Flying G Ranch • P Bar S Ranch - Oklahoma Cattlemen`s Association

19th Annual
June 21, 22 & 23, 2009
By: A.J. Smith and Chisolm Kinder
N
oted as “Green Country”, North East Oklahoma is an area of our state where Beef is King! Both small and large ranching
operations utilize the strong Native Bluestem and improved grass pastures to pack on pounds of gain on stocker cattle and to
raise those heavy calves straight off the cow and ready for the feedlot at weaning time. We will visit a cross-section of purebred
and commercial operations and will see some of the leading genetics available from several of our beef breeds. Our Green Country
Oklahoma cattle producers are state and national leaders as a source of desired genetics for the commercial and seedstock producer.
Now let’s join the 19th Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Tour as we visit “Green Country” (President Ray
Heldermon reports 22 straight days of rain beginning in April) We know the country will have it’s “Sunday Vlothes” on!
Sunday June 21, 2009-1:00 pm. Meet at OCA Headquarters for Tour Registration and Depart at 1:30 p.m.
• Brewster Ranch • Bristow, OK
Stop 1
(Located 9 miles South on Hwy 48 and 4.5 miles East on 321 Road to Ranch Headquarters)
Arrive at 3 p.m.
Clark and Debbie Brewster have a multifunction ranch with an elite, state of the art
indoor arena where Cutting Horse clinics and competitions are held during the year. They are
the home of the Deep Fork Cutting Horse Association and host a number of NCHA events.
The arena also serves as the host facility for the Brewster Ranch Holiday Classic where they
market replacement females and using ranch Quarter Horses at their annual sales event held in
December.
Clark and Debbie Brewster are involved with a very versatile horse program with
Thoroughbred for the horse racing industry, Quarter Horses developed for ranch horses and
cutting horses for performance competition. The ranch manger is Jim Billbe and he oversees the
daily ranch operation. Jim’s wife Toni helps with records.
Depart at 4 p.m.
Stop 2
• Flying G Ranch • Lotsee, OK
Stop 3
• P Bar S Ranch • Sand Springs, OK
(Located North on Hwy 48 to Hwy 51 then 12 miles East to the Flying G Ranch entrance on the South at
the town site of Lotsee) Arrive at 4:45 p.m.
The Flying G Ranch is one of Oklahoma’s oldest Hereford ranches and was established
by Lotsee’s parents George and Garnett Campbell. Today the ranch is operated by Lotsee and
husband Mike Spradling and their family and include a cowherd of Victor and other popular
bloodlines with HVH Hudson 701 37k, JMS Victor 892 209 and SHF Nashville 634E N102. Mike
serves as the President of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and has been actively involved in the state
legislative process this spring. Depart at 5:35 p.m.
(Located East on Hwy 51 to Hwy 97, then North to Hwy 64-412, then West to Exit 129 W Ave, North 6
½ miles to Ranch sign, then West on Overbrook Drive to headquarters)
Arrive at 5:55 p.m., Evening Meal Served.
The P Bar S Ranch was established in 1994 and is one of the nations leading sources of
Limousin and LimFlex seedstock for the commercial and seedstock producer. The ranch is
owned and operated by Paul Sisemore and managed by Bob Getz. Elgin Elmore is cowherd
manager. The cow herd includes 150 Purebred Limousin cows, 100 Angus cows for LimFlex
production and 100 Recipient cows producing Embryo calves. The P Bar S Production Sale is
held during October and 100 Lots of Limousin are marketed. Rancher bulls are developed and
marketed at private treaty and at the Oklahoma Select Limousin Bull Sale, a P Bar S bull was
selected for the 2007 Super Bull Award. Depart at 7:45 p.m.
Pictured to the left is P-S Upper Echelon Smackdown Son and the P Bar S headquarters and facilities.
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Oklahoma Cowman
Monday, June 22, 2009-Beginning at 6:00 am a Continental Breakfast is available
with some hot items. Depart Motel at 7:30 a.m.
Stop 4
• Thorne Ranch • Adair, OK
Stop 5
• Taylor Ranch • Centralia OK
Stop 6
• Buford Ranch, LLC • Welch, OK
Stop 7
• Lazy K Cattle Company • Blue Jacket, OK
(Located 3 miles North of Adair on Hwy 69 and ¾ mile East on 370 Road.) Arrive at 8 a.m.
