Craig and Linda Dorrance’s story is one that stretches from the roots of American history all the way to the heart of Texas ranching. Married in Garland, Texas, in 1978, the couple moved to New Braunfels in 1979 and built their Pepper D Ranch in Seguin, Texas.
Craig and Linda’s heritage is a tapestry of notable figures. He’s a descendant of William Bradford, a Mayflower passenger and signatory of the Mayflower Compact. Linda’s great-grandfather (seven generations back) Andrew Kent was one of the “Immortal 32” who defended and died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Craig’s own ranching journey began later in life. Craig had a 30 year career as an insurance adjuster and Linda was a Registered Nurse (RN) for 50 years. Craig took up team roping at 37 and began raising Corriente cattle in the 1990s. They where involved in the North American Corriente Association as well as the Texas Corriente Cattle Association for years.
In 2014, a meeting at the Texas Cattle Raisers Association conference piqued his interest in Wagyu. There, he met Jim Long, Larry Tebben, and Dennis Kuempel where they were manning the Texas Wagyu Association booth. By 2016, Ralph Lee had convinced him to attend the TWA Steaks Are High Spring Sale. Two months later they bought their first two Wagyu cows from Bubba Kay.
Since then, Craig and Linda have grown a herd of about 30 Wagyu cattle through the use of artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET). They’re also members of the Australian Wagyu Association, and their Pepper D Ranch even made an appearance in the 2006 documentary “The Truth Be Tolled” about Texas toll roads. Alongside all this, the Dorrance’s are proud parents of three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren (working on the eighth now) building a legacy that blends deep heritage with a passion for exceptional cattle.