History
Where It All Began . . .
Campwood Cattle Company was founded when Swayze and Kathy McCraine purchased the 7 Up Ranch north of Prescott, Arizona, in 1999. The McCraines had previously owned and operated several ranches in Arizona, as well as in Mississippi and Florida. In 2010 they brought KJ Kasun in as a partner in Campwood with the purpose of expanding the ranching operation.
At the time they were running 300 cows, and a small herd of five broodmares and a stud. Since then the company has grown to 1,200 mother cows, 1,000 stockers, 20 broodmares and three studs. Three other ranches have been added to the enterprise, Howard Mesa Cattle Company at Williams (which has since been sold), the Kate at Skull Valley, and the TT’s at New River.
Campwood has been heavily involved in feeding cattle for the past six years, backgrounding weaned calves in their grow yard at the TT’s, leasing pasture in Oklahoma to run stockers, and feeding cattle in an Oklahoma feedyard. Campwood is also a GAP (Global Animal Partnership) producer, which uses independent, third party verification to audit ranches for animal welfare, drug use, and feed and pasture quality. This all natural program enables them to receive a premium for their product.
The horse program at Campwood has also greatly expanded. Early on, they realized the importance of raising horses that could stand up to the rugged terrain on the 7 Up. The broodmares are run in rough malpai rock country where the colts grow up rock-footed and wise to the ways of the range. All the young horses are used in every aspect of traditional ranch work. Their horses, which pack the Wagon Bow brand, are also bred for performance, and with their expanded training program, are making a name for Campwood in the arena as well.
Although Swayze passed away in 2020, we remain dedicated to carrying on and expanding the Campwood legacy which began over 20 years ago.
Kathy McCraine
Kathy McCraine grew up on a ranch in Arizona and has been involved with ranching, writing about it, and photographing it all of her life. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Journalism, she wrote for and edited several livestock and horse publications, then founded one of the first advertising agencies in the country to specialize in livestock.
Kathy met her husband, Swayze McCraine, in San Antonio, Texas, where she was editor of the International Brangus Journal and he was managing a large Brangus operation. After their marriage in 1976, they ranched in Mississippi, Florida, and ultimately Arizona, where they operated several ranches prior to buying the 7 Up Ranch.
Kathy also competed in barrel racing and cutting. She was instrumental in putting together the original foundation mares in the Campwood horse program.
Kathy has published several books, and her freelance articles have appeared in such magazines as Western Horseman, Arizona Highways, Range, Cowboys & Indians, and Ranch & Reata. Her photographs have been exhibited in shows at the Phippen Museum of Western Art, Desert Caballeros Museum, and Trappings of the American West.
KJ Kasun
Born and raised in Prescott, KJ Kasun’s lifelong dream was to run a large cattle and horse operation. He realized that dream when he came on board as a partner in Campwood Cattle Company in 2010.
Prior to moving back to Arizona, he trained and showed cutting horses in Texas, where he also ran a stocker/yearling operation for several years.
He was a highly successful horse trainer, being a finalist or champion in multiple Limited Age Events in the National Cutting Horse Association, as well as racking up winnings in the American Quarter Horse Association and various major roping events.
At Campwood, he has not only been instrumental in expanding the cattle operation but also in turning the horse program into a nationally recognized operation. Mounted on Campwood horses, KJ has been to the finals in the Working Ranch Cowboys Association and is a Turquoise Circuit finalist in steer roping.
He’s also been a mentor to all the kids growing up on the ranch, who are top competitors, dominating the state Junior and High School Rodeo competitions every year on Campwood horses.