For any one wanting a fabulous dude ranch, quiet getaway, clean air, great food, and an all around tremendous experience you must visit the Bucks & Spurs Dude Ranch near Ava, Missouri.

It is easy to get to and there was not a single aspect of our four days there that did not significantly exceed our expectations. My wife and I, in our sixties, took our ten year old granddaughter there as she is horse crazy. C and Sonny catered to all of our needs with caring and fun and there are many varied activities in which we were encouraged to participate.

Our cabin was superb in construction, cleanliness, spaciousness, and the view from all four sides was great whether it was at the scenery or corral.

The trail riding was wonderful and the surroundings gorgeous.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS PLACE!! Being from the Colorado Rockies and lately from Sedona, Arizona, the Ranch holds its own with beauty.

Are There Any Real Cowboys Left in the Ozarks? By Patsy Bell Hobson   When word goes out that they are hiring at the Bucks and Spurs ranch, a lot of wannabe cowboys apply—and a few real cowboys and cowgirls show up. Folks who can ride, rope, work cattle, help with calving, and break horses get the few jobs that Cecil Huff, owner of the Bucks and Spurs horse and cattle ranch near Ava , Missouri , has to offer.   There is no retirement plan, group health insurance, or paid vacation for real cowboys. They work on the coldest, rainiest days and every day during the sun-scorching summer. Cowboys get thrown off horses, chased by bulls, and occasionally surprised by snakes. And they love their jobs.   The endless work hasn’t changed much for the cowboy in well over a century. But ranches have evolved. Often ranchers and farmers have had to diversify into the world of agritourism, opening their ranches and farms to tourists and guests. “Sure, there are cowboys,” says Huff, who goes by “C.” The proof is in the statistics. USDA ranks Missouri sixth in cattle production, fifth in producing horses, and third in mules. As long as there is a steady demand for cows and horses, there will be cowboys to manage the animals and land.   Agritourism The Huffs have ranched in the Ozarks for five generations. In addition to raising and selling horses and cattle, the Huffs now invite visitors to join in the cowboy life or simply come to ride horses.   “We incorporate as much ranch work as we can in our guests’ visit,” says C. “This is a real ranch with real ranch activities. We are including more of the daily ranch activities into a guest’s day. They want that. Working the cattle gives people a sense of purpose. Folks don’t just come here for trail rides.   C and Sonny Huff “People who live on farms and ranches come here for vacations, too. At home they are always working. Ranchers don’t have time to relax and enjoy the country life, so they come here. We saddle their horses; they just enjoy their time off,” said C. C matches a horse’s personality to a rider’s ability. He won’t sell a horse unless it seems like a good match. “We have Missouri Fox-Trotters and quarter horses for sale. We pride ourselves on finding the right horse for the rider.”

Fall of 2003

 Testimonial

Comments: From Jamie and Robert in South Carolina

For anyone not sure if this is the place to come for vacation let me assure you, you will not be sorry you chose this ranch.  If you want a fun filled vacation or even a little bit of romance, this is the place for you. I have spent 2 vacations here and never want to go home when it is time to leave.  It is also a wonderful place to come if you are looking for a horse to buy!  You get to know the horse you may want to buy before you purchase it.  You get to see how the horse will act in all types of situations so you know what you are buying unlike a lot of horse buying experiences that can end in disaster! You get to know Cecil and Sonny and see how Cecil trains these horses.  He is a wonderful horse trainer using natural horsemanship methods with the horses.  These horses do not know what roughness or violence is because of Cecil's gentle ways with them.  As a matter of fact I purchased 2 horses from this ranch after riding them on vacation and can say I will never be sorry!!!  You couldn't ask for better horses.  As soon as you arrive Cecil and Sonny make you feel like you are a part of their family and it is funny because I often think of them as family or good friends of ours.  Just a note: Sonny's cooking is worth traveling around the world for!  If anyone would like a reference you can contact C chuff@getgoin.net and he will give you my email. I will vouch for them any time!  Don't miss out on the funniest experience of your life and 2 of the greatest people I know.
                         Jaime and Robert Gunter
                         South Carolina 11-16-01

Howdy!

