in 1907, making it the first herd of registered Angus cattle in the state. As such, it became a source of seedstock for other producers who were getting into the registered Angus business.

The Tokach Angus Ranch of St. Anthony, a legacy herd that celebrated its centennial in 2009, is one of those ranches. The very first registered Angus female purchased by Richard M. Tokach in 1950 came from the Oak Coulee herd. On their website, the Tokachs say “While a few females have been added since that time, the majority of our cow herd traces back to that original purchase.”

Similarly, Carl Miller, the North Dakota Angus Association’s “Man of the Year” in 2010, purchased his first two registered Angus cows in 1953 from R. John Dawson. John Miller, the North Dakota Angus Association’s “Man of the Year” in 2008, purchased his first two registered Angus cows from the Oak Coulee Ranch in 1954. Both Carl and John Miller ranched in the St. Anthony area and were among those who built successful purebred cattle operations with Oak Coulee Ranch seedstock.

When the ranch was officially named in 1913, it encompassed about 2,000 acres. By 1979, the ranch had grown to 4,417 acres. Presently, the ranch covers 2,897 contiguous acres. Approximately two-thirds is pasture and the remainder of the ranch is cropland and hayland.

R. John Dawson, his son Lyle, and his son Lyle Junior made significant contributions to the cattle industry of the state.
R. John Dawson was elected first president of the North Dakota Angus Association in 1942. He held his “First Annual Public Sale” on February 27th, 1920, offering 40 heifers and 15 bulls. R. John was a member of the state Livestock Sanitary Board for seven years; and served one term in the state House of Representatives.

Under Lyle Dawson’s management, the Oak Coulee ranch expanded, prospered and became more prominent. Lyle showed Angus cattle at the first North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City and served as fund drive chairman for the new Winter Show building. In 1959, Lyle planned the first North Dakota Angus Association tour. He organized the Oak Coulee 4-H club in 1939. Lyle served as president of the North Dakota Angus Association and was a charter member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.

R. John and Lyle Dawson were each named “Man of the Year in Agriculture” by the North Dakota State University Saddle and Sirloin Club.

Lyle Dawson Junior began ranching with his father in 1958. Active in many organizations, including the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, Lyle Junior also served in the state legislature and worked as Livestock Director for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.