GREAT PLAINS, GREAT GAME
Survival of the fittest. Charles Darwin probably never visited the Nebraska Sandhills, but the area and its hardy residents are pure representatives of his famous theory. From the beasts and birds to the men who chose to homestead here, all the way down to the native grasses that anchor the fragile hills from drifting off the map—the Sandhills are home to true survivors.
The Fink family ranch is deeply rooted in Sandhills history. In 1904, Chester Fink took advantage of the Kincaid Act, which allowed ambitious settlers to claim 640 acres (one section) of non-irrigable land. Essentially, the U.S. government hoped to lure folks into making some kind of living out of the drought-ridden ground. Many tried, few succeeded. Chester was wise enough to diversify beyond cattle and launch a Ford dealership across the road from his sod house—a pivotal move that cemented the foundation for a strong Fink family legacy in the Sandhills.
Amidst the darkest days of building a life in the treacherous hills of Cherry County, there’s one constant beam of light that shines through in
