On the Ranch

Thank you for your interest in our Family Cattle Company and Ranch. Craig and I have been married for 28 years, have four amazing children and live in Austin, Texas (when not at the ranch in Hye).

Our first date was to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston (blind date). Little did we know how our lives would come full circle educating our children on the value of hard work as a family raising longhorn cattle.

As a child, I grew up in Waller, Texas, a small town outside of Houston. I enjoyed helping my family shred pastures, raise a few cows, breed dobermans and ride horses. On the weekends, I would accompanying my parents on trail rides as a Sunset trail rider and as part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Coincidentally, I became Miss Go Texan for the Rodeo in 1991.

Craig grew up in a small west Texas town of Stanton, working on his grandfathers' ranches and farms. After attending Baylor University and playing (ok practicing) football under Grant Teaff and then graduating law school, Craig went to Australia to work on a three million acre, 100 windmill, 50,000 head of cattle ranch in the Outback. He returned to Texas and settled in Galveston to practice law and become a State Representative for 20 years.

In 2013, we started looking for property outside of Austin. After visiting many properties, we found a 278 acre ranch where Rocky Creek meets a tributary before emptying into the Pedernales River, with several tanks, hilltop views and three hay fields. Craig and I knew we had found our ranch. We bought the ranch from Mike and Helen Gazewood, but it turned out that Helen, was previously Helen Buckner, who was a trail ride partner of my parents and who had put me to sleep on many trail ride nights. Now there was no doubt we found our ranch!

Helen and Mike left us a big black Angus and a beautiful (but sterile) longhorn. Working with local longhorn legend John Hever, Craig and I "went shopping" and that first Christmas, Santa gave each of us at least one longhorn, and the herd has been cultivated and grown since then!

Our ranch and cattle are a labor of LOVE which we are now sharing with everyone!

Blessings, Melissa and Craig