Ranching Royalty: Four Families That Defined American Ranching

Howdy. Chip Schweiger, here. Welcome to another edition of Way Out West. 

The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls—who are feeding a nation. 

Out where the horizon swallows the sun and the wind carries whispers of a hundred years past... there’s a different kind of royalty.

Not crowned in gold or draped in velvet.
But wrapped in dust, grit, and the smell of saddle leather.
Their empires weren’t built with bricks and marble,
But with bloodlines, brands, and the steady rhythm of hooves on dry ground.

This is a story not of kings and queens—but of ranchers.
Of families whose names still ride tall across the American West.

Today on the show, we tip our hats to the ranching royalty of the West.
To the Kings, the Waggoners, the Burnetts, and beyond.

Their stories aren’t just history—they're a legacy still unfolding.

After the episode, check out the show notes at WayOutWestPod.com/ranching-Royalty

[Short Music Break]

Welcome back.

There’s always been something mythical about the word “ranch.”
It conjures up dusty horizons, strong horses, and even stronger families—folks who carved out empires on the back of a horse and the strength of a handshake.

And when it comes to ranching royalty—well, there are a few names that ride taller in the saddle than the rest.

Today, we're talking about the four families who didn’t just raise cattle—they raised legacies. They defined what it means to be a steward of the land, a leader in the West, and a legend in their own right.

Now this episode was inspired by a good friend and longtime listener of the show. He sent in this idea, and I liked it so much, I bumped it right to the top of the list. So saddle up, partner—this one’s for you.

Chapter 1: The King of Ranches – The King Family

If there’s one name synonymous with ranching greatness, it’s King Ranch.

Founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King, a poor Irish immigrant turned steamboat captain, the ranch grew from a humble land purchase along the Santa Gertrudis Creek into a South Texas empire covering 825,000 acres—a place so vast it has its own zip code.

But what makes King Ranch more than just big?

It’s what it built.

Richard King understood the value of people. He hired and trained a crew of loyal Mexican cowboys—the Kineños, or “King’s men”—whose horsemanship, cattle handling, and deep knowledge of the land laid the foundation for everything that followed. Their families stayed on for generations, creating a legacy of loyalty that still exists today.

The King Ranch:

·       Developed the Santa Gertrudis breed, combining Brahman and Shorthorn bloodlines for heat tolerance and beef quality.

·       Was one of the first to fence vast tracts of open range, adopting barbed wire at scale.

·       Pioneered modern cattle handling, grazing systems, and ranch management long before business schools taught it.

But King’s legacy wasn’t just in cattle. His family had a vision for conservation, education, and enduring impact—values that still guide the ranch’s operations.

Today, the King Ranch is involved in everything from citrus and cotton to oil and wildlife management, and its Running W brand is iconic in Western lore. And, when we talk about the King Ranch, we’re really talking about not just the King family, but the Armstongs, the Kleburgs and the Clements.

And as I mentioned earlier, I’ve got a full blog article on the ranch—complete with stories, photos, and more about how King Ranch became one of the most influential ranches in the world. You’ll find that link in the show notes.

Chapter 2: The Waggoner Legacy – Big Land, Bigger Ambitions

Where the King Ranch ruled the south, the Waggoner Ranch claimed the north.

Founded in the 1850s by Daniel Waggoner, the family began with just a few hundred head of cattle and a wagon train of grit. Over time—and through strategic land swaps, purchases, and even conflict—they built the W.T. Waggoner Ranch, an operation that once spanned more than half a million acres of North Texas.

It was land "under one fence"—and that phrase mattered. In an era of open range, the Waggoners were bold enough to close theirs in. It gave them control, efficiency, and—some would argue—a bit of controversy.

But they were innovators.

W.T. Waggoner, Daniel’s son, was a savvy businessman who not only expanded the ranch, but diversified it into oil, horses, and real estate. When oil was struck on their land in the early 1900s, it funded a new era of expansion.

They built:

·       A renowned Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred program that still influences bloodlines today.

·       State-of-the-art breeding barns, cattle pens, and housing long before it was common.

·       A brand identity that made “Three Ds” (their cattle brand) known across the West.

And like all dynasties, theirs came with drama. Family disputes and legal battles over inheritances and wills kept the name in headlines for decades.

In 2016, after much media buzz, the ranch was sold to Stan Kroenke, billionaire owner of the Denver Nuggets and husband of a Walmart heiress. But make no mistake—the Waggoner legacy hasn’t vanished. The brand, the land, and the story still hold weight in ranching circles.

And if you ever find yourself driving through Vernon, Texas, and the country feels impossibly big—it’s probably because you’re crossing what used to be Waggoner land.

Chapter 3: The Burnetts and the 6666 

If you’ve watched Yellowstone or 1883, you’ve heard of the 6666 Ranch—but that’s just scratching the surface.

