Elkanah Ranch
Elkanah Ranch was founded in Gatesville Texas by Liz and Jeff Spooner in 2007. The ranch initially raised registered AQHA horses bred for ranch work. As we got older we worked less with the horse and began concentrating on raising registered Longhorn cattle.
In 2015 Liz retired from the US Army and accepted a position with OU Tulsa as Chief of their Peninatal Department. Because of this the ranch in Gatesville was sold and was moved to the Tulsa Oklahoma area. In 2017 we purchased additional land in Grandview Texas and in 2018 totally moved the ranch to the new location. This ranch adventure is a labor of love and has truly been a blessing from God. We strive to keep that in mind and provide quality cattle at a reasonable price anyone can afford. We still do select horse / rider training as well. |
Liz Spooner
Liz grew up on a dairy farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She graduated from UVa and then the Medical College of Virginia. After a residency in Ob/Gyn and practicing for a few years she completed a fellowship in Maternal/Fetal Medicine.
She served as a Colonel in the U.S. Army retiring in 2015 after a distinguished career. Currently, she is a professor and MFM doctor with OU in Tulsa. Her medical expertise is essential in maintaining the health of the herd, especially the brood mares and newborn foals. A truly remarkable woman, she has personally saved women, babies, mares, and foals (and Spoon) who would have perished without her help. |
Jeff Spooner
"Spooner" / "Spoon" (he answers to most anything) was born in Arizona where he spent most of his formative years. He moved with his family to Virginia where he graduated high school and then from Radford University with a degree in Criminal Justice. He spent many years in law enforcement in Virginia handling canines and training canine teams. Toward the end of his career Jeff was the Chief Training Officer in charge of all basic training schools for a regional police academy. He and his canine Marko were the first recipients of the Virginia Police Work Dog Association's Award of Valor. Jeff was declared an expert in canines by the Circuit Court of Montgomery County and affirmed by the State Appeals Court. In 2015 he completed OSU’s Master Cattleman Course. In 2019 he graduated from Newburgh Theological Seminary with a PhD in Biblical Studies.
He has studied horses under many different clinicians, most notably Buck Brannaman and the late, great Ray Hunt. He has worked on ranches in Virginia, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Wyoming and Texas. He takes care of the day to day operations at Elkanah Ranch as well as shoeing horses, feeding the critters, watching the grass grow, and enjoying fine cigars and whiskey.
He has studied horses under many different clinicians, most notably Buck Brannaman and the late, great Ray Hunt. He has worked on ranches in Virginia, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Wyoming and Texas. He takes care of the day to day operations at Elkanah Ranch as well as shoeing horses, feeding the critters, watching the grass grow, and enjoying fine cigars and whiskey.
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BESSIE - Bessie is a blue healer that came to us from Fuzzy Friends Rescue in Waco Texas. Formerly in charge of chaos, confusion, and disorder she now is Spoon's shop dog. Highlights of her day are sitting in a lap and sleeping. After a few years of declining health Bessie was sent to heaven in February of 2018. Cowboys don’t cry but every now and then Spoon seems to get a speck of dirt in his eyes.
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MIA ("Mierda" It's Spanish. Look it up.)
Mia is a full blooded AKC German Shepherd. She came to Elkanah Ranch straight from the Walmart parking lot at Liz's pleading during a weak moment in Spoon’s life. Her job at Elkanah Ranch is as of yet undefined (but "by God she better be on the payroll soon!" - JWS).
2018 - Mia has matured into a lovable lug of a dog. She still keep Spooner aggravated but does listen well (and sometimes even obeys).
2018 - Mia has matured into a lovable lug of a dog. She still keep Spooner aggravated but does listen well (and sometimes even obeys).
Helen and Stevie
Helen (yellow kitten) and Stevie (black kitten) were unintentionally adopted as orphans at three days old when their mother escaped while Spooner was forced to try to relocate them. They survived being bottle fed and now provide enjoyment and frustration with their antics. Helen specializes in intimidating visitors while Stevie enjoys fetching and playing with ice cubes.
Jake - Jake joined the family in early 2019 as a puppy. He is wild and crazy. He spends his days tormentIng Liz and Mia and loving Spoon to death.
Contact Information
To contact us please send an email to: JSpooner@elkanahranch.com; or call us at: 254-383-4651.
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