Spring Branding. Craig Johansen in 1958
 
The Johansen Ranch has raised Hereford cattle for 58 years. Until 1948, they raised sheep. Craig's father, Eugene Johansen kept a commercial herd of straight Herefords until 1979. In that year, Craig purchased their first purebred heifers out of the RC Mischief D4 bloodline. They then bought a Line One bull from Carlson's out of Spiritwood, North Dakota. In 1983 they bought a set of females from Canadian-bred Malgrems in Gunnison, Utah. The 404 bull they raised and used was out of this line. In 1985 they purchased a group of Carpenter-Williams cow/calf pairs and the great milking bull '49'. Over the years they have purchased heifers and bulls from (Canadian-bred) Strang Herefords,(Line One) Rock Creek Herefords, and Carlson Herefords (Spiritwood, North Dakota). They have also bought top females and bulls from Holden Herefords, Cooper Herefords, and Oxley Hereford Ranch. This purebred operation is based at an elevation range of 5500 feet to 9500 feet, and the arid climate of the Colorado Pateau and Rocky Mountains in Eastern Utah requires the cattle to be rugged and easy fleshing. They have raised cattle for generations that fit their harsh environment and, therefore, the cattle will thrive in a wide variety of environments. They have used Line One breeding of top performance bulls and have outcross bulls that have met their high standards.  See their current ranch life.