We raise quality beef cattle best suited to our environment, and we strive to manage them as humanely as possible. We spend the majority our time every day ensuring their well being so that they thrive and are productive. We run mama cows and develop the calves for breeding and beef.
Typically we calve from mid March to early June. We wean our calves from late summer to late October depending on rainfall, cow condition, and forage availability. We market our calves locally, and they have topped the markets on an annual basis.
We aim for low maintenance cattle that are easy to handle, hardy, and have growth potential.
Welcome to the Buck family!
Rex grew up on the Conrad Ranch north of Eckley Colorado. He was on the NJC and Colorado State University Livestock judging teams before graduating from CSU with a Vocational Agriculture degree. Rex taught Vo-Ag at Wray High School before ranching full time. He has been involved with Yuma County Cattlemen and the Colorado Livestock Association.
Jody grew up on the family’s Collins Ranch outside of Kit Carson Colorado. She graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in English and taught secondary and college English before joining Rex to ranch full time and raise the kids. She currently is active as a mixed media artist in her spare time teaching classes, selling art, and doing commissions.
Brady was very involved in successful Wray High School athletic teams and extensively showed cattle at local, regional, and national levels. He graduated from Duke University and was a sports writer for the Duke Chronicle covering Duke Basketball. He spent a number of years as a cattle clerk for Magnum Feedyard. Brady and his wife Jordan live in Wray. Brady has his own commodities trading business and also sells LRP for EastCo. He also is an assistant high school football coach for Wray. Jordan has her own law practice - Buck Law - specializing in estate planning and management, business and transactional law. They have two sons - Brooks and Bash.
Molly served as student body president at Wray High School, played sports, showed cattle, and graduated from Colorado State University as the first 5th generation female graduate from the same family at CSU. She and her husband Justin live in Arvada, both work in the oil & gas industry and are active members in several industry clubs. She is a Land Analyst for Liberty Resources in Denver and is involved with the extended family’s oil and gas interests. Justin is a Landman for a wind and solar company. They have a daughter - Kick.
Coby was an outstanding Wray athlete, extensively showed cattle as a youth, and graduated from Harvard University where he played rugby and had campus leadership positions. He was a global oil trader at Freepoint in Connecticut. Today he is a global account manager for AgriWebb, an ag tech Australian based company. Coby and his wife Darcey live in San Francisco. Darcey worked for Morgan Stanley and is now employed at a hedge fund.
Baylor also had much success in Wray as an athlete, and he also showed cattle at all levels winning many shows and awards. He received his undergraduate degree at Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of the TCU Ranch Management Program. He has been ranch manager for Wray Ranch and is certified and licensed to sell pasture and crop insurance as well. His girlfriend Jenna Kellogg is a surgical nurse at the Wray Community District Hospital.
Charles Edward Collins was born in Baxter Springs Kansas. His father was a U.S. Marshall in Kansas territory and among other things was a good friend of Bill Cody whom he threw in jail a time or two. At the age of 14, young Charlie ran away from home to join the cattle drives from Mexico through Texas and up to Montana. He fell in love with eastern Colorado, and in 1907 Charles Collins started Collins Ranch east of Wild Horse and west of Kit Carson. Charlie expanded the ranch raising sheep and cattle and ultimately sticking to cattle after a tough winter of losing many sheep. Charlie started the Kit Carson State Bank, co-founded the Franklin Serum Company which invented the Blackleg vaccine, was president of the National Cattlemen’s Association, and was a Colorado State Senator. Collins Ranch management was taken over by his son Don Collins who continued in the path his father had set before him as president of the Kit Carson State Bank, the National Cattlemen’s Association, and was elected as Colorado State Senator. Don’s health began to decline and in 1970, his daughter Polly Johnson and husband Rogers Johnson moved back to Kit Carson from their home in Phoenix AZ to take over management of Collins Ranch and to raise their four kids in eastern Colorado. Rogers had grown up on the east coast in Marblehead MA, was a 3 sport athlete at Bowdoin College, and worked for General Electric where he met Polly. Polly had graduated from Colorado A & M (now Colorado State University) and was one of the first females on the Colorado A & M Livestock judging team. Together they raised Scott, Don, Jody, and Toby on Collins Ranch. Today Collins Ranch is managed by my brother Toby Johnson. The neighboring Flying Diamond Ranch is owned and operated by my brother Scott Johnson and his children.
In 1990, together with Collins Ranch, we purchased the Wray Ranch. It was a historical ranch originally owned by Thomas Ashton who was a banker and rancher in Yuma Country. The ranch had been owned in later years by Ashton Wilson. We purchased the ranch from First Pioneer National Bank, and that’s when the real work began. We had to clean up, tear down, and build much of the ranch infrastructure. In 1996, Rex and Jody bought the ranch from Collins Ranch and the operations officially became Wray Cattle Co. Inc., and Wray Ranch Co. LLC. Eventually we built our home and raised our 4 kids here where they learned to work, play, and survive ranch life.