Greetings from the McAllister family.  We all enjoyed our long weekend with
you; our expectations were exceeded.  I was reviewing my diary entries from
the weekend, and I thought I would share this excerpt with you.  Perhaps you
recall the incident differently than I do, but I trust this is close enough:

    "It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning, but the air held a chilling
fear of something lurking in an unknown location somewhere near the Bucks
and Spurs guest house.  As the day began, breakfast was typically delicious
with the infamous scrambled bacon which is known far and wide to those who
have experienced it at Sonny or Cecil's capable hands.

Soon after breakfast and saddling horses, we began our day's labor to sort
through the cattle, seeking and helping the sick or wounded.  It should be
noted at this point that Frank had the day off, and so I was the only
qualified and certified cowboy, besides Cecil, on the crew that day.  So as
we sorted through the herd in one of the pastures just west of the
south-central hayfield, we spotted a small white-calf that was clearly not
well.  It was then that the memory becomes clear, just as if it was
yesterday.  The memory has played through my mind a thousand times since it
occurred.  And each time it plays, it becomes more and more crisp;  this
crispness is what allows me to articulate it so clearly in this document,
which I'm sure will live well into the next century!

    Cecil was the closest cowboy to the calf and he proceeded to rope it
with his finely developed roping skill.  (He actually had more successful
ropings than I did, although his overall percentage wasn't quite as high.)
Cecil then tied the calf to a fence-post and proceeded to mount and control
the calf in order to administer a shot of penicillin and some liquid sulfa.
It was during this administration that I was rambling on Candy up to the
scene when I heard an aggressive MOOOO coming from about 15 yards to the
North of Cecil's position.  I realized right then and there that this was
the calf's mama coming-a-charging to protect her young!  Instinctively (as
we cowboy's often do things), I realized my partner was in danger and I
kicked Candy into high gear and galloped in between Cecil and his attacker.
Now this cow was no sissy, and she was bent on hurting anyone she perceived
to be hurting her youngin'.   So I arrived in her path about the time she
was 5 feet from Cecil's death-bed and she wasn't about to slow down for some
horse.  At that point, I realized something had to be done, and I was
desperate, as was Cecil.  I then dislodged from Candy and did a reverse
sommersault landing squarely on the 10 inch horns of this bull/cow.  (The
more I think about it the more I think this must have been the calf's
daddy!!).  I then proceeded to grab and twist and turn this bull with my
heels digging deep in a straight line toward Cecil's grave.  We could smell
the stench of pending death and my sweating brow was dripping heavily.  My
adrenaline was flowing, as was the bulls, and even the horseflies were
watching this scene unfold.  Now, fortunately, and just in the nick of time,
Cecil finished medicating the calf and he was able to escape up to his
horse, while I finished teaching that stubborn bull a lesson!  With a quick
twist and hard lean, I took him to the ground.  Without waiting to hear an
apology, I quickly returned to my mount in one smooth, cool, calm movement.

The bull/cow, wondering what hit him/her, shook its head, regained its
footing, and gathered itself together while returning to the calf's side,
and they waggled on over to join the rest of the herd that was a holler or
two away.

Now some may doubt the specific details of this story, and the exact order
in which they occurred, but I attest to you that the basic story, at its
heart, really happened....especially the part about Frank having the day
off."

Goodbye, and if our kids' votes count, we'll see you next year.
Thanks again.
Kent McAllister

Bucks and Spurs: It’s Always Sunny

Story By William Childress

Of the Post- Dispatch Staff

Twenty-five years ago, Cecil Huff was doing a little cowboying on a ranch in Ozark County Mo., and was thrown head over heels. Not by a horse, but by petite blonde whose sparkling personality brought about her nickname, Sonny.

When Huff got home, he told his mother, "I just met my wife today."

His mother said, "Does she know it?"

Huff grins at the memory. "I said, ‘She soon will...’ " A year later, he corralled Sonny.

At first glance, the big, slow moving Cecil, whom Sonny calls "C," and his wife may seem and odd team. But guests at the Huffs’ 1,000 acre working cattle ranch near Ava, Missouri would be quick to deny it. The two are experts at seeing to the welfare and comfort of their guests - and when a group’s stay is over, it is reluctant to leave.

