2024 Best of Western Horseman: Home and Ranch
Livestock Management | Furniture & Decor | Outdoor Living | Horse Trailers | Equipment
A rancher’s homestead is their pride and joy. It’s where their livestock thrives, where their crops are grown, where their family gathers, where they work and where they rest. When we invest in quality materials from the start, the longevity of the products and the efficiency of their use speaks for itself. Quality, longevity and efficiency are pillars the 2024 Western Horseman Best of Home and Ranch winners can definitely stand on.
Photograph courtesy of Priefert Manufacturing.
Best of Livestock Management Winner: Priefert Manufacturing
Known as one of the world’s largest farm, ranch and rodeo equipment manufacturers, Priefert Manufacturing was founded by farm-turned-rancher Marvin Priefert in 1964 and remains family-owned and -operated three generations later. Since Marvin invented the first side closing, gliding action headgate, the company has introduced many more industry firsts. Despite its wide variety of equipment, Priefert prides itself on premium product design, execution and quality. Some of the top cattle, equine, rodeo and roping organizations in the U.S. have taken notice, including Professional Bull Riders, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which prefer Priefert as their equipment of choice. Many Priefert products are first tested on the 3,000-acre Priefert family ranch in Mount Pleasant, Texas, bringing genuine authenticity to the slogan, “Built by ranchers, for ranchers.”
“With good people, you can accomplish anything,” CEO Bill Priefert says.
Best of Livestock Management Runner-Up: Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment
If you want to do something with your land, no matter the size, scope or category, Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment has a product for you. What began as a small gate company in central Kentucky almost 80 years ago has expanded to include equipment for farming, ranching and competition.
“Our specialty is that we make a product for anybody who lives the Western lifestyle,” says Jake Stephens, chief commercial officer for Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment. “No matter what you need — a commercial livestock handling system, full rodeo arena, garden planter or tractor implement — we have a solution for you.”
Striving to grow right alongside their customer base, Tarter is always searching for new ways to innovate. This continuous reinvestment in their company is a testament to their commitment to their customers. Tarter doesn’t take this nomination lightly and is honored the readers of Western Horseman value their products enough to vote for them.
Best of Livestock Management Honorable Mention: Powder River
Since 1938, Powder River has been a solid option for all things livestock handling. Situated along the Wasatch Mountains in Provo, Utah, they’ve grown to become a manufacturing giant, serving clients on a global scale. The longevity of Powder River products has set them apart from the competition.
“We have equipment that’s been on the ground for generations,” Powder River’s Marketing Director Matt Johnson says.
When customers choose Powder River, they know they’re prioritizing quality and making an investment. Protecting livestock and their handlers is what Powder River started out doing, and it’s what it continues still today. They aim to be an indisputable partner for their customers in every livestock endeavor.
Photograph courtesy of King Ranch Saddle Shop.
Best of Furniture and Décor Winner: King Ranch Saddle Shop
For more than 170 years, King Ranch has upheld a tradition of excellence that began in 1853, a testament to the enduring values and craftsmanship that define the brand. This recognition is a source of pride for the employees and family, underscoring the deep connection between their heritage and the shop’s success.
The company emerged from the King Ranch founder’s keen recognition of the need for superior gear suited to the rugged terrain of South Texas. His commitment to quality led him to find saddles that combines durability and lightweight design with exceptional comfort for both riders and their horses.
Unable to find saddles meeting his standards, Captain King took proactive steps to establish his own saddlery. He hired skilled craftsmen to create custom saddles that soon gained notoriety across the Southwest. These saddles bearing the Running W brand became synonymous with durability and craftsmanship. Over the years, King Ranch diversified its offerings beyond saddles to include a wide range of leather products. This expansion encompassed categories such as luggage, Western apparel, field and fishing gear, and ranch home goods, all crafted with the same high standards that defined their original saddles.
Through these endeavors, King Ranch Saddle Shop has not only preserved its legacy as a premier producer of leather goods but has also contributed significantly to the cultural and economic landscape of South Texas and beyond.
