Membership Highlight: Craig Haythorn
As we head into the 25th Anniversary of the World Championship Ranch Rodeo, it got all of us thinking here at the office on how far WRCA has come since the very first idea of this organization, and how many people have been with us from the beginning. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who were founding members as well as those who have competed with us over the years. We appreciate all our members and what they bring to this organization and most importantly for keeping the heritage and tradition of the working ranch cowboy alive and prospering.
Looking into WRCA history we found that we have three members who have competed on a WRCA Ranch Team Card with us since 1996 who are still competing today for the same ranch for a chance to be at the 25th World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, November 12–15, 2020.
Throughout the year we are going to highlight these three individuals: Craig Haythorn of Haythorn Land and Cattle Co., Clay Timmons of Pitchfork Land and Cattle, and Newly Hutchison of the Chain Ranch. All these individuals, as well as the ranches they operate/work for, have a great history on their own but also significant ties with Working Ranch Cowboys Association.
We begin with Mr. Craig Haythorn of Haythorn Land and Cattle Co. from the Sandhills of Nebraska. Today, Craig owns and manages Haythorn Land and Cattle Company and continues to compete with his sons Sage and Cord. Craig has rodeoed since he was 9 years old and loves every aspect of ranching. Craig graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in animal business, and he now sits on the WRCA Board of Directors.
Haythorn Land and Cattle Company is located 17 miles north of Ogallala, Nebraska, and was the inaugural winner of the AQHA Best Remuda Award, and is a working ranch breeding commercial Black Angus cattle as well as foundation-bred Quarter Horses.
This year it will be 136 years since the Haythorn Land & Cattle Company was established and the family has taken great pride in preserving the rich heritage and tradition of its founding father. Whether they’re tending cattle, fixing fence, or roping and dragging calves to the branding fire, the Haythorn cowboys are proud to ride for the brand and the rolling Nebraska Sandhills that will be “home” to generations of Haythorn’s to come.
Craig stated that day-to-day life is much the same for them today as it was over a century ago. Last year was the first year in 40-plus years that they have not fed with a team and started feeding bales. Just like everyone else, they have had to make small changes because of the market. They have gone from four ranches to two over the years and they tend to do more themselves instead of having bigger crews.
In the 1996 World Championship program, there was a quote from Craig that read “You don’t have to put gas in a horse or change its oil, and they’re never too cold to start.” I read this quote to him during this interview and he started to chuckle as he explained that it was his father’s saying and that it’s the truth to this day.
Horses have played a pivotal role in the ranch’s survival ever since the beginning when 500 head were gathered by Harry Haythornthwaite (Craig’s great-grandfather) in Oregon and trailered them back to Nebraska. Since then the Haythorn name has been synonymous with good, working ranch horses. The Haythorn Ranch was the first Nebraska ranch to register Quarter Horses and in 1996 was the country’s largest breeder of the American Quarter Horse and third largest in the world. It was at this time when the Working Ranch Cowboys Association invited the Haythorn Land and Cattle Co., to come and compete at the 1st World Championship Ranch Rodeo. After that event, Craig received high honors of being awarded the very first WRCA Top Hand Award and Top Horse.
When asked about what winning the Top Hand and Top Horse in 1996 meant to him, Craig said the first thing he did after he won those awards was call home crying. He still gets a tear in his eye when he talks about receiving those awards because it meant so much and was such an honor. “Tucker” was the name of the horse and still has meaning and ties to Craig by just mentioning his name.
Since 1996, Craig has received the Top Horse Award four more times, in 1999 on “Ocean Spray”, 2005 on “Mouse”, 2007 “P.G. Shogun, and then once again in 2009 on ” Four Lil Smart”.
Craig tells a story about how in 1946 his father paid $5,000 for a mare. This mare was brought from the Browns and everyone in their area thought that he was crazy, but she was the mare that produced several outstanding horses, including “Tucker,” the 1996 World Championship Ranch Rodeo Top Horse.
In talking about the members of the 1996 team, it became evident that they weren’t just employees, they were family. Many members of that team worked for 13-plus years for the Haythorns and have gone on to have their own operations or have been called to serve in other ways and they all have become successful. Craig truly cared about each individual and wanted the best out of them when they worked for the ranch, but when they decided it was time to spread their wings he was very supportive and takes pride and joy in the fact they were great individuals and have become successful.
The Haythorn Land and Cattle WRCA ranch team looks a little different these days as Craig competes side by side with his two boys. When visiting with Craig it’s all about family and keeping the tradition and heritage of what it means to be a true “hand”, and he wouldn’t want to be competing with anyone other than his own kids. He looks forward to competing at sanctioned ranch rodeos this year and hopes that Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. can get a spot to compete at the 25th World Championship Rodeo.