"When we launched Bucks and Spurs," Sonny said, "we wanted a guest ranch that specialized in families or family sized groups. One-parent families are fine, and they have just as much fun. But even though we’ve taken care of up to thirty people, we prefer groups of twelve or less. It’s not carved in stone, but we can cater to the wishes of our guests better when groups aren’t too big."

Cecil said their guests have been great.. "Not a tenderfoot to date," he said with a grin. "That’s good because the might be pitching hay, taking part in a cattle drive or shoveling manure. We try to put together any scenario they want. This is a real ranch and we’re glad to show them the, er, ropes."

Sonny, cycloning through the kitchen creating good, hearty grub, rolls her eyes at the joke. She and "C" work well together, obviously enjoy people, and guests quickly spot the affection that they show for one another.

Cecil told me I had just missed the Storm Riders, a group of St. Louis women who apparently specialized in getting caught in rainstorms and riding hell-for-leather back to the bunkhouse.

"Once they had to take shelter in an old turkey house," Huff recalled. "They were still laughing about that when they left for home."

The Storm Riders are Patty Balkenbush, Joan Stoner, Carl Long and her niece Karen, 15. All plan to come back.

Thinking of the boredom quotient of some kids, I asked how children took to ranch life. Perhaps the best answer came as we prepared for a trail ride on Big Beaver Creek.

Tammy Routh of Republic Missouri brought her 6-year-old, Kara, a shy girl afraid of horses. Cecil swung her up on the saddle in front of him for her first ride. For a second, he let her sit in the saddle as he led Appy, the ranch’s sometimes wandering Appaloosa. With each step her confidence grew, and at the end of her second day she rode alone.

Even though all the ranch horses are gentle (guests are still required to sign a waver), and the colts affectionate, it was a big victory for the little girl.

"C is excellent with children," Sonny said. Her husband is patient and caring, and the younger kids hang on him like little pendants.

Sonny is good with kids, too, but simply smiled and said, "I always give way to superior talent."

Their own children, Dustin, 20, and Kim, 23, often come to help out at Bucks and Spurs. The ranch was named because Cecil wanted a little reminiscent of both ranching and hunting. The area is alive with deer and other game, and he will organize hunting parties.

The ranch’s wagonmaster, Russel Lathrop, is a big man with a lived-in face. Lathrop is a cornucopia of stories and local history, most of it culled from his 68 years. His team of gentle Belgians pulls a rubber-tired version of the surrey with the fringe on top.

Space is too short to do justice to Bucks and Spurs, but I’d give it a solid A. The Huffs are fun-loving and experienced, and the view of rolling pastures and forests is remarkable. As for Sonny’s cooking, she caused me to regain two pounds.

If a rough-edged ranch run by heart-of-gold people is your bale of hay, this is the place.

"Folks come as our guests," Cecil said. "They leave as our friends."

