King Ranch, ‘The Birthplace of American Ranching,’ was founded in 1853 by Capt. Richard King, a steamboat captain who had come to Texas in 1846 during the Mexican/American War and had piloted steamboats up and down the Rio Grande for the U.S. Army. On a trip from Brownsville, Texas, to Corpus Christi, King spotted a small rise overlooking Santa Gertrudis Creek, on the Coastal Plains near Corpus Christi, and thought to himself that this would be an ideal location for a ranch. He had ridden more than 150 miles from Brownsville, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, across millions of acres of nothing but grass and a few live oak trees, and this was the first fresh water he had found. Capt. King soon began buying land in the area, the first parcel of which was the 15,500-acre Rincon de Santa Gertrudis. The next year, 1854, he purchased the larger 53,000-acre Spanish land grant Santa Gertrudis de la Garza. These two land grants became the nucleus of what is known today as King Ranch.

Saddles, trophies, buckles, cash, and so much more is on the line at the Arizona Fall Championship. PLUS, our Prize Patrol outdoes itself every year dreaming up more fun, challenging, surprising, and sometimes down-right whacky givaways.

Plan for 2019, because the 2019 Arizona Fall Championship Show is scheduled for September 18-22. Judges: Jessica Gilliam Brett Clark Will Knabenshue Leonard Berryhill Becky Schooler Chris Jones Bill Enk Chris Benedict Gary Reynolds Steve Brown Allen Mitchells Greg Hale Click here for more details.

Showmanship
AQHA Professional Horsewoman Tami McAllister
9 a.m., Monday, August 26
Watt Arena

Horsemanship
AQHA Professional Horseman Terry Cross
9:30 a.m., Monday, August 26
Watt Arena

Trail
AQHA Professional Horsewoman Patty Campbell
5 p.m., Tuesday, August 27
Outdoor Covered Arena