Pictured from left to right:

Vivian O’Brien
#lilPatrona

Tonni O’Brien
Owner

Sydney O’Brien
#ranchPrincess

James O’Brien
Owner

South Texas Ranching Since the 1830’s
—

The O’Brien Ranch, originally founded in 1834, continues to raise beef cattle in South Texas to this day. American Quarter Horses have also become a significant part of the family ranching business. John James O’Brien began registering “quarter horses” when the American Quarter Horse Association was formed in the early 1940’s. His son John Morgan O’Brien then began raising horses for use on the ranch which also lead to showing and marketing his ranch genetics.

The horses are used to work several herds of Brahman-type cattle on the ranch - straight grey Brahmans, F1 Tiger-striped cows, Brangus cows and a variety of commercial brahman-cross cattle.

James O’Brien, pictured above with his family, began purchasing weanling steers from the family ranch in 2016 and finishing them on grass. He became a USDA Certified Grassfed Producer in 2017 and began selling grass fed beef quarters and beef halves. Customers can still order custom quarters and halves of grassfed beef, but the small family business has evolved into primarily offering beef boxes shipped right to your doorstep - the ultimate convenience.

“It [direct-to-consumer selling] feels like a new and trending thing that we’re doing,” James said, “but I know we’re benefitting greatly from the heritage of this ranch and the knowledge gained from the six generations that went before me. We’re utilizing modern genetics and forage production practices, but we’re raising a food product together as a family and selling it to our neighbors. There is something very nostalgic and fulfilling about that.”

Recent Press

Western Horseman
Feature

Texas Farm Bureau
Profile

Beeville Bee-Picayune
Feature

J.Forks Designs
Video Podcast