Albert and Joan Thorne established Thorne Ranch in 1963 as a stocker and feeder
operation. They changed to a cow/calf operation in 1990. During the development of the
Braunvieh breed the Thornes were instrumental in utilizing these unique beef genetics as
foundation seedstock producers. Today they operate on over 1,000 acres of owned and leased
land which supports a 300 head cow herd of Angus, Maine Anjou, Simmental and Braunvieh
genetics. They also develop Maintainer bulls along with Composites of the afore mentioned
breeds and produce for a segment of the Club Calf market. Marketing is mostly at private treaty
and Joan has turned to the internet to expand her customer base. They are very competitive in
the show ring and were the 2008-2009 Champion Percentage/Beefbuilder Show Breeder of the
Year. Depart at 8:55 a.m.
Pictured to the right is a Thorne Ranch Braunvieh bull named Star Wars.
(From Thorne Ranch, located North on Hwy 69 to Hwy 60-66 junction, then 13 miles West on Hwy 60 to
Road 424, North 7 miles then ½ mile East to the Ranch headquarters.) Arrive at 9:45 a.m.
Darrell and Anita Taylor established the ranch in 1972 and today operate on 1,700 plus
acres of owned and leased land supporting a 400 head cowherd of commercial Angus and
Angus cross cattle. 200 head of fancy black replacement heifers are developed and marketed
each fall. The Taylor sons, Justin and Shon lend a hand when needed and are actively involved
in the Quarter Horses operation.
The Taylor T Diamond brand Quarter Horses are known for their cow ability when
developed for and used as ranch horses. Their foundation stud was Hesa Silver Strike which
added color and quality to their breeding program. His daughters are many of their featured
mares today. Their current stallion battery include: DT Gray Crusader, Tee Diamond Wrangler
and Silver Jepp plus a son of Taylors Rawhide. Depart at 10:40 a.m.
Pictured to the right is a Taylor Ranch Buckskin colt.
(From Taylor Ranch go West to 424 Road, South for 1 mile, then East on EW 16 approximately 6 miles ,
turn North to Centralia then East to 4300 Road, turn North 8 miles to Hwy 10, then West on Hwy 10 1
½ miles to the Buford Ranch Sale Facility.)
Arrive at 11 a.m. Lunch served.
Sam Buford and his family own and operate Buford Ranches, LLC which is a large
commercial cow/calf (8,000 brood cows) operation and a Registered Angus operation with
around 1,000 brood cows. The ranch began 68 years ago in 1941 when Jane and John Dunkin
purchased the first ranch west of Hominy and began the commercial cow/calf operation. The
Ranch at Welch was added as a partnership with Johnny T. L. Jones and had been operated as J
Bar 7 Ranch, but complete ownership was transferred in 2008.
Sam, along with the capable help of ranch manager, Mike Horrell, are committed to
producing the best Angus product for the commercial rancher and the seedstock producer.
Angus bulls and a select Hereford offering will be marketed at their annual bull and commercial
female sale during October and registered Angus females are sold during April at their female
sale. A strong AI program and herd sire line-up including SAV Brave 8329 and SAV Bismarck
7410 headline the Buford breeding program. Depart at 12:45 p.m.
Pictured to the right is a group of Buford Ranch Angus cows.
(Located 4 miles East of Bluejacket on Highway 25, then 1 mile North to ben in road on S490, then
East 1/2 mile) Arrive at 1:15 p.m.
Lazy K Cattle Company was deservingly recognized by the Oklahoma Angus
Association as the 2007 Commercial Producer of the Year. Proud owners, Todd and Tracy
Kunkel and family, operate their commercial operation on about 1800 acres of owned and
leased land in the Bluejacket, Okla. area. Improved Bermuda and Fescue support more
than 550 spring calvers plus 50 fall calvers. The Kunkels utilize artificial insemination
on all spring calvers. They market replacement females at the Ratcliff Ranch Customer
Appreciation Sale and feed at Chappell Feeders in Nebraska. Depart 2:05 p.m.
Pictured to the right is Dustin and Todd Kunkel and the the Kunkel family home.
Oklahoma Cowman
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19th Annual OCA Summer Tour • Through Green Countr y
Stop 8
• Ratcliff Angus Ranch • Vinita, OK
Stop 9
• Smith Land & Cattle • Claremore, OK
(Located one mile north of Vinita on Highway 2) Arrive 2:35 p.m.
Owned by J.L. Ratcliff and managed by Billy Hall, Ratcliff Ranch is a leading source
for ranch ready bulls, commercial females and elite seedstock. In 2007, Ratcliff Angus
Ranch won the CAB Seedstock Committment to Excellence Award. At Ratcliff Ranch they truly
are committed to excellence as they use several marketing vehicles, like source and age
verification, NHTC and other quality driven grids to ensure their cattle bring a top dollar.