“Maintaining such high standards over generations is rewarding and humbling, showcasing our ongoing dedication to preserving and advancing the legacy of quality established so many years ago,” says Robert Hodgen, CEO of King Ranch.
Best of Furniture and Décor Runner-Up: 6666 Ranch: Four Sixes Supply House
Originally established by Captain Samual Burk Burnett as a general store providing the necessities for cowboys working the ranch the Four Sixes Ranch Supply House continues that tradition for the tight-knit ranching community of Guthrie, Texas, today.
The supply house remains the only store in King County and operates out of the same building in which it started. The remote location of Guthrie makes the store an essential landmark, befitting its name, the “supply house.” Now a household name, items branded with the iconic 6666 brand are also found on the sales floor of the supply house.
“We are extremely honored to be voted into the Best of Western Horseman and hope that means we are serving our valued customers in a positive manner where they thought enough of us to include us in such a prestigious group of businesses,” Supply House Manager Shannon Green says.
Best of Furniture and Décor Honorable Mention: Pendleton Woolen Mills
Pendleton Woolen Mills is a heritage lifestyle brand and the leader in wool blankets, apparel and accessories. Pendleton weaves iconic designs in two of America’s remaining woolen mills, located in Pendleton, Oregon, and Washougal, Washington. With six generations of family ownership, Pendleton is focus on their “Warranted to be a Pendleton” legacy, creating quality lifestyle products with timeless classic styling. Inspiring individuals from the Pacific Northwest and beyond for 160 years, Pendleton products are available online, at Pendleton stores across the U.S. and select retailers worldwide.
Photograph courtesy of Apex Cooler System.
Best of Outdoor Living Winner: Apex Cooler System
As an avid outdoorsman himself, Sean Brennan started Apex with a single patent in August 2017. It wasn’t until January 2019 that he had products to sell. Finding a few holes in the products on the market allowed Brennan to meet consumer needs that many didn’t even know they had. Coolers on the market, both then and now, are built to last and insulated enough to hold ice for days, but that’s where the advantages of Apex Coolers just get started.
Equipped to make storage and security easier than ever before, Apex Coolers are built to work just as hard as their owner. Different systems allow the cooler to be hauled without taking up valuable storage space while also deterring theft, which has been a hallmark issue for top-of-the-line coolers in the past.
“Being nominated [Best of Western Horseman] is an honor but also an unbelievable surprise — not because I don’t think our products deserve it, but because we’re a small, relatively new business in the outdoor living space where the competition is well-known and also make incredible products,” Brennan says.
Best of Outdoor Living Runner-Up: RTIC Outdoors
In 2014, RTIC was founded in Katy, Texas, on the belief that high-quality coolers shouldn’t cost a whole paycheck. Today, the small, experienced team has taken that good sense and applied it to a whole range of durable outdoor gear made for smart people who know a great deal when they see one. The team at RTIC personally uses the products on a daily basis, testing and improving them every day.
At RTIC, the team believes everyone deserves to enjoy the outdoors with affordable, hardworking gear they can count on. For that reason, the company makes hard coolers, drinkware and outdoor gear with three things in mind: quality, ice retention and affordability.
Best of Outdoor Living Honorable Mention: YETI
Roy and Ryan Seiders founded YETI in 2006 based on a deep love for the outdoors and the belief that if something doesn’t work, it should be fixed, and if it doesn’t exist, it should be built. Since then, they have been designing lasting products that get consumers into the outdoors.
Since those first coolers were built, they have expanded into other categories, but the approach to design hasn’t changed; they focus on quality, design for durability, and never cut corners on form or function. It’s the same philosophy they used to create their household name drinkware, soft coolers, chairs and more. The YETI slogan, “Built for the Wild,” means it’s built to last.
From hog hunts to happy hours and the backcountry to backstage, YETI products can be found all around the country and beyond.
Photograph courtesy of Bloomer Trailers.
