| WILFONG BUCKING BULLS |
| WILFONG BUCKING BULLS |
| BullPen Magazine May/June 2007 By: Allen Glanville Bob Wilfong, Breeder, Stock Contractor, Cowboy Bob Wilfong of Aquilla, TX may be a lot of things, but one thing is for sure, he’s a cowboy. You don’t even need to know him, just see him or be around him and it becomes clear what this man is. From one of those who know him, Monty Samford described Bob the best, “I can just see Bob walking down some dusty street in Dodge City back in the late eighteen hundreds, O’le Bob was just born a hundred years too late.” Wilfong’s herdsman Thomas Chane had this to say about Bob being a cowboy, “if there is a person living with cowboy stamped on his chest it’s Wilfong, he’s a hand anywhere you put him. I should know, we have been around each other for 40 years, we used to rodeo together in our younger days, man I could tell you some stories.” Even if he gave me the stories we couldn’t print them. Wilfong was born in Palo Pinto County Texas and right from the start he was exposed to the cattle industry. His father met his mother while in the Army stationed in Mineral Wells, TX during the Second World War, later they married and started their family. From this marriage came 5 siblings. Bobs father was a cow trader and operated ranches all over the country. Bob reflected on his dad, “He could buy 5,000 head and make it work; sometimes we would rope 300 head of cattle per week. He had a tremendous operation back then and I was right in the middle of all of it. When I was in college, I would drop out for a quarter to work the ranches for and with my dad. I would leave home and be gone for weeks just working my way back home. Things were different back then, once dad had bought some 5,000 head of cattle near Kingsville, TX and I being young asked the owner, what is this sale going to do to your program? He smiled at me and remarked, “Well I guess this only leaves me with some 25,000 head now.” The ranch Wilfong lives on today was purchased in 1950 and consists of 2,000 acres. Wilfong remarked about the purchase, “dad bought it for $100.00 per acre and 20 head of Holstein heifers. Wilfong went on, I have spent most of my life working this ranch, my brother and I have spent many a day here. In his early years Wilfong competed on the rodeo trail, riding bareback, saddle bronc and bulls. Wilfong explains, “I competed some 30 years, but never was good enough to crack the big egg. I started my rodeo career at the old Audie Murphy arena in Stephenville, TX, rode in High School and college. When I was competing in college I majored in BBB (booze, broncs and babes) I guess that is why I spent eight years there.” His friend Chane added, “Bob could have been a great saddle bronc rider, but never would pursue it like he should have.” Wilfong belongs in the cattle breeding business after all he has been doing this all his life and a fifth generation cattleman. He has many who respect him for his herd development. Darrell Hargis had this to say about Wilfong, “he has been there and done that and there is not a smarter breeder out there and I think as much of his judgment as anyone going.” Monty Samford adds, “Wilfong has probably the best herd of females there is in the country.” After visiting Wilfong's ranch and looking at his cattle, it becomes clear just what these top breeders are talking about. When you are at some bucking cattle sale, sometimes the bidding becomes slow but if the auctioneer mentions that the next animal was raised by Wilfong, immediately the sale comes alive. That doesn’t just happen unless you are one of the top breeders in the business. Wilfong explains some of his success, “I am in a unique position in the bucking bull business because of all the people I have known. I know all the large contractors because I rodeoed 30 years and hung out with them. When I call one of them we talk like friends and it makes working with them easy.” When Samford owned the great bull Houdini, I was the only person he ever let use him. Jerry Nelson buys bulls from me sight unseen; I am probably the only person he has done this with.” Wilfong owns 240 cows and to say they are beautiful would be an understatement, one look and you can tell how much he loves them. 90 percent of what Wilfong culls, is better than most of what anyone else in the business owns. When asked about the breeding business, Wilfong explains, “I have been in the bull business since 1969 and got in the breeding end around 1990 when I bought some cows from Larry Kephart, I also bought cows from Charlie Nelore and Kevin Hurst along with Rafter 7. I have used some great bulls over the years, one I really liked was M17, Hargis bred him and Danny Mason raised him, I never owned him but used him twice. I also had Broke Back V, Terry walls loaned him to me; I also used him two different times. My main heard bull today is Darkness, a son of Gunslinger. I went up to Darrell Hargis ranch to look at some A6 bulls. When I saw those Gunslinger bulls bucked and standing on their head I wanted one. Hargis wouldn’t sell me Darkness. I later found out Brad Fudge had bought him and soon I had him. I have high hopes for this bull. Right now my best cows are Darkness bred. I also have a bull Red Eye and crossing with these cows should produce something outstanding.” What has been your best decision? “Don’t know if I have ever made one, maybe it is just around the corner,” replies Wilfong. How about your worse one, “selling Micro Chip and Pudd, I needed the money but I sure wish I could have kept them.” Do you have any advice for the new people coming into the business? “Don’t over stock your ranch, you will spend way too much in feed, and hay is the highest feed there is. We fed some 150 round bales this season, the most we have ever used because of the drought we are in. Also, haul your cattle to the feed, (lease some acreage) because it’s cheaper than bringing it to them.” The thing you learn from being around Wilfong is this, he knows what he has and knows how to make it better, and his cattle herd is second to none. Another thing you learn is that Wilfong says what in on his mind so if you are thin skinned, don’t ever ask him anything. He is all about the truth, in anything he does, if you ever cross the line with him, he will never trust you again. He is old school all the way, no exceptions. When asked how he would like to be remembered, “I always wanted to be a cowboy replied Wilfong.” If nothing else, Wilfong has achieved his goal and then some. |
| My Ol' Cowboy |
| Bob Wilfong |
| #82/0 Pudd |
| Photo by Allen Glanville Glanville Sport Photography |
