Hey there, Connor McCauley here—
I’m married into a fifth-generation Texas ranch. I didn’t grow up in this life—I actually used to work on a ski mountain in Colorado. So these stories? They come from the perspective of a mountain guy learning the ropes of ranch life.
Watch This Weeks Newsletter
First—A Quick Memorial Day Recap
Memorial Day week was massive for us. We hit the most sales we’ve ever made in a single week. That’s not just exciting—it’s humbling. We’ve seen an explosion in new customers who are not only enjoying some of the best beef out there (better than any steakhouse, in our opinion), but who are also investing in the future of a real Texas ranch.
You're helping push a fifth-generation ranch into the sixth—and that means more to us than you know.
From everyone here at TriTails, thank you.
Ranch Update: Rain, Hay, and a Hint of Gold
We’ve had a whole lot of rain lately—and we’re not complaining. That hay we planted in our last YouTube video? It's looking lush and full. If you haven’t seen that video, check it out on our site (or scroll back to the last newsletter). It’s always fun watching something grow from dirt to pasture.
Our wheat’s doing pretty good too. We did take about 20% hail damage, but all in all, it’s shaping up to be a solid crop. That classic golden color is starting to show, and if we get a few dry weeks, we’ll be in business.
Up next? We’re planting our Milo—also known as sorghum, which is a key part of what we feed our cattle. With the rain and the conditions lately, it’s lining up just right. There will definitely be a video on that soon—so stay tuned!
This Week’s Adventure: Cowboys, Canyons, and One Wild Zipline
Okay, now onto the fun stuff.
Besides filling orders (thank you again for the job security), I carved out a little time for a hike this week—and brought the camera along so you could come too.
We started down at a 100-year-old cowboy shack tucked away on the ranch. It’s actually recognized by the Texas Historical Commission. Standing there, you can feel the past. Old remnants are scattered all around—rusty bed frames, wood stoves, ancient tobacco tins, empty beer bottles. It’s like walking through time.
From there, we followed the edge of the second-largest canyon in America. (Yes, that’s right—Texas does everything big.) The views were unreal. Turkey vultures were gliding overhead—just cruising, not circling anything—and the canyon stretched for miles. Cattle below, wind in the cliffs, ancient layers of earth telling stories of their own.
And while we’re on the subject of stories… every now and then we get some interesting online comments. Some folks assume we’re just “trust fund cowboys” or throw around terms like “privilege” without knowing the first thing about this life.
But here’s the thing: yes, we are privileged. Privileged to work the land our family has fought to hold onto. But with that comes responsibility—and hard work. Not just from us, but from generations before. Keeping a ranch like this alive takes everything you’ve got.
Anyway, I talk more about that in the video. It’s worth checking out.
The 100-Year-Old Zipline
At the end of the hike, we found it—what I’ve been calling the 100-year-old zipline.
It’s not really a zipline, though—it’s a trolley system. A century ago, before there were roads into the canyon, a cowboy would live down there full-time with the cattle. To keep him supplied, our family ran a steel cable from the top of the canyon down nearly 1,000 feet. Feed, tools, whatever he needed—it all traveled down that line.
Today, the cable’s still there. It doesn’t work anymore, and it just lies quiet along the ground. But it’s a powerful reminder of the grit and creativity it took to run cattle in a canyon before anything close to modern roads.
And we still run cattle in the canyon today. Why? Because it’s protected from wind and it’s about 10 degrees warmer down there than it is up top. That makes a big difference when the cold rolls in.
Back then, the only way in or out was on a dirt road–Bull Trail—and some days, not much has changed.
Wrapping It Up
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this story, we’d be grateful if you shared it—or the YouTube video—with someone who loves history, beef, or a little behind-the-scenes peek at ranch life.
Every view, every read, every shared post helps keep this place alive and lets more folks know that real ranching still exists.
It takes a lot to produce these videos and newsletters—long hours, editing late at night, and filming between working cattle and packing orders—but we do it because we believe in what we’re doing. And because you keep showing up.
We actually pray over every box we send out. Mary—the matriarch of the ranch—prays for every single order. That’s not a line. That’s real life out here.
We are so blessed. And we’re so grateful to have you with us.
Talk soon,
Connor
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