Television journalist and Kansas native Bill Kurtis is trying out a new profession cattle rancher.

The host of A&E network shows "Cold Case Files'' and "American Justice'' co-owns 10,000 acres near Sedan, not far from his childhood home in Independence.

He decided to specialize in grass fed beef after seeing an explosion in popularity. The number of grass fed beef producers has stampeded from 40 seven years ago to about 1,000 today.

The beef is leaner than corn-fed beef and is high in fatty acids believed to benefit the heart.

Kurtis founded Tallgrass Beef Company last year and is putting his familiar T.V. face and name and marketing talents to work in a different value.

He says he hopes to harvest about 1,000 head this year and 25,000 head by 2008.