13 minute read
v BUYING THE 6666
Acres± County Page Acres± County Page Acres± County Page Acres± County Page
ARIZONA
20..............Maricopa................46 341............Yavapai...................47 1,638.........Yavapai...................65
CALIFORNIA
681............Plumas....................33 1,155.........Shasta.....................32 2,035.........Madera...................50 2,882.........Siskiyou..................33 4,063.........Shasta.....................50 4,063.........Siskiyou..................50 COLORADO
4................Colorado................72 30..............Mesa.......................72 35..............Archuleta ...............56 35..............Archuleta ...............56 40..............Mesa.......................20 45..............Grand.....................44 70..............Summit...................45 72..............Summit...................45 80..............Delta ......................72 112............Weld.......................37 120............Mesa.......................54 126............Montrose ...............26 192............Huerfano................67 203............Ouray .....................25 228............Huerfano................64 230............Montrose ...............26 345............Mesa.......................20 374............San Miguel.............24 480............Routt ......................55 490............Moffat ....................66 528............Huerfano................64 612............Park ........................45 660............Grand.....................44 664............Grand.....................45 722............Grand.....................45 828............San Miguel.............26 892............Grand.....................44 944............Grand.....................44 1,321.........Mesa.......................54 1,400.........Mesa.......................54 1,400.........Delta.......................53 1,588.........Grand.....................44 1,666.........Mesa.......................54 1,778.........Delta.......................34 2,163.........Grand.....................45 2,400.........Huerfano................67 2,680.........Huerfano................64 2,680.........Huerfano................24 2,848.........Fremont .................34 3,526.........Garfield..................25 3,561.........Grand.....................44 3,561.........Routt ......................44 3,809.........Huerfano................64 4,269.........Delta.......................22 8,836.........Las Animas.............34 10,681.......Elbert .....................35 12,459.......Washington ...........34 GEORGIA
50..............Dawson..................73 60..............Pickens...................73 235............Chattooga .............73 IDAHO
33..............Idaho......................19 289............Idaho......................19 2,800.........Idaho......................19 KANSAS
3,596.........Sherman.................34 KENTUCKY
27..............Warren ...................18 259............Cumberland ..........18 512............Green.....................18 MISSOURI
66..............Franklin ..................49 80..............Shannon.................49 88..............Saint Francois........48 105............Callaway.................49 205............Gasconade ............48 264............Texas ......................49 301............Camden.................49 362............Dent .......................49
MONTANA
6................Beaverhead ...........60 26..............Madison.................60 160............Madison.................60 768............ Ravalli.....................57 1,240.........Fergus....................61 1,421.........Beaverhead ...........60 2,228.........Beaverhead ...........30 2,433.........Beaverhead ...........60 2,686.........Carbon...................41 3,003.........Beaverhead ...........60 9,296.........Garfield..................34 NEVADA
12..............Humboldt ..............28 350............Lander....................27 467............Pershing.................28 605............Nye.........................27 618............Pershing.................28 829............Humboldt ..............27 2,971.........Elko ........................33 3,180.........Humboldt ..............29 3,197.........Elko ........................33 3,314.........Nye.........................27 3,319.........Elko ........................27 NEW MEXICO
99..............Lincoln......................6 222............Cibola.....................52 400............Socorro ....................6 2,920.........Quay.......................68 7,295.........Rio Arriba...............35 14,993.......Harding..................68 14,993.......Union......................68 18,460.......Chaves ...................68 18,460.......Otero......................68 29,412.......Sierra........................6 OKLAHOMA
120............Woodward.............62 480............Ellis.........................62 622............Adair.......................71 785............Pittsburgh ..............69 1,030.........Stephens................71 1,030.........Carter.....................71 1,551.........Harper....................62 2,200.........McIntosh................71 2,366.........Texas ......................34 2,520.........Choctaw.................69 7,660.........Roger Mills.............62 PENNSYLVANIA
24..............Huntingdon ...........58 SOUTH DAKOTA
260............Meade....................70 3,080.........Perkins....................41 21,730.......Fall River ................41 TENNESSEE
57..............Overton..................21 269............Williamson.............35
TEXAS
5................Blanco....................74 24..............Blanco....................74 480............Williamson.............63 612............Deaf Smith.............68 1,235.........Castro.....................68 2,080.........Castro.....................68 266,000.....King........................10 UTAH
14..............Utah........................39 50..............Cache.....................42 103............Cache.....................43 109............Cache.....................42 520............Garfield..................38 640............Kane.......................39 6,234.........Sevier .....................39 WASHINGTON
2,025.........Douglas..................35 WEST VIRGINIA
129............Cabell.....................59 WYOMING
40..............Park ........................51 160............Park ........................51 163............Crook .....................70 361............Weston...................70 560............Fremont .................66 785............Crook .....................70 820............Campbell...............61 1,196.........Big Horn.................40 2,400.........Albany....................34 3,189.........Albany....................40 7,861.........Natrona..................41 19,998.......Goshen ..................40 48,808.......Sublette .................40
Outside the Region
COSTA RICA
5................Arenal.....................20 553............Cabanga ................20
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN PARADISE
266,000± ACRES BUYING THE 6666
UC Ranch Properties
See UCRanchProperties.com for more properties
BUYING
the6666 A Texas Ranch with 150 years of history built by passionate people, pedigreed quarter horses & the cattle brand that started it all
The Man
Don Bell, a ranch and land broker with UC Ranch Properties ® and owner of United Country Real Estate | Brazos River Land Company, recently represented the buying team for the historic Four Sixes Ranch operations in Texas. This remarkable sale has been the talk of the ranching industry for some time now, so let’s take a look at the specialist who worked with the buyers to help the deal come together.
