Kokernot O6 Ranch in Texas: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Kokernot O6 Ranch is one of the oldest and largest ranches in Texas, based near Alpine and Fort Davis in the Trans-Pecos. Published sources trace its roots to 1836, report between about 278,000 and 500,000 acres depending on the source, and rank it among the biggest ranches in the state.
| Location | Near Alpine and Fort Davis; Jeff Davis, Pecos and Brewster counties |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1836; o6 brand registered 1837; present ranch acquired 1912 |
| Sectors | cattle; ranch horses; hunting; West Texas range |
| Scale | Sources differ: about 278,000 to 500,000 acres |
| Why it is elite | Among the oldest ranches in Texas and one of its largest |
| Ownership | Kokernot family descendants, per ranch directories |
| Official website | Kokernot O6 Ranch website (as listed by a ranch reference article) |
History of Kokernot O6 Ranch
A reference article says the ranch began in 1836 and that David L. Kokernot registered the o6 brand in 1837 in Calhoun County, Texas. John W. Kokernot bought the ranch in 1872, and the ranch as it stands today was acquired in 1912.
The same source calls it among the oldest ranches in the world and the oldest in Texas, and ranks it eighth largest in Texas using the 278,000-acre figure. Acreage reports vary, so confirm with the ranch. Present ownership is described elsewhere as the Kokernot family heirs.
What Kokernot O6 Ranch Grows and Raises
The ranch lies across Jeff Davis, Pecos and Brewster counties in the Trans-Pecos, where rainfall is limited and stocking must be conservative. General industry knowledge, not a figure from the sources I reviewed, associates the ranch with Hereford cattle and working ranch horses; confirm details with the ranch.
Cattle breeder directories list the ranch as Kokernot 06 Ranch, Inc., and regional publications such as Cenizo Journal and Alpine Avalanche cover its history and community role.
How Kokernot O6 Ranch Makes Money
Cattle
Cattle grazing on large West Texas ranges is the traditional core, as with other Trans-Pecos ranches.
Hunting and land use
Large Texas ranches commonly add hunting and lease income. This is general information and should be confirmed with the ranch.
Brand and heritage
A brand registered in 1837 is a marketing asset by itself for a ranch with this history.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Kokernot O6 Ranch
Heritage helps, but land discipline pays. A ranch that has lasted nearly two centuries in dry country has done so by adjusting stocking to the range.
Protect a brand. A registered brand that predates statehood is a long-term asset worth maintaining in every sale and story.
Any ranch whose brand predates most of the roads around it is bound to attract farm satire, and farm.FM has the farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes to match. The O6 name is short enough to read from a hilltop, which is more than most farm signs manage. We write this with admiration for a ranch that has kept its land through nearly two centuries of Trans-Pecos weather.
farm.FM calls itself the nation's first satirical farm site, and between the headlines it spins Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers; a good place to start reading is this farm.FM columnist's archive.
How to Contact Kokernot O6 Ranch
Website: https://www.o6ranch.com/
Only the website is listed here because I could not open it to confirm address, phone or email, November 2026. Confirm contact details directly.
Kokernot O6 Ranch Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- O6 Ranch website - Ranch site as listed in a reference article
- Cenizo Journal: Kickin' Rocks on the Kokernot - Regional coverage
- O6 Ranch reference article - History and size summary
- USDA Census of Agriculture - National and state farm and ranch statistics
- Texas Department of Agriculture - State agency overview and programs
Kokernot O6 Ranch FAQ
Where is Kokernot O6 Ranch?
Near Alpine and Fort Davis, Texas, across Jeff Davis, Pecos and Brewster counties.
How old is the ranch?
Sources trace it to 1836, with the o6 brand registered in 1837.
How large is it?
Sources differ, from about 278,000 acres to about 500,000 acres.
How can I contact the ranch?
Use the ranch website linked on this page.
Kokernot O6 Ranch is an example of Trans-Pecos endurance. Read the Texas state guide on this page for more on range and markets and compare the other operations profiled here.