The ranch was founded in 1870 by Samuel Burk Burnett, a man as rugged as the land he tamed. Legend has it he won the ranch in a poker game with a winning hand of four sixes—but the real story is even better: he bought 8,000 head of cattle and the land to graze them when he was just a teenager, and built one of the most iconic ranches in the American West.

The 6666, also called “The Four Sixes,” grew to over 260,000 acres of prime grazing land across the Texas Panhandle and Rolling Plains.

But Burnett wasn’t just raising beef—he was building bridges between cultures and communities.

He was a close friend of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, and one of the few white men invited into the inner circles of Parker’s leadership. He also hosted President Theodore Roosevelt on the ranch—offering him a firsthand look at cowboy life in its truest form.

The ranch became:

·       A leading producer of Black Angus cattle.

·       A powerhouse in Quarter Horse breeding, supplying horses to ranches and rodeo circuits nationwide.

·       A steward of open range management, controlled breeding, and cowboy tradition.

The Burnett family passed down this legacy through generations, with Anne Windfohr Marion—Burk’s great-granddaughter leading it into the modern era. She was not only a savvy ranchwoman but also a patron of the arts and conservation efforts.

In 2021, the ranch was purchased by a group led by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, who now uses it as a working ranch and filming location. The brand has become visible to a whole new generation—but it’s always been legendary in cowboy circles.

I cover all of this, and more, in my blog post on the 6666 Ranch. Check out the show notes if you want to see how Hollywood met hard work on the high plains.

Chapter 4: The Koch Family – Stewardship at Scale

The Matador Cattle Company doesn’t always come up in nostalgic cowboy tales—but it should.

Originally part of a Scottish investment syndicate in the 1880s, the Matador Ranch was acquired in 1952 by Fred Koch, patriarch of the Koch Industries empire.

Today, the Koch family operates Matador as a division of their larger energy and agriculture interests—but make no mistake: it’s no corporate afterthought.

Spanning vast lands in Texas, Montana, Kansas, and beyond, the Matador Ranch represents a modern model of large-scale ranching done responsibly.

What sets it apart?

·       A science-based approach to land restoration, native grassland management, and wildlife conservation.

·       Partnerships with conservation groups to protect habitats for species like the lesser prairie chicken and migratory birds.

·       A ranching philosophy that focuses on regenerative grazing and long-term ecological health.

They’ve shown that ranching and stewardship don’t have to be at odds. In fact, they’re at their best when they walk hand-in-hand.

For many in the cowboy world, Koch’s ownership might feel like a curveball. But when you look at how they’re preserving the land, investing in infrastructure, and supporting next-gen ranch managers—you begin to see that legacy isn’t just about last names. It’s about what you leave behind.

Chapter 5: The XIT Rides Again

Before we ride off, I want to tell you about something exciting.

The XIT Ranch was once the largest fenced ranch in the world, stretching across ten counties in the Texas Panhandle—over 3 million acres.

It was massive. It was legendary. And eventually, it faded into history... or so we thought.

Now, the great-great-great-great grandson of one of the original XIT founders is bringing the ranch back—not in size, but in spirit.

He's building a modern brand around the legacy of the XIT, focused on community, storytelling, and the values of Western resilience.

I just wrote a full blog article about the revival of the XIT Ranch and how this new generation is bridging old values with modern branding and media. I’ll link that in the show notes too.—trust me, you’ll want to read it.

The thing about the West is—it never really stays still.

It changes. It evolves. But the values that built it? Those stay rooted.

The families we talked about today—the Kings, the Waggoners, the Burnetts, and the Kochs—didn’t just manage land. They cultivated legacies. Through drought and down markets, through boomtowns and busts, they held the line. They taught us that real wealth isn’t in what you own—it’s in what you pass on.

And now, with the revival of the XIT Ranch by a great-great-great-great grandson of one of its founders, we’re seeing something powerful. A new generation that isn’t just preserving the past—they’re reimagining it. Blending history with innovation, honoring the legacy while writing a fresh chapter.

That’s what the cowboy way is all about.
Riding forward—but never forgetting where the trail began.

Big thanks again to the longtime listener who suggested this episode. You know who you are. Your idea sparked something good—and I’m glad we got to tell this story.

If you want to learn more, be sure to check out the show notes. I’ve linked blog articles on the King Ranch, the 6666, and that new piece on the XIT revival. Dive in when you’ve got a quiet moment and a strong cup of coffee.

Ok, before we wrap up, we’ve got one more thing to do

[Bull sound]

Chapter 6: Buster the Bull and the Cowboy Glossary Term of the Week

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the bull means it’s time for the Cowboy Glossary Term of the Week. And this week’s term is "Legacy Brand.” So, a legacy brand is a ranch, business, or family name that carries weight across generations. In the cowboy world, your brand is more than a mark—it’s your honor, your reputation, and your story.

Well, that’s a wrap on this week’s episode.

Remember, you can find us at WayOutWestPod.com, and also on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next time, this is Chip Schweiger reminding you to keep your cinch tight, your hat low, and remember: legacy rides deeper than land.

We’ll see y’all down the road.