Ratcliff Ranch markets their cattle through their annual spring and fall cattle production
sales and feed at Chappell Feedyard in Nebraska. They also host a Customer Appreciation
Commercial Female each fall. Always listening to their customers, they recently
incorporated Simmental genetics to raise Sim-angus bulls and replacements.
Depart at 3:30 p.m.
Pictured to the right is a group of Steelforce Sim-Angus calves at Ratcliff Ranch.
(Located 5 miles east of Claremore on Highway 20 and south on 4120 Rd into the ranch)
Arrive at 4:10 p.m.
Ed and Carol Smith own and operate Smith Land and Cattle a Registered Angus
Cattle Ranch just outside of Claremore. In 1993, they sold their commercial cow herd and
bought their first Angus. Since then, they have never looked back. Their first production
sale took place in the fall of 2004 and they have continued the event on the third Saturday
of September annually. The Smiths also market their bulls privately throughout the year.
The cowherd is very performance and carcass oriented while still maintaining functionality.
Smith Land and Cattle is home to CR Envoy 7012 who is a son of BR Ambush 28 and who
currently ranks #4 in the entire Angus breed for $ Beef among nonparent bulls. Just ending
her tenure as President of Oklahoma Angus Association, Carol did a superb job. While
she was presiding the OAA planned and hosted the National Angus Tour last fall and she
attended every event across the state that had to do with Angus.
The Smiths are very active in Angus cattle but they also own racing Quarter
Horses and are home to the World Record holding filly Fast Prize Zoom who went 300
yards in 14.678 seconds at Sunland Park. And they most recently took first and third in
the Remington Park Futurity with First Prize Leesa and CR Sugar N Spice respectively.
Whatever the Smith Family does they strive to be the best and when you get to their ranch
you will see why.
Pictured to the left is a few of the Smith’s producing Angus cows grazing.
Stop 10
• A Bar Ranch • Claremore, OK
(Located 3 miles East of Smith Land and Cattle on Highway 20 turn South and follow the signs)
Arrive at 5:25 p.m. Evening Meal Served.
Living the ranching dream that formed from a partnership cow in 1959, A Bar Ranche
has evolved. Owned by Mike and Martha Armitage, both from cattle and ranching families,
the ranch maintains a cow herd of over 4000 head and breed their replacements of over 500
heifers each year. The headquarters ranch, located at Claremore, Oklahoma, was the original
Cherokee Indian Allotment of Frank and Dora Rucker, established in the early 1880’s. This
eastern Rogers County ranch exceeded 20,000 acres and operated with the historic open A
brand.
The present day operation is multi-faceted ranching in 6 Oklahoma counties,
with four divisions—commercial cow calf, registered Angus, livestock marketing and
performance horses.
Sons Merrit and Turner have an active role in the day to day ranching and marketing
operation, but are also performers of western swing music. Please join us for a fun filled
evening of chuckwagon dining and live music. Depart at 7:45 p.m.
Pictured to the right is an A Bar Ranch cowboy gathering horses.
26
Oklahoma Cowman
19th Annual OCA Summer Tour • Through Green Countr y
TUESDAY, June 23, 2009 - Beginning at 6 a.m. a Continental Breakfast is available
with some hot items. Depart Motel at 8 a.m.
Stop 11
• Heldermon Limousin • Claremore, OK
(Located 8 miles East of Claremore on Hwy 66 past the Sequoyah Schools and turn North at the first
intersection past the Commerce Bank. Travel 7 miles North on NS 415 then turn at the sign on EW
37 for 4 miles to Ranch headquarters.) Arrive at 8:30 a.m.
Heldermon Limousin Ranch is owned and operated by OCA President, Ray
Heldermon and wife Donna. It was 10 years ago that we had the first opportunity to visit
Ray and at that time he was serving as OCA NE District Vice President and as a Board
Member for the North American Limousin Foundation. Ray will complete his second one
year term as OCA President during the 57th Annual OCA Conventionin July.
The ranch property was acquired by his family in 1965 from the Graham Estate and
includes 1,350 acres of owned and leased native and improved pasture along the shore
line of Lake Oologah. The ranch supports a herd of over 100 mostly Black and Polled
Limousin cows that have been developed with strong emphasis on Performance Traits. The
herd was established in 1974 and is one of Oklahoma’s oldest Limousin operations. Cattle
are marketed at the Heritage in the Homeland Sale, Southern Select Limousin Sale and at
private treaty. Depart at 9:30 a.m.
Pictured to the right is a group of Heldermon Limousin herdsires. Also pictured is a group of
Heldermon females.
