Cattle

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.

who we are

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 had much success showing cattle at local, regional, and national levels growing up. He graduated from Duke University. He spent several years as a cattle clerk for Magnum Feedyard. Brady has his own commodities trading business and sells Livestock Risk Protection insurance for EastCo. Brady and his wife Jordan live in 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 graduated from Colorado State University as the first 5th generation female graduate from the same family at CSU. She and her husband Justin lived in Denver for many years, both working in the oil & gas industry. They now live in Wray, where she works remotely as a Land Analyst for Liberty Resources and Justin works as a Project Manager for energy development. They have two daughters - Kick and Poppy.

Coby extensively showed cattle as a youth and graduated from Harvard University. After college he worked as an oil trader and then a Global Account Manager for AgriWebb, an ag tech company. Coby and his wife Darcey live in New York City. Darcey is employed at a hedge fund. They have one son - Carrson.

Baylor 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 for the last five years and is certified and licensed to sell pasture and crop insurance as well. His wife Jenna Kellogg is a surgical nurse at the Wray Community District Hospital.

how it all began

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.

what we do and how we think

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!

lodging and hunting

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 more recently has been listed on HomeAway sites such as Airbnb and VRBO.

If you would like to come stay, please check it out here:

Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1315274787767565596?check_in=2025-12-15&check_out=2025-12-20&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=c8cccccd-e53b-4f18-b248-c42bf18103f7

VRBO: https://t.vrbo.io/XOnHip8muYb

Facebook: 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.

livestock and showring

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

2019 Colorado State Fair Reserve

art creations, commissions, classes

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