Joe and Cindy Painter
The annual Ag Appreciation Banquet will be held tonight, Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the 4 Seasons Pavilion in Bowman, North Dakota. A free evening of food, fellowship, and entertainment as the Bowman Chamber of Commerce honor the 2024 Farmer/Rancher of the Year and the incredible ag communities of Bowman, Slope, and Harding Counties.
The Painter Family started their 6th Generation legacy in Buffalo, SD in 1895 when Joe’s Great Grandfather, Lewis Levi, homesteaded a quarter of an acre on the banks of the Little Missouri River. Joe continued ranching with his grandfather-Joe and his father-Paul early on in life. He graduated from Harding County High School in 1978 and attended BHSU from 1978-1981 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. Cindy, originally from Wyoming, also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from BHSU in 1980. They were married in 1983 and had 3 children: Jessica, Paul Jay and Joey. The 3 children helped on the ranch growing up and all 3 went on with their education and received a master’s degree. PJ pursued a career in Law and is married and living in Cincinnati, Ohio working as an In-House Attorney. Joey is ranching in Broadus, MT with her Husband, Taylor, and their 3 children (Landon, Carson and Shay). Jessica married Casey Holmes, from Wisconsin whom she met in college, and came back to help on our Ranch and today are Full Partners with the help of their 3 children (Tommi, Trey and Chase).
Our Family is constantly working on improving all aspects of the Ranch from hay fields, water tanks, stockades, tree belts, waterlines and cross fences. Throughout the years we have built several stockades and laid miles of pipeline for freshwater tanks to every pasture. We have subdivided or cross fenced most of our pastures to improve grazing management and practice proper grazing rotation. We have put in several tree belts on the ranch to help with cattle protection. Together with our family we have grown in acres and knowledge to make our Ranch prosperous.
Throughout the years Joe and Cindy have been awarded:
– Harding County Conservation Family of the Year in 2001
– Casey Tibbs Ranch Family Award in 2009
– Pioneer Ranch Award in 2020 from the Black Hills Stock Show Foundation
– Painter Family was inducted to the BHSU Hall of Fame in 2012 as the Legacy Family
Joe, Cindy, and family have always been a huge part of their community. Joe has served and participated as a Harding County Commissioner, SD State Stockgrowers Director, Harding County Stockgrowers President, Harding County Activities Club President, Ladner Church President, and helped with many more organizations. Cindy served and participated as a Harding County EMT, Ladner Church Sunday School Leader and teacher, Ladner Church Secretary, Bullock Community Club Officer and helped with many more organizations. Both Joe and Cindy have been to Washington DC three different times with the Farmers Union Fly In Group to help advocate for the Ranchers and Farmers in our area.