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• Constructing or buying a home
866.AgLender (245.3633)
www.farmcreditecok.com
Oklahoma Cowman
27
19th Annual OCA Summer Tour • Through Green Countr y
Stop 12
• Sonrise Angus Ranch • Oogalah, OK
(From Heldermon Limousin travel 4 miles East on EW 37 turn South on NS 415 traveling to
EW 400 Road then turn West to 4150 Road and turn South to EW 45 road, turn West (right)
traveling to Hwy 88, follow Old Hwy 88 turning North (right) to Road 430, Follow 430 West
to the Sonrise Ranch Headquarter. DANGER-After the 25 MPH School Sign make a Sharp Left
Hand Turn through the ranch entrance.) Arrive at 10:15 a.m.
Sonrise Ranch is a highly productive upland and bottomland ranch consisting
af 1,570 acres and is operated by the Chip Carroll family. Along with leased land from
Green Properties, 1,000 Commercial and Registered Angus cows are maintained where
around 300 Embryo Transfer calves are produced to magnify the genetics of the selected
donor herd.
Around the sale headquarters we will have the opportunity to see some highlights
of the 2009 Sonrise Sale offering that are being prepared for their September Production
Sale. They are the first sale for Oklahoma’s Big Angus Weekend and last year’s event was
one of the top sales in the nation. Depart at 11:15 a.m.
Contact the following
Hereford Breeders for
Tried, Tested & True
Hereford Genetics. . .
CNB Polled Herefords
Charles & Nancy Buckminster
580-796-2554 • 580-541-6655 (Mobile)
Lahoma, OK 73754
Durham Ranch
Norman & Jane Durham
Stillwater, OK 74074 • 405-372-7096
Eschbach Farms
Joe & Dee Eschbach Family
Skiatook, OK 74074 • 918-396-3351
Loewen Herefords
John & Mona Loewen
Waukomis, OK 73773 • 580-758-1337
Jacobs Ranch, LLC
Bills Jacobs • 580-622-4426 or 622-6243
Sulphur, OK 73086
Langford Herefords
Leon and Watson Langford • 918-733-1331
Okmulgee, OK 74447
Stop 13
• Star Lake Cattle Ranch • Skiatook, OK
(Located 1 mile west of highway 75 on the north side of Highway 20)
Arrive at 11:45a.m. Lunch Served
Our Last stop on our tour is Star Lake Cattle Ranch which is one of the Leading
Hereford Seedstock producers in the World. It is owned by Jim, Judy, Randy, and
Debbie Blin and is operated by Montie Soules and crew. The Star Lake name has long
been synonymous to outstanding Hereford Genetics, in fact this last year in Denver at
the National Western Stock Show they took home their tenth consecutive Champion
Carload, which is assumed to be a record, for not only for the Hereford Breed but the
entire show. Striving to stay in front of genetic progress has not only helped to get
them to the pinnacle of the breed and the industry but kept them there as well. And the
ranch slogan, “Where Quality and Technology Become One,” exemplifies that. In May
Star Lake hosted the 17th Annual Seedstock Source Sale and 16th Junior Heifer Futurity
Show. The futurity show allows juniors to come back and compete with their cattle for
cash and credit in the sale. They also have the Star Lake Ranch Ready Bull Sale and
Fall Celebration Female Sale in October. In addition to the production sales they also
have monthly internet sales that include embryos, semen, and sometimes a select show
heifer. This is a working ranch that uses every tool available to produce functional eye
appealing cattle with substance for their customers.
Depart at 1:45 p.m. for the OCA headquarters and our own ranches
Pictured below is a group of Star Lake Hereford pairs.
Thanks for joining us as we preview
the OCA Summer Ranch Tour. We
hope you can join us on
June 21, 22 & 23, 2009.
28
Oklahoma Cowman
LeForce Herefords
Henry C. LeForce
Pond Creek, OK 73766 • 580-532-6100
Nelson Land & Cattle Co.
Ron Dugger
1273 Hwy 99C • Kingston, OK 73439
903-816-3706 • nlcmgr@aol.com
Red Hills Polled Herefords
Jimmie Johnson
Clinton, OK 73601 • 580-323-2774
Southern Cross Ranch
Brian Healey
Davis, OK 73030 • 580-369-2711
Thomason & Sons Herefords
Bill Thomason • Perry, OK 73077
580-336-3145
For More Information on
Certified Hereford Beef
Jim Williams, Director of Supply
& Development 816-842-3758
Oklahoma
Hereford
Association
P.O. Box 1170 • Skiatook, OK 74078
918-396-3351
DeeOHASec@aol.com