Children of Abbott Ranch majority shareholder issue statement amid sale of historic property

HYANNIS, Neb. - Earlier this week News Channel Nebraska reported that one of Nebraska’s most storied and multigenerational ranches is now up for sale. The Metzger Ranch — also known as the Abbott Ranch — spans 55,136 acres in the heart of the Sandhills in Cherry County and is listed for $50 million. On Friday the children of one of the shareholders of the ranch released a statement:

"A statement from Chris Abbott’s kids about the listing of the Abbott Ranch: Thank you all for the kind words, thoughts, and support. It means more than we can express! We would like to focus this statement on our dad, rather than his four siblings. Here are the facts. There are five majority shareholders of the ranch. Chris is one of them and has not, nor ever will vote to sell it. Dad’s four siblings (3 sisters, 1 brother) initially voted 4-1 to sell it. Since then, one has retracted. Chris has been the main steward of the Abbott ranch since 1969, sizably growing the cow herd and land mass. The cattle, hills, meadows, trees, river ground, summer pastures, windmills, fence lines, etc., run deep in our Dad’s soul. As a working rancher since he was a child, Chris has developed pride, respect, and callouses. He would never think he deserves to make a buck off of someone else’s toil. Chris continues to take care of the ranch and cattle even during this time of turmoil and uncertainty, save for the occasion he takes time off to attend an event or spend time with one of his eight grandchildren, the seventh generation of the Abbott family. Many of you are shocked and saddened by the news that the Abbott ranch has been listed for sale. Please trust: everything that could be done to convince the on-paper majority owners NOT to sell, has been done. We can and have always been able to mentally conceive of the stark realization that if the ranch sells, we will never get it back. This is not what we want.

Our hope is that someone with a whole hell of a lot of money and vision will hear about what is going on and will partner in the ranch, or that Dad’s siblings will accept our lease offer. This way, four of the on-paper owners can get the money they want, and Chris’s family can retain ownership of their share of the land and continue to work. The definition of entitlement is the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Chris has not, nor will ever consider entitlement as part of his vocabulary. Those with the want to claim entitlement, shall always fear the mirror. Thank you for your time and thank you for reading,

A.J. Abbott

Carver Abbott

Alicia Abbott Clark