The Tongue River Ranch

The Tongue River Ranch is dedicated to restoring the traditions of ranching. The chuck wagon, which is pulled by a team of mules, rolls out twice a year for roundup. Cowboys stay out at the wagon during roundup and perform most of their day-to-day duties horseback.

The Ranch currently has approximately 70 broodmares with some of the best bloodlines in the country. These mares are bred every year to top quarter horse stallions and produce some of the best working horses in the country.

Tongue River Ranch currently has 1,400 cows running on 89,000 acres in Texas. Known for their heartiness and good mothering, cattle raised on this ranch which are Angus/Hereford bred, are perfect for feeder operations or replacement cattle to add vigor. TRR Texas takes in an additional 1,200 yearlings a year, and TRR New Mexico runs 2,000 yearlings a year.

In 1898 Eric and Albin Swenson, the sons of S. M. Swenson of the SMS Ranches, purchased the 79,000 acre Scab 8 Ranch. The ranch was located in the excellent ranch country of King, Cottle, Motley and Dickens counties. The brothers renamed it Tongue River Ranch (TRR) because of its location on the Tongue (South Pease) River, aptly named in reference to black tongue, a nineteenth century disease which wiped out many buffalo in the region. Folklore also states that the many different Indian tribes in the area nicknamed the river “River of Many Tongues” which was later shortened to Tongue River.

Present day owner, Millard Morris purchased Tongue River at its current size of 89,000 acres in 1997, and added the New Mexico division in 2005. In 2007, the 30,000 acre Big Baldy Ranch was added to the New Mexico division. Over the past eleven years, Mr. Morris has focused on preserving the heritage of the ranch while making many improvements. This includes a revitalization of headquarters and a state-of-the art horse facility.

Wagon Boss is Tom Moorhouse, and cowboys are Charles Neskorik, Stoney Jones, Ty Smith, Ryan Rankin, and Rick Kieschnick at the Texas ranch, and Glen Bruton at the New Mexico ranch.

You can get more information at their website by clicking HERE.