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Douglas County Herald

Ava, Missouri, November 28, 1996

Discover an Ozark Secret

by Mary Ann Wells

Brilliant shades of yellow, orange, crimson, gold and brown splash across the Missouri-hills this time of year. The autumn season is here. Warm sunny days and cool evenings along with the awe-inspiring beauty of fall colors provide the perfect combination for an Indian summer vacation. That's what my husband and I discovered recently, while on a short visit with my family who lives in the area of Ava, Missouri. We wanted to go horseback riding during our stay and we were lucky enough to find Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch. The ranch is located about 10 miles south of Ava and is operated by Cecil and Sonny Huff. There we enjoyed the best horseback ride we have ever experienced. My husband and I are not expert riders by any stretch of the imagination, but we delight in an occasional ride while vacationing. Unlike the usual single file, one horse in front of the other trail ride, where one's mount is never allowed to step out of line nor gain speed faster than that of a slow trot, the ride we encountered at Bucks and Spurs was refreshing, exhilarating and different. Though horseback rides by the hour are usually not offered, Cecil and Sonny kindly accommodated us since the lodge was between guests and this was the last day of our stay in Ava. Our horses were saddled and ready when we arrived. They were beautiful animals and were matched perfectly to us based on our height, weight and level of riding ability from information I provided Sonny the night before when I called to make the arrangements. Cecil was our guide and he greeted us dressed as the typical cowboy in a blue plaid western shirt, jeans, hat, chaps, boots, spurs and even a kerchief about his neck. We mounted up, my husband atop Angel, myself atop Foxy, and off we went to explore the offerings of the Ozark countryside. We left the guesthouse behind and only moments into our ride, spotted wild turkeys at the edge of the meadow, just in the shadow of the woods. As we advanced, they rushed into the safety of the trees unknowing as to whether we meant them harm. White butterflies danced about the prairie as Jim, Cecil's black and white Border collie, accompanied us on our riding adventure. Cecil guided us through the stillness of the woods and soon we could hear the soft sounds of rushing water as we approached clear, cold Big Beaver Creek abundant with fighting brown bass. The water was so transparent; you could count every brown rock on its floor. Here we observed trees, scratched and marred by beavers preparing them for their architectural designs. We crossed the creek and rode down the rock bank taking in the sunshine, fresh air and beauty of the creek and woods beyond. Jim, eager to continue along with us, sacrificed the bite of the frigid water as he swam cross to join us on the other side. We ascended up from the creek bed, through a wire gate, and soon found ourselves in the midst of a field, heavily laden with the sweet scent of freshly cut alfalfa. It was bundled into enormous round bales; patiently waiting the onset of winter, then to be used as food for the livestock at the ranch. Angel and Foxy were eager to run and we allowed them to relish their freedom by galloping here for a while. Further into the ride, Cecil guided us to an old Indian site were Osage and Cherokee Indians once made their homes. Arrowheads can still be found here and we saw little piles of them, unearthed by former guests, displayed upon rocks here and there. Some are still as sharp as they day they were used to hunt wild game for the tribes. As our journey was ending, we came upon the crumbling remains of Fort Lawrence, union Civil War fort that was captured by a unit of Missouri Confederate Calvary and burned to the ground in 1863. Legend has it that 300 stands of muskets along with a store of ammunition are buried somewhere near this site. We made out way back to the lodge, crossing another open meadow and there we dismounted, giving each of our horses a pat on the back to thank them for our ride. Sonny was waiting for us in the lodge dining room with ice cold lemonade, a refreshing way to end a ride. Bucks and Spurs is an excellent place to ride or spend a few days getting back to nature and a slower way of life at a very reasonable price. The ranch covers about 1000 acres. Guided hunting trips for turkey and white tail deer can be arranged. Other activities available at the ranch are picnics, cowboy cookouts, canoeing, swimming, fishing, exploring the woods, hiking up the bluffs along the creek or hunting for arrowheads and sand volley ball The lodge has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and central air and heat. It is decorated in a casual southwestern style and the main room has an inviting rock fireplace, just right for cool Missouri evenings. Home cooked meals are provided (Sonny prepares them herself and they can be enjoyed in the lodge dining room or as cookouts on the trail. Our ride at Bucks and Spurs was a unique experience. The beauty of nature, the thrill of the ride and friendly, accommodating people like Cecil and Sonny made our riding adventure one we will not soon forget. A secret on the edge of the Ozarks, Bucks and Spurs is the place to go for an invigorating escape back in time and where you will be shown the time of your life in a quiet old fashioned way.

Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi C and Sonny
Sorry it took so long to get back in touch with you.  The time we had at
your ranch back in November was incredible.  I have to tell you, not only
were we the talk of the family but the talk of the town after the stories we
had when we got home.  Ann is still talking about the cattle drive we made
from your old ranch to the Bucks and Spurs Ranch.  We are still trying to
put together a big family trip to the ranch.  Conflicting schedules are
slowing the process a little bit, but sooner or later we will get it done. 
Ann saw your spot on the Today Show.  Cecil, Ann wants to know why we didn't
get to do the calf cutting in the coral.  I tried to tell Ann not to get so
greedy.  (C, I thought I better give you a heads up because I know Ann is
going to give you a hard time when we come back.)  We got the opportunity to
do things on our cattle drive nobody else has done.   I want to thank you
and Sonny for giving me Cowboy status (I don't know how much I deserve it).
I remind Ann of it every chance I get.
Once again Thanks for a great time and hope to see you soon!

Mark and Ann Grossen