Kitchen Stock | September 2025

Cowboy approved recipes used by our favorite country cooks.

In the kitchen with VeaBea Thomas, Thomas Ranch of Harrold, S.D.

Tell us about yourself.

"Troy and I were married in August of 1985 (Yep, that’s 40 years!). We own/operate Thomas Ranch in Harrold, S.D. Our daughter, Cally Thomas Kindred, returns home frequently to help with sales and other events. We are seedstock producers with Angus, Red Angus, and Charolais cattle. We host our annual bull sale the second Tuesday in April (Tuesday, April 14, 2026.) Our private treaty calf sale is the third Wednesday in September (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)."

What is your favorite cooking tip or trick?

"Everyone who works here at Thomas Ranch eats lunch together at our sales facility Monday through Saturday. I do most of my grocery shopping 50 miles from the ranch, so we try to keep plenty of supplies on hand. We have a “grocery list” on the counter and try to keep it up to date. One bonus we do have is that my house is only a quarter mile away so if we don’t have something at the sale barn, hopefully I might have it at the house. The other trick we have here is we do a lot of “improvising” if we don’t have something we modify. When I say “we” I’m referring to Laura Tostenson. She has worked here with us for 10 years and we tag team cooking. This is really nice, neither of us have to take the task every day. We have a hunting operation in the fall. Our good friend, Daphne Davis, from Illinois comes and helps us with cooking during the hunting season. We have a lot of fun when we all get to going in the kitchen."

What is your most requested dish or what is your favorite thing to make?

"I think the most requested dish would be a corn casserole dish that we make. The funny thing about this is that we have about five versions of this dish and there is no way you can go wrong when you use butter and brown sugar."

What is your least favorite job in the kitchen?

"Since we do feed everyone six days a week, I’d have to say coming up with the meals. Laura and I both joke that as long as we didn’t have to make it, “It’s great.""

Where did you learn to cook?

"I honestly don’t remember learning to cook. As I mentioned before, we all eat together every day, so I suppose cooking was just a necessity. We grill a lot of our meals; hamburgers are an easy go to for us. Laura and I really do enjoy each month when The Stockman comes out and we check out the Kitchen Stock feature and try some new recipes. When the guys come in, we say, “It’s new recipe day.” It’s fun to see if they give a thumbs up or down to the new recipe."

Click here for printable recipes by VeaBea Thomas

Private Treaty Steer & Heifer Sale:

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

At the ranch near Harrold, S.D.

Photos courtesy VeaBea Thomas

Learn more www.thomasranchcattle.com