In 1876, long on land and short on cash, the Lone Star State set aside 3,050,000 acres in its Panhandle to trade for a new capitol building. A Chicago syndicate led by merchant John V. Farwell and his brother Senator Charles B. Farwell began the construction of the unrivaled red-granite capitol in Austin. With the deed to three-million acres in hand, the Farwell brothers created the Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Company, Limited and turned to England to borrow five million dollars to develop the raw, wild Texas land into the largest cattle ranch under one fence in the world. The Farwell brothers began selling land to repay British bondholders in the early 1900’s. Land sales were made to outfits such as the Matador, the LIT, and Reynolds. At the time the debt was repaid, the Farwell’s were left with title to one-million acres, the last of which was sold in 1963. In 2022, descendants of John V. Farwell repurchased part of the Rita Blanca division near Channing. After a 59-year slumber, the legendary brand rides into a new era with kin of the original owners running XIT branded cattle and horses on Capitol Syndicate land once again. The XIT runs commercial cattle and offers premium AmericanWagyu to select restaurant partners. The XIT believes ranch horses represent western heritage and the legacy passed down from the horsemen who pioneered our way of life. Like those who came before us, we breed American Quarter horses that are hardy, conformationally correct, athletic, and have great dispositions. We believe that conformation is paramount in breeding ranch or performance horses. Correct conformation is the foundation for ability, longevity, and good movement. All XIT horses must be capable of performing all the work necessary on a working cattle ranch. Our performance horses, the best of the best, compete at the highest levels possible in NCHA and NRCHA events. The XIT horse program is anchored by 2012 NCHA Horse of the Year, Kit Kat Sugar (High Brow Cat x Sugar N Dulce by Smart Little Ricochet, LTE $240,903), whose offspring have earned more than $12 million in the show pen. Show mares come to branding to drag calves to the fire and ranch mares are ridden before entering the broodmare band. As a mare focused breeding program, the XIT plans generations in advance to breed top tier horses for the ranch and show pen. Today, the cowboys of the XIT brave snow, wind, and extreme heat in both the Texas Panhandle and the Colorado division raising beef for America, just like those who came before them. The ranch is once again feeding our great country and preserving traditions of the American West. From one man’s bootheel to the hides of cattle, the XIT brand remains a saga of the West. XIT RANCH channing, Texas • 719-890-4888 • XITRANCH.COM 22 lot 10 - Consigned by 2025 Invitational Ranch Horse Show & Sale JANUARY 18, 2025 | FT WORTH, TEXAS | JOHN JUSTIN ARENA
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