In 1882, Dan's great grandfather Gustav (Gus)  migrated from Hamburg, Germany to the Lewis-Clark Valley—just east of Walla Walla, Washington. Immigration records list Gustav as a 16 year old farmer, and he carried with him a "Wagon Wrench" shaped cattle brand.

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The shape of the brand represents the wrenches carried on covered wagons to fix broken wheels. The brand is all the more meaningful on our Walla Walla ranch today as it is located directly in line with the original Oregon Trail—just a mile or so East of Whitman Mission.  

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Gus and his wife Mary raised wheat, cattle and 8 children together. Their love of family and agriculture was passed on to their son Oscar and grandson Gene. Gene continued in the family tradition in his own way, raising cattle on his Asotin Creek ranch. Dan grew up on that ranch, which we now own, working alongside his dad and learning that whether it was any given Monday or Christmas morning—the cattle eat breakfast before you do! 

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Dan's dad, Gene, is pictured here in the black and white photo, circa 1950. These paintings hanging in our living room tell our story.

 

To this day, our calves are still born on that same Asotin Creek Ranch—two hours east of Walla Walla—just a short drive from where Gus first settled. The highest quality steers relocate to our Thiessen Ranch home in Walla Walla for finishing.

 

Thiessen cattle, bearing the Wagon Wrench brand, have represented some of the best genetics in the Northwest for generations.