HOW WE THINK -We believe in being stewards of the land and cattle. Every management decision we make involves the well being of our property and our livestock. Our aim in life is to work hard, raise good people and great cattle, and to leave our world a better place.
WHAT WE DO - Calving, fencing, branding, health management, irrigating, marketing, trading, breeding planning, strategic planning, fixing, checking, watering, gathering, sorting, feeding, risk management, planning, expanding, safety, farming, haying, repairing, building, care taking, learning.
LOOKING FORWARD - Sustainability and succession is a key component of our operating philosophy and standards. We aim to minimize and hardship and stress on our land and cattle. We strive to be low cost and efficient. It is our hope that there will be future Bucks living and working on the land for many generations to come.
Most days we are too busy working to relax, since there is always work to be done. We feel like there is no other grander place on earth to raise kids than on a cattle ranch. We are together, with a purpose, working physically, outside. The sweat equity, experiences, satisfaction, adventures, and lessons are unmatched. Ranch life teaches, compassion, responsibility, reliability, and creativity. It develops grit and honesty. Thanks for checking in. Come visit sometime!
In 2012, we purchased additional land on which sat a historical landmark known throughout eastern Colorado for its unique design. The roundhouse (as we refer to it) was built in 1892 made of rock and mortar mixed from the soil and horse hair and was designed in an octagonal shape. The home had lain empty for over 20 years and only housed birds and raccoons until we began extensive renovations. It has three bedrooms, two full baths, powder room, full kitchen, washer/dryer, wifi, and television throughout. Today the Cattlemen’s Country Club is used as a guest house and lodging for private hunting parties, family reunions, wedding parties, and get aways.
https://www.facebook.com/CattlemensCountryClub/notifications/
There is extensive hunting on our property - deer, pheasant, turkeys, birds, coyotes, bobcats, ducks, prairie dogs, and other wildlife. We also have a fishing pond which is known locally for its idyllic fishing setting.
https://www.facebook.com/BuckShowCattle/
Contact:
Brady Buck - 970-630-7252
Baylor Buck - 970-630-2272
or 970-630-5659
Coby Buck - 970-630-5767
Our philosophy is work hard play hard….actually mostly work hard. But we do find time to celebrate family and friends. Over the years Wray Ranch has played host to family wedding receptions, ranch parties, surprise anniversary parties, graduation celebrations, Brandingpoloozas, and Ranchella events, dances, tours, and fire pit nights. And now we can proudly say Wray Ranch’s Cottonwood Chapel was the site of the nuptials of Brady and Jordan Buck on July 6, 2019. What a special day it was! Nothing like a ranch wedding under the cottonwoods. We have hosted many family and friends over the years. We love nothing more than educating people about our industry and lifestyle, getting a little work out of them in the meantime and learning from them too. We can provide starry skies, fresh air, wide open spaces, up close experiences with livestock, a hard day’s work, and the true experience of “going off the grid”.
We are still in the development process at this point but look for future opportunities to purchase Wray Cattle Co beef products such as beef jerky, beef sticks, and sausage, as well as possible 1/4, 1/2, and full beef options. Our beef is hormone free and raised in a humane environment. Much of it is grass fed.
We also will have other products available such as the highly coveted CC hats, apparel, and gift items. Check back with us!
If you are in the market for unique, personal, fun, and happy art, I am your girl! I create fun pieces that are both uplifting, unique, and personal. I also teach mixed media classes to all ages. I do commission work and like to incorporate vintage and personal papers into my pieces which add to the “story” of the piece.
I am also exploring the possibility of hosting “Art Weekends on the Ranch” for small groups which would be a weekend of art lessons and play, ranch life experience, and a peaceful respite. Updates coming. I have hosted a couple weekends so far for college friends and hope to continue the concept with interested parties, family, and friends
Home -
40369 US Highway 34
Wray CO 80758
jodybuck@wrayranch.co
or - jojobuck.jb@gmail.com
970-332-4262
Rex - 970-630-4039
Jody - 970-630-4062
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jody.buck
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jodyjobuck/
Jody Buck art - jojobuck.jb@gmail.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cowbellsart/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cowbellsart/
Brady Buck - 970-630-7252
brady.p.buck@gmail.com
Molly Buck
molly buck_22@hotmail.com
Coby Buck - 970-630-5767
cobybuck@wrayranch.co
coby.c.buck@gmail.com
Baylor Buck - 970-630-2272
baylor5@live.com
Check here for current listings of cattle and hay for sale.
Rental properties available to rent.
Unique opportunity offered to close family and friends allowing access to our ranch, hunting, lodging, and limited edition CC products. Please inquire with one of the family members for further details.
