Steiger Family Office Acquires Cattle Management Platform

The Bentonville-based investment firm purchased GEM to expand its ranching technology and services.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Large Animals

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy-duty iron branding tool on a fence post, representing agricultural technology acquisition. — The Steiger Family Office acquired cattle management platform GEM in October 2026 to enhance agricultural technology and herd management services. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In October 2026, Jake and Ruby Alford and the Steiger Family Office acquired GEM, a long-standing cattle management platform. The acquisition aims to maintain service continuity while introducing new technology to the agricultural sector.

Why it matters

The transition is designed to preserve the platform's established value while positioning the business for future growth. The new owners intend to integrate advanced features like artificial intelligence and connectivity with external technologies.

Founded in 2003, GEM has served producers for nearly 25 years. Express Ranches previously utilized the platform to manage 225 sales, 18,000 potential customers, and 75,000 registered animals.

The players

Steiger Family Office

This is an investment office based in Bentonville that is managed by a family of fourth-generation ranchers.

Jake and Ruby Alford

They are the owners of TARC and members of the investor group that acquired the GEM cattle management platform.

Larry Benyshek

He is a founder of GEM who will continue to provide guidance as an adviser following the recent acquisition.

John Hough

He is a founder of GEM who will continue to provide guidance as an adviser following the recent acquisition.

The details

The platform provides essential tools for managing animal records, herd performance, breeding programs, and financial reports. GEM founders Larry Benyshek and John Hough will remain involved as advisers during the ownership transition.

Larry Benyshek and John Hough founded GEM in 2003.
GEM served producers for nearly 25 years between 2001 and 2026.
Express Ranches used the platform to manage operations from 2006 to 2026.
The acquisition of GEM by the investment group occurred in October 2026.

Culture Shift

The acquisition of the GEM cattle management platform reflects a broader shift toward digitizing traditional ranching operations through high-tech tools. This move follows a documented industry trend of integrating data-driven software into long-standing agricultural models.

For ranchers and producers, this acquisition promises continued access to essential record-keeping tools while signaling an eventual upgrade to more advanced features. Users of the platform will likely see future improvements in digital connectivity and automated analytics.

The takeaway

This acquisition bridges nearly 25 years of established ranching data with the potential for modern artificial intelligence capabilities. Producers should prepare for a transition period as the new owners begin implementing technological upgrades to the platform.