There’s never a dull moment at Draper Ranch, and a big reason for that is the animals who call this place home.
Some were rescued, some showed up unexpectedly, and others have become part of the family in ways we never imagined. Each has a story, a personality, and a special place here on the ranch.
Meet a few of the characters who make Draper Ranch what it is.
Tucker — The Goat Who Got a Second Chance
Tucker’s story started at a sale barn, where his future wasn’t looking too bright.
Originally belonging to a family friend, Tucker was headed for sale, with the possibility of ending up on someone’s dinner table.
We weren’t about to let that happen.
So we stepped in, rescued Tucker, and brought him home to Draper Ranch.
These days, Tucker has traded an uncertain future for a life full of attention, mischief, and plenty of personality.
He may be a goat, but around here, he’s family.
Emma — Small Dog, Big Personality
Don’t let her size fool you.
Emma is our West Highland Terrier, better known as a Westie, and she has absolutely no problem keeping up with life on a working Texas ranch.
Whether she’s exploring the property, following us around during chores, or making some very unlikely animal friendships, Emma has quickly become a familiar face around here.
She’s small, she’s fearless, and she seems to think the entire ranch belongs to her.
And honestly, she might be right.
Cheeto — The Feral Hog Who Earned Her Freedom
Of all the animals at Draper Ranch, Cheeto might have the most unbelievable story.
It started when we caught a feral hog, fitted her with a tracking device, and released her back into the wild.
But Cheeto had other plans.
Over time, she returned to our traps 17 different times, bringing along a total of 104 different feral hogs that we were able to catch and sell.
We made Cheeto a deal: help us catch 100 hogs, and she’d earn her freedom.
And she did exactly that.
After helping us catch more than 100 hogs, Cheeto officially earned her retirement from the trapping business.
Now she’s beginning a new chapter at Draper Ranch through something we’re calling Operation Domestication.
The mission? See if we can turn a wild feral hog into a friendly, permanent ranch resident.
Cheeto now has her own pen, a custom orange ear tag bearing her name, and a forever home at Draper Ranch.
From wild hog to ranch celebrity, her story is far from over.
Life at Draper Ranch
Tucker, Emma, and Cheeto are just a few of the animals that make every day here an adventure.
From raising cattle and caring for livestock to wildlife encounters and the unexpected challenges of ranch life, there’s always another story waiting to be told.
Thanks for following along and being part of the Draper Ranch family.
Real Ranch. Real Stories. Real Gear.