Womack Ranch: A Family’s Journey to Raising American Shorthorn Beef in Texas
Nestled in the Blackjack community near Troup, Texas, Womack Ranch is home to Aaron and Kate Womack, who have built a thriving business raising and selling American Shorthorn beef.
Originally hailing from Wyoming and South Dakota, the couple met in Colorado, where they were both working at the time.
“We met at the church we had both attended for a while. It was not that big of a church, but for some reason, we had never met,” Kate shared, reflecting on how mutual friends introduced them.
Building a Herd and Embracing Texas Ranch Life
Five years ago, the Womacks moved to Texas with their son, and soon after, another son was born, making him a native Texan.
While neither Aaron nor Kate had ever lived on a ranch before, Aaron had always loved cows, inspiring the couple to start building their herd.
“It’s harder to ranch in Colorado,” Kate explained. “In Colorado, we couldn’t keep the cows home all year because there is not enough grass.”
In Texas, however, they are able to keep the cows at home year-round, which simplifies feeding and care.
The Womacks balance their ranch work with other responsibilities—Aaron is a crew chief for the Texas Department of Transportation, and Kate works as a contract athletic trainer, providing care at sporting events for various school districts.
Despite their busy schedules, the ranch remains a central part of their lives.
Expanding Their Business Beyond Beef
At the heart of their business is their American Shorthorn beef. This breed, one of the first brought to America, was originally used for dairy but has since been crossbred for beef production.
“We only sell the American Beef Shorthorn,” Kate said, explaining that they package and sell the beef directly to the public, with the butchering and packaging handled by Mineola Packing Company.
In addition to selling beef, the Womacks have expanded into producing tallow, which they process from the leaf fat of their cattle.
Kate explained, “It can be used for cooking, baking, and as a base for skincare products.” While simple, the process of rendering tallow is time-consuming, involving several cycles of simmering and straining until it becomes pure.
Community Connections and the Growth of Cow Lick
Though the ranch’s primary business is beef, the family also raises goats, pigs, and chickens for their own personal use. They’ve found ways to connect with their community, marketing their beef and tallow through social media and at local farmers’ markets.
Under the name “Cow Lick,” they sell not only their beef but also tallow-based products like soap and beard balm.
Reflecting on their journey, Kate described their move to Texas as a “God thing,” adding, “We were looking for a two-bedroom house and found this one with three bedrooms and an extra home on the property.”
That extra home became an Airbnb for a time before they eventually converted it for storage and tallow processing.
Today, Womack Ranch continues to grow, offering high-quality beef while remaining a family-run operation grounded in its values. For those interested in their products, information is available on their Facebook page or by contacting Kate directly.
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