Over 80 years ago near the town of Ellston in southwest Iowa, F.W. Hoover purchased his first Angus cows and began what is now one of the oldest Angus herds in the nation. F.W. Hoover became partners with his son-in-law John Kiburz. Bulls carried the prefix "H&K" which stood for Hoover & Kiburz, and that prefix is still used today. All females now born at Hoover Angus bear "Ellston" in their name to signify the herd's home place.
John and Barb (Hoover) Kiburz and David, Joy (Kiburz) and Landi McFarland currently own and operate the Angus herd. The farm where David, Joy, and Landi reside was homesteaded by the family over 150 years ago. The Hoover family was the first family in Union County to receive the Heritage Award at the Iowa State Fair for over 150 years of continual family ownership of a tract of land.
At the present time, the cow herd numbers around 400 head with approximately 100 bulls and 90 females selling in each February's Production Sale. The Hoover family writes their own unique sale catalog and manages their own sale.
Bulls are offered for sale private treaty throughout the spring and summer months. Females are sold once a year in the annual sale.
