Breeders of Angus cattle for over one hundred years, the Sankey family is a staple in the Angus breed. Based out of Council Grove, Kan., Sankey’s 6N Ranch has been exhibiting cattle at the National Western Stock Show for over fifty years. In that time, they have shown Grand Champions in 1998 and 2013.
Chris and Sharee Sankey, along with son Cody (Lindsay), and daughter Jeana (Dustin Hurlbut), run cattle together, while being spread across the country. Cody and Lindsay Sankey reside in Economy, Ind., with their daughter Caroline. Cody is the Beef Sire Manager for Genex, and selects bulls to enter the stud. Lindsay works with Harvest Land Co-op as their Communications Manager. Among building their own herd and keeping full-time jobs, Cody and Lindsay stay busy with their young daughter, Caroline.
Dustin and Jeana Hurlbut call Clark, S.D., home where they raise their daughter, Bayler, and their own herd of cattle. As young cattlemen, Jeana mentions the struggles of starting their own herd and bull sale. You can find the Hurlbut stalls both on The Hill and with a pen of bulls in The Yards.

The cattle industry is everything to the Sankey family. Their livelihood depends on it. Whether they are traveling to shows or having a sale, the beef industry is more than just a paycheck for the Sankeys. Friends turn into family, and the chance to attend the National Western Stock Show with those people is priceless. Cody states, “ The National Western Stock Show is the last true stock show”. The opportunity to sell cattle and exhibit champions on The Hill and in The Yards is second to none.
The entire family stays involved within the Angus breed, particularly with the National Junior Angus Association. Both Cody and Jeana were junior members, with Jeana serving as Vice Chairman of the National Junior Angus Board. While there aren’t currently any junior members in the immediate family, the Sankeys find it imperative to help other juniors achieve their goals. Jeana states, “I wanted to instill a passion within juniors while serving on the junior board”. That statement still rings true today as Jeana serves as the South Dakota Junior Angus Association Advisor.
At the end of the day, the close-knit Sankey family shares the same passions, while all having different opinions in order to be successful. Making a living in the cattle industry is both challenging and rewarding. Their hope is to keep giving back to an industry that has given them so much.