A Legacy of Excellence

If leaving a positive influence on others is the true measure of a legacy, then cattleman Doug Bennett left an undeniable legacy.

Enamored by his peers, respected by commercial cattlemen and idolized by those he mentored, Bennett was a trailblazer during his more than five decades of breeding and showing cattle.

“His influence remains profound even after his passing,” son Randy Bennett told WLJ. “He was a cowman’s cowman.”

The late Douglas (Doug) D. Bennett of Echo, OR, whom the industry lost in August 2024, left a legacy few people can attest to. Raised in the registered Shorthorn business in eastern Washington, he took the lessons learned from his father’s astute cattle knowledge, added a master’s degree in animal science from Washington State University in the late 1960s and his experience as a livestock judging coach to become a master cattle evaluator and marketer.

Stone Hereford Ranch

“Dad’s achievements stemmed from his generational passion for cattle rooted in my granddad, J.W., but it was managing Stone Hereford Ranch where he really cut his teeth in the industry,” Randy Bennett said.

Beginning in 1967, Bennett shaped Stone Hereford Ranch in Hermiston, OR, into one of the premier Hereford operations, marketing bulls and females through production sales and in the show ring. He acquired much of the original herd from TT Herefords, Harold Thompson, Connell, WA. As a visionary, he utilized total performance records to develop young sires, testing them in Stone’s commercial herd and retrieving feedlot and carcass data, before these measurements were demanded by the industry.

Joining Bennett at Stone Herefords was then 21-year-old herdsman Denny Hoffman from neighboring Redmond, OR. Hoffman prepared the cattle for the full circle of Register of Merit (ROM) shows to great success and exhibited two Grand Champion carloads (1973 and 1976) at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO.

“The show ring played a big part in the industry at that time, cattle were evaluated heavily on visual appraisal, as tools like EPDs did not exist,” Hoffman told WLJ. Stone Hereford’s cattle type was distinct, showcasing size, length and capacity—traits that were sometimes polarizing in competitions. After leaving Stone Hereford, Hoffman drew on his show experience serving a 17-year tenure in fair management. He now owns and operates Hoffman Herefords, with his family near Thedford, NE.

Stone Hereford’s bull Royal Saint won four ROM shows in 1971 and 1972, selling for $30,000 for 3/4 interest to John Mecham, owner of the New Orleans Saints. His sire, The General, was a changemaker, adding in performance and growth and represented the direction of the Stone Hereford program. Bennett’s insight to cross the Mark Donald cattle he had developed with the Line Ones carved a path for the herd and was led by the acquisition of CL1 Dominio 8015. The Mark Donald-Line One cross had a tremendous influence on the industry and drove interest nationwide to their annual production sale offerings of 100 bulls.

With owner Howard Stone’s retirement, the ranch’s success culminated in a record-breaking dispersal sale in 1976, where 304 bulls and 987 females sold for $2.2 million—a figure still unmatched today. SR Big Arthur H201 set a world record, selling for $160,000 for 1/2 interest and sold to famous actor John Wayne and Louis Johnson of 26 Bar Ranch in Arizona. 

“While the dispersal marked the end of an era, it underscored the ranch’s exceptional legacy,” Hoffman said.

Bob Harrell, Jr., recalls the influence Stone Hereford’s genetics had on his family’s herd. Much of the original herd from Harrell Herefords Ranch in Baker City, OR, came from TT Herefords, where Bennett and his brother, Bill, sourced many of the cattle to start the Stone operation. As runner-up bidders on Big Arthur, the Harrells went on to purchase 50 females in the dispersal.

“Those bloodlines were a major turning point for us and had a lasting impact on our operation,” Harrell told WLJ. “It wasn’t easy—I remember family discussions about how to raise enough money to make it happen—but it was worth it.” Harrell Herefords was recognized as the 2009 Seedstock Producer of the Year by the Beef Improvement Federation, one of the industry’s most esteemed awards.

Bennett was not only a master breeder, but a leader. Hoffman said, “We rode for the brand,” describing the deep commitment to the cattle, the ranch’s mission and to Bennett. Today, “The way I approach breeding, believing in, and promoting our family’s cattle—staying committed to the brand—was deeply influenced by Doug’s example,” Hoffman said. “He showed us the value of dedication and sacrifice to get the job done.”

After the dispersal, Bennett and his brother, Don, purchased Stone Hereford Ranch, renaming it Oregon Hereford Ranch.

Lone Star Hereford Ranch

In 1979, Bennett teamed up with Sam Friedman to establish Lone Star Hereford Ranch in Texas, quickly solidifying its reputation in the cattle industry. Lone Star made an impressive debut, capturing two Grand Champion bull titles at the National Western Stock Show, along with seven Grand Champion carloads and two Reserve Grand Champion carloads. Winning the carloads was a feat as multiple ranches vied for the top prize with 30-40 carloads in contention.