Bell’s childhood was immersed in the horse and cattle industries. Bell’s father was a horse trainer, and as a child, there was nothing young Bell wanted to do more than follow in his father’s footsteps. While his parents encouraged him to pursue a different career path, Bell went to college, interned with a successful horse trainer in Gainesville, Texas, and ultimately, found success in his own horse training business. He showed several American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Champions, and even married a highly decorated exhibitor in her own right. After his most successful year, Bell left the World Show with a unique sense of dread. He had the choice to continue what he was doing and try to replicate success he had just achieved, or he could try something new.
He started to pursue another life-long passion of his, Western and equine art. This included art shows and private commissions. His efforts paid off as his work was featured on covers of multiple national magazines and he served as the official artist of the AQHA World Show, NRHA Futurity, and APHA World shows to name a few. Just a few short years ago, Fort Worth Magazine named him the People’s Choice for best artist in Fort Worth. He was also commissioned by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association to sculpt the horse used on the trophy they award at the All American Quarter Horse Congress… the largest single breed horse show in the world. While he was finding great enjoyment from his art, he and his wife were starting a family and needed a new direction. After a little convincing from his wife, Bell began to pursue a career in ranch real estate.
After years of growing up and working in the agriculture industry, he had already garnered much of the unique knowledge and many necessary and useful relationships that allowed him to realize early success. He chose to focus on selling ranches and land not only because it was in his backyard, but because he
also loved that the American West attracts dreamers. He believes that buyers are mainly drawn to ranches and recreational land for emotional reasons, and while those emotions differ from person to person, many times the West attracts people longing for nostalgia of simpler times, a rugged independence and freedom.
Bell said, “It’s a given that we have to be knowledgeable about our trade, but beyond that people have to feel they can trust you personally and know you give them everything you have to ensure the best experience possible. Many of my clients turn into true lifelong friends. I treat people like family and believe that’s the foundation of my client relationships. In addition, I think sellers have confidence in how I portray their properties nationally, and they also know I give much of my own sweat equity into making their property appeal to as many buyers as possible.” It is through these connections and reputation that Bell was connected with the buyers for the historic Four Sixes Ranch.
According to Bell, one of the keys to properly representing a large and historic ranch is understanding its history and unique value outside of the land itself. “It is finding buyers who align with both the history and value of the ranch that make these types of historic deals come together,” Bell said. For example, on the Four Sixes both the family’s history and dedication to their world renowned horse operation, and quality carcass yields were critical to finding the right buyers.
The FAMILY
Bell explains, the history of the Four Sixes Ranch as a rich, adventurous and multi-generational legacy. It all begins when 19-year-old Captain Samuel “Burk” Burnett purchased 100 cattle with the brand ‘6666’ on them. A few years later, during the economic crisis of the 1870s, Burnett sold 1,100 steers in Wichita, which was the beginning of his eventual fortune.
In the 1880s, Burnett rented 300,000 acres of Texas land, and he raised his 10,000 head of cattle there with his son, Thomas Loyd Burnett. Through this acquisition of land came a lifelong friendship between Burnett and Comanche Chief Quanah Parker. As a Native American living in the area, Quanah taught Burnett what he knew about keeping livestock in Texas, and Burnett paid his dues to him and the rest of the Natives. It was clear that Burnett genuinely cared and had great respect for Native Americans. He became such a close ally to the Comanche people that they gave him a nickname, “Mas-sa-suta,” meaning Big Boss.
In 1900, Burnett purchased the 8 Ranch around Guthrie, Texas, which would later become the 6666 Ranch. While he continued to buy ranches and land around the area, this part of the land would be where the historic ranch house would be built. This building would house remarkable visitors while Burnett lived, including comedian Will Rogers and President Teddy Roosevelt. It is said that during one of Roosevelt’s visits, Burnett, Quanah Parker and President Roosevelt went bare-handed hunting for wolves, coyotes and other game. President Roosevelt grew so fond of Burnett that he renamed the Texan city of Nesterville to Burkburnett in his honor.
After Burnett’s passing in 1923, his only living child, Tom, went on to continue and expand on the legacy of the Four Sixes Ranch. In his own right, he was an excellent rancher with a lot of first-hand knowledge and experience with cattle and horses. He became wellknown amongst ranchers for his ability to move cattle in even the most difficult circumstances.
