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Founder
Founder
In Memoriam
John Leo hayden
February 3, 1945 – March 3, 2023
John Leo Hayden had been a real estate broker for the past 40 years selling properties in Kansas and Colorado. Leo was very proud to work with his two sons Dax and Seth in a business he started in Hays, Kansas in 1975. Leo was “the boss” and worked in the business selling land and advising the team and providing for Hayden Outdoors. As a Licensed General Appraiser Leo knew value and trained his sons and many agents at Hayden Outdoors. Leo had an extensive background in farming, ranching and livestock management. Growing up in the Western Kansas town of Goodland, Leo was proud of the knowledge he had gained in agriculture by growing up in the horse and cattle business. Experience in land sales was invaluable to Leo and his clients and it had given him a great amount of sales success over the past 40 years. Some of the best ranch and farm sales in Kansas like the Dunne Valley Ranch and the Box Ranch are just an examples of the trust he commanded and deserved.
Leo was always coaching. He coached his own kids and everyone else’s too. He certainly wasn’t shy, always demanding their best; helping them build the character, friendship, and bonds that would last a lifetime. Whether it was winning the State Championship in baseball with a team that “didn’t even know they were good,” to mentoring young men and women in their real estate careers, he was always able to help people to be their best and to achieve more than they might have dreamed. After all, that was who he was and he wanted others to approach life the same way. His life was both simple and complex, but always approached with an easiness that made others marvel. He excelled at making time for his family, hard work, and having fun!
Leo loved hunting, fishing and golf and enjoyed these activities with friends, his sons Dax and Seth, daughter Arin and grandchildren. Leo had been married to the love of his life Judy Marcotte Hayden for over 45 years and still held that fact as his “greatest life achievement”.
The purpose of this letter is to recommend and congratulate the Hayden Outdoors Team, headed by John Leo Hayden and Dax Hayden for the successful sale of the Dunne Valley Ranch.
My name is Steve Dunne, President of Dunne, Inc. the owner of the 21,000+ acre Dunne Valley Ranch located on the Oklahoma border south of Dodge City, Kansas. The ranch has been in our family since 1941 and after much soul searching my two brothers and eight cousins came to the conclusion that holding on to the ranch for prosperity sake created more potential for family strife than selling. Since none of us had any interest in the cattle business it was just too valuable of a piece of property to be split amongst literally dozens of future nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc.. As one might imagine, this was not an easy decision. Our goal was to keep part or all of the minerals, and to sell the surface. When looking for a broker to list the property, we wanted to be sure that they would reach out nationally, if not internationally. In addition we required someone familiar with ranches and ranching, not just a broker willing to sell it for the lowest commission. My research pointed to Hayden Outdoors for their recent sales in the area, like The Box Ranch. I contracted Hayden Outdoors and they came and met me in Wichita.
We listed with Hayden Outdoors and they began an extensive marketing campaign. The ranch was shown to 20+ potential buyers over the term of the listing, and John Leo Hayden kept me informed of showings, potential negotiations and of course all offers. The land was listed for eighteen months and a successful sale was closed in August of this year. Like any good broker, Leo brought me every offer regardless of the amount, but where Leo rose above the typical broker was his advice to me on those offers. Instead of encouraging me to take the first low ball offer that came in the door to make a fast (and sizable commission), he would say “Steve I am telling you your ranch is nicer than that, it is worth the money you are asking!” and by golly after lots of blood, sweat and tears we got damn near all of it!
Ultimately we ended up with top dollar for the surface and kept all the minerals for future generations. John Leo Hayden, Dax Hayden and the entire Hayden Outdoors team worked tirelessly and greatly helped in selling the property. I will recommend Hayden Outdoors to my friends who have farm, ranch or recreational land to sell.
Regards,
Steven W. Dunne
We used Leo Hayden of Hayden Outdoors Properties of Goodland, Kansas , when we sold the Box Ranch, a partnership ranch, in 2008. We were very satisfied with the mannerism in which he handled this transaction. It was a total business venture, handled in the best professional manner. I would totally recommend Leo Hayden in handling property to be sold. If we were selling or purchasing additional property there would never be a question of who to use; it would be Leo Hayden of Hayden Outdoors Properties.
MARTIN ZEHNER
Meet the Team