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| The
Four Sixes Ranch
The
untamed, rugged land of Texas became home
to legendary ranchers and cowboys as big
and windy as the state itself. The vast
horizon sprawled across the big-country
in which they established prosperous land
and cattle operations. Among them was
the Four Sixes Ranch. Comprised of one-third
million acres, the ranch has a storied
history that began with a poker game and
a winning hand of four sixes—reputedly,
but not so. In true Texas fashion, it
does make a good story, though. |
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The
real history of the Four Sixes began with
Samuel Burk Burnett, who became one of
the most influential and prosperous cattlemen
in Texas. Before the age of 20, he purchased
from Frank Crowley in Denton County a
herd of cattle wearing the 6666 brand.
Burnett recorded the brand in 1875 in
Wichita County, Texas, on the Kiowa-Comanche
Reservation in 1881 and in other counties
in years following.
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The
origin of the 6666 brand and why it was
used by Crowley is unknown. But it had
nothing to do with a card game. The element
of luck always associated with Burk Burnett
is not unfounded. His land, which supported
thousands of cattle also held some of
the state’s richest oil reservoirs.
The
Four Sixes Ranch continues today as a
forerunner in the cattle industry. As
a cow/calf operation, the ranch maintains
a breeding herd of some 7,000 mother cows.
Angus cows and bulls produce calves, which
are managed from birth through weaning
and on to feedlot finishing. The quality
of Four Sixes cattle is well known.
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The ranch is also recognized for its exceptional horses. The brand used on the Sixes’ horses is the same one burned on the first horses Burk Burnett bought. Records reveal those cow horses were acquired from Captain M.B. Loyd of Fort Worth, who became Burk’s father-in-law. The horses were branded with the letter L on the left shoulder, as they are today. |
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The Four Sixes’
Quarter Horses are known far and wide
with sires like Joe Hancock, Hollywood
Gold and Grey Badger II. The ranch is
just as well known for its horses bred
for speed. Top sires in the race-bred
lineup include Dash For Cash, Special
Effort and Streakin Six.
The Burnett properties
consist of two ranches in Texas: Dixon
Creek and the Four Sixes, headquartered
in Guthrie. More than a century ago, Burk
Burnett began to assemble a ranching empire.
As with most significant undertakings,
challenges had to be met, problems had
to
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be solved and prices had
to be paid.
Many factors have contributed to the Four Sixes success story, but perhaps the one element which the old ranch has been most dependent upon is the Burnett family characteristic of determination. |
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