Our Story

The Cochran/Williams Family  

The Washita Valley Cattle Company is primarily located on the banks of the Washita River in southern Oklahoma at Pauls Valley. This is the spot where E. E. Cochran first located this family in 1904. Emory and Mary Elizabeth raised 11 of 15 children with the family farm being the sole source of income all those years ago. James was the 8th child born to the Cochran’s and had to take up the mantel of parenting when his mother died in 1935. James stayed home to help father raise the younger siblings. When Emory passed in 1961, James and Jean Cochran moved into the home. His father passed the farm on to James for working hard to put his brothers and sisters through college, for the most part at Oklahoma State University. James married Phyllis “Jean” in 1960 and had two daughters Carolyn and Angie. They both graduated from OSU as well, Angie Stolper in Accounting and Carolyn became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Carolyn married John Williams in 1989, and have three sons, James married to Madeleine, Jonathan (Jonny), and Jacob Williams. Jacob now lives in the family homestead as the 4th generation to live and work on the farm. His brother Jonny has a deep interest in the cattle business and helps out when he can. John, James, Madeleine and Jonny are all OSU Alum as well. Jacob decided at a young age he wanted to pursue farming with his Mom and Dad who were currently taking care of things for Jean since James’ passing in 2005. Carolyn still practices Vet Med at her business, Williamsburg Small Animal Hospital and John has retired from his career to help run the Ranch. 

In 2017, John approached longtime family friend, Michael Roberts, to discuss making a business partnership between the Williams Ranch and the Roberts Ranch to form The Washita Valley Cattle Company. While they were making plans John contacted Brad Schumacher another close relationship, to join the venture. Since that time the operation has continued to grow and is providing high quality Black Angus cattle to the industry.

INSERT ROBERTS FAMILY INFO

The Schumacher Family

John, Michael, and Brad all worked together for a Fortune 500 company. In 2016, John and Brad both retired at the end of the year together.  After retirement , John approached Brad with an investment opportunity to join Michael and John in the Washita Valley Cattle Company. 

Both sides of Brad’s families homesteaded in Western Kansas in the mid 1800’s and became multigenerational grain farmers. 

Brad is a graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing.  Sarah is a graduate from the University of Kansas with an undergraduate and Masters Degree in Education.