His daughter, Anne Valliant Burnett Tandy, inherited the ranch from her father. While she spent much of her time on the east coast, she was well-known for her vast knowledge on all things cattle and horses, as well as art. In 1978, she founded the Burnett Foundation that supported projects ranging from artwork to ranching. She also helped establish the AQHA and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, which she was posthumously inducted to.
Anne’s only child, a daughter of the same name, received ownership of the ranch after her mother. Anne Burnett Windfohr Marion became a highly esteemed and internationally renowned art collector, but there was no argument that she was still a mighty horsewoman and rancher like her family before her. Anne was involved in countless organizations across the country throughout her lifetime such as founding the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and being on the board at The Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as Texas Tech University, and she was a director of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. She passed away in 2020, which is how the historic ranch came to be for sale.
The legacy of the horses, as explained by Bell, dates back to the early 20th century. While Captain Burnett raised many horses on the iconic ranch, it wasn’t until after his death that the horses with the finest of pedigrees came into play. Ranch Manager, George Humphreys, who took over the position nine years after Burnett’s
The legACY
death, had a mission to breed the greatest horses in the nation. Tom Burnett gifted Humphreys one of his own horses, Scooter, as a stud. However, his favorite was Hollywood Gold, a horse that was raised on Burnett land and became the primary stud of the ranch and went on to breed a lineage of excellent cow horses and contest winners. Humphreys worked at the Four Sixes Ranch for 38 years, and in those years, he only bought one stud: Cee Bar. For three years, Cee Bar bred exclusively with mares from the Four Sixes Ranch. These offspring went on to set records from both cattle work and racing.
While Cee Bar, Scooter and Hollywood Gold were impressive animals who left a significant impact on the ranch, the famous racing stallion, Dash For Cash, is the crown jewel of the legacy. Said to be one of the greatest sires of the ranch, Dash For Cash was a truly gorgeous racing horse, and his offspring went on to earn more than $40 million.
The Four Sixes Ranch boasts some of the best racing, performance and ranching stallions in the world. To keep themselves above the competition, the Four Sixes Ranch Quarter Horses are kept to a specific standard when bred that encourages the livestock to have a strong cow sense, gentleness, beauty and speed. To this day, to honor Captain Burnett’s father-in-law M.B. Loyd, the 6666 horses are branded with an L, and the cattle still receive the now famous 6666 brand.
The buyers Bell represented on the sale of the Four Sixes will write the future story of this historic ranch. Though a lot is still a mystery, Bell states that one thing was certain, “The new buyers are completely dedicated to preserving the legendary reputation of the iconic Texas Ranch.”
The FUTURE
Don Bell
REALTOR® / Ranch Specialist
For nearly 100 years, UC has been known for combining local representation, property expertise and unparalleled marketing. With a nationwide network of over 4,000 property specialists along with the most extensive private inventory of farm, ranch and land for sale, no one can better help you find or sell your property. National Marketing, Local Expertise®
$5 Billion in Recreational Sales $8 Billion in Farms Sold
Ron Kirby & Chris Gravil
Lifestyle Properties including Country & Luxury Homes, Land, Farms, Hunting & Recreational Properties, Timberland & Commercial Properties, At Auction and by traditional listing and sales
MEADOW CREEK FARM 512± acres | Kentucky *Green County* Greensburg-Campbellsville | $2,500,000 | #16058-21548 Meadow Creek Farm boasts 512± acres in Central Kentucky; 312 of which is timber and woodlands, while the other 200 acres are crop land. The farm is not only rich in heritage, but in timber, productive crop land, and abundant wildlife as well.
INCOME POTENTIAL PROPERTY
27± acres | Kentucky *Warren County* Bowling Green $1,600,000 | #16057-22010 This property has excellent income potential. It features three poultry layer barns ready for new birds, as well as 27 acres of pasture with a pond and fencing. A 2,356-squarefoot double wide home also sits on the property, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE
259± acres | Kentucky *Cumberland County* Burkesville $440,300 | #6058-21539 This is a beautiful, 259-acre sportsman’s paradise, with beautiful and secluded home or cabin sites. It includes county water, paved roads, and electricity on property, along with hiking and ATV trails.
SCOTLYN RANCH 2,800± acres | Idaho *Idaho County* Kamiah | $13,495,000 | #1055-10282 Scotlyn Ranch consists of 2,800 acres of dry-land and farm acreage, two year-round creeks, deep canyons, and ranch plains. Additional to the 7,500-square-foot main home, there are many outbuildings and barns.
LEGACY ELK RANCH
289± acres | Idaho *Idaho County* Elk City $1,495,000 | #111055-10095 The 289± deeded acres are comprised of open meadows and rolling pastures. The property features bass ponds, healthy stands of timber, and a creek with cut-throat trout, creating the perfect setting for a uniquely private ranch.
WESTERN COUNTRY LIVING
33± acres | Idaho *Idaho County* Grangeville $645,000 | #11015-10400 Live your best life on this 33.5-acre property in Idaho County, with views of the Camas Prairie and the mountains beyond. Enjoy country living in this house that boasts western touches, as well as the property with a seasonal creek and space for building.
Specializing in Lifestyle Properties throughout Idaho
Earl Musick