Best of Horse Trailers Winner: Bloomer Trailers
Trustworthiness and reliability have always been at the core of Bloomer Trailers. When 34-year-old trailer dealer Randy Bloomer pitched the concept of a safer trailer to his employees, the idea was dismissed. But Randy knew his vision was worth pursuing, and he sketched the first design for a Bloomer trailer on a Denny’s napkin. Pooling their resources, he and his wife, Kim, began their own trailer company, Bloomer Trailers, in LaMarque, Texas, in 1998. They moved their company to Salado, Texas, in 2003 into a custom building fashioned after the beloved Alamo.
In 2008, Bloomer Trailers began the Bloomer Youth Team, assisting hundreds of youth rodeo athletes to undergo interview training and acquire scholarships. In 2009, Bloomer Trailers became the Official Trailer of the Texas High School Rodeo Association; every year, a trailer is built to raffle off, with proceeds going directly to THSRA athletes.
Bloomer Trailers offers desirable features, such as LED loading lights, Dexter Airflex Air Ride Suspension and spin-balanced premium tires. With a Bloomer trailer, customers can feel comfortable and safe.
Best of Horse Trailers Runner-Up: Elite Trailers
Elite Trailers was founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1995 and quickly became a fixture in the horse and livestock trailer industry by meeting the diverse needs of their customers. With a passion for production and a keen understanding of the demands of modern transportation, they’re committed to providing top-of-the-line aluminum trailers.
Each trailer is designed and built using the highest quality materials and cutting-edge technology to ensure exceptional performance and durability.
“Many of our customers won’t haul anything but an Elite Trailer after their first one,” says Robert Peliti, a sales representative for Elite Trailers. “A lot of machine work goes into our trailers. I tell people it’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, and each piece holds the other in place. When it comes to our structure, and it’s time to weld, we have a joint — rather than a gap — to fill. Overall, it makes the trailer stronger the way the trailer locks together.”
Specializing in custom trailers and utilizing the best materials and manufacturing processes, Elite Trailers has established an earned reputation for excellence through its innovative designs and attention to detail.
Best of Horse Trailers Honorable Mention: Platinum Trailers
Since 2001, Platinum Manufacturing has been building “custom” all-aluminum trailers. Their motto is, “If you can dream it, we can build it.” They take pride in building the strongest trailer available on the market today. With two of the four owners being engineers, the structure is at the core of all Platinum’s decisions.
The other two partners have been in the trailer distributing, marketing and manufacturing business for more than three decades, and Platinum Manufacturing strives to have the most responsive, competent customer service team in the industry.
Photograph courtesy of John Deere.
Best of Equipment Winner: John Deere
Deere & Company, owner of John Deere, is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, turf, construction and forestry equipment. Their technology-enabled products are just some of the ways they help meet the world’s increasing need for food, shelter and infrastructure.
“John Deere fit his first horseshoe more than 184 years ago, and we’ve been proud to support the equine industry ever since,” John Deere Public Relations Manager Darius Lane says.
Best of Equipment Runner-Up: Priefert
Before Smarty entered the arena, Heel-O-Matic took center stage for building training equipment primarily for ropers.
Born in 2012, Smarty adopted the slogan, “Train like a pro,” and has stuck to those roots for the last 12 years. Now more than just roping dummies, Smarty offers training equipment for bull doggers and even bronc riding. Adding even more value for their customers, Smarty now offers a line of Western saddles. As the owner of Elite Custom Saddles, Smarty gives customers the opportunity to build their own saddles. It’s just one more way they help athletes get rodeo-ready.
“We’re honored to be chosen by Western Horseman readers; it means that our passion for creating these products is paying off,” says Amanda Shaffer, vice president of business development for Smarty Rodeo. “The work that we put in every day is to make sure that we’re a brand people can always rely on.”
Best of Equipment Honorable Mention: Big Ass Fans
For more than 25 years, Big Ass Fans has been innovating with industry-leading fans, coolers and heaters — powered by an uncompromising obsession with precision engineering and eye-popping design.
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