Unique to Lone Star, their carload entries featured bulls which had already sold in their November production sale, creating a thrilling atmosphere for new owners who traveled to Denver to cheer on their purchases, and further enhancing excitement around the bull sale.

Bennett’s knack for spotting talent led him to recruit two more young herdsmen who shared his passion for cattle. Mark McClintock, now residing in San Angelo, TX, joined Lone Star in 1979 and was eager to bring home show banners. Under Bennett’s guidance, McClintock honed his skills in both showing cattle and managing breeding operations for three years.

“I was like a sponge; I wanted to soak up as much as I could from Doug’s knowledge and experience,” he reflected, acknowledging Bennett’s willingness to also consider his ideas. “He pushed me to be better and provided direction in a mentoring way,” he added.

For Jim Williams, who worked with Bennett for four and a half years, the experience became one of his life’s greatest treasures.

“It turned into a lifelong friendship. Doug was one of those rare people you continued to learn from, even after you moved on. I could call him anytime, share my challenges and he would always offer valuable insights.” Today, Williams lives in Kearney, NE, and remains very active in the Hereford breed and beef industry.  

Both McClintock and Williams learned about the value of the cow. “He would always say, ‘It’s all about the cow,’” noted McClintock. Williams echoed, “Doug said protect your breadbasket,” referring to the importance of keeping control of your producing females as they are the foundation of your herd’s genetics. Bennett demonstrated to McClintock and Williams how important it was to find those female lines that could consistently produce herd bulls and replicate them through genetic work. “We did a ton of embryo transfer work,” Williams said, “but it all reinforced the need for precision in breeding.”

Lonestar Hereford Ranch was among the pioneers in practices such as ultrasound technology for carcass traits. Their successful sales included Star Mark 300C ($175,000, 1/2 interest), Star Mark Donald ET ($50,000, 1/2 interest) and Star Domino 288D (Denver Grand Champion, $225,000). Lonestar’s 335F became one of ABS’s top-selling semen/certificate bulls, exceeding a million dollars in sales.

Bennett tirelessly fostered relationships across the industry, making calls, traveling to see customers and building connections—from Louisiana to Oregon. His efforts resulted in loyalty from esteemed large commercial operations, including the 6666 Ranch and W.T. Waggoner Ranch, which purchased numerous bulls.  

Guiding the future

Bennett’s cattle ability was exceptional, but the impact he left on the people was undeniable. Hoffman and Harrell followed in his footsteps, selected by their peers to the American Hereford Association (AHA) Hall of Fame in 2019 and 2021 respectively, while McClintock was inducted into the 2023 Hall of Merit as well as named 1981 AHA Herdsman of the Year. Hoffman, Harrell and now Williams have served on the AHA Board of Directors, continuing devotion to the breed initiated by Bennett.

The lessons learned from those he mentored live on forever—lessons of hard work, precise decision-making, the value of character, integrity and kindness. His marketing prowess and ability to teach through action and challenge pushed those around him to excel. “His fast-paced, engaging style inspired my marketing success and left a lasting impact on my ability to connect with others,” Williams said.

McClintock shared, “I didn’t realize at the time how much influence he had on me; I was only 27 years old. I realize now I was at the right place at the right time.” Afterward, McClintock and his wife successfully managed Rocking Chair Herefords of Texas for 29 years, with McClintock attributing his confidence in that role to the insights gained from Bennett.

Also, under Bennett’s direction, Stone Hereford Ranch became the site for the All-American Hereford Field Day and later Lone Star Herefords hosted numerous junior field days in Texas, where hundreds of FFA and 4-H participants engaged in judging contests and leadership activities each summer.

Bennett was a great person, Hoffman said. “He taught me the value of productive cattle, effective communication and thoughtful breeding emphasizing structure. Every day was about improving the cattle and the operation, striving for excellence with what we believed were some of the best cattle in the country.”

Today, Hoffman is passing many of these lessons down to his family and grandchildren and has successfully raised and bred several national champions in the Hereford show ring along with having some of the industry’s top averaging bull and female sales.

In 1998, Bennett returned to Oregon Hereford Ranch, where he raised Herefords, Angus and operated a feedlot backgrounding program alongside his brother, Don. Even as he gradually slowed down into retirement, he remained active in conversations about cattle.

“I miss that phone call from Dad; he helped me with my cow herd breeding decisions every year,” shared Randy Bennett, a veterinarian in Texas.

Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Randy added, “Dad—Doug Bennett—had a huge impact on the people that walked with him in his endeavors. His whole life was the cattle business.”