John Wayne’s passion for livestock extended beyond the screen, with one of his most successful ventures being the 26 Bar Ranch in Arizona. Together with his partner Louis Johnson, Duke owned over 14,000 acres near Casa Grande, where their Red River Feedlot and ranch headquarters were based. Each summer, their cattle grazed on leased government land around Springerville and Eagar, AZ, and they also cultivated 12,000 acres of cotton in nearby Stanfield. Every November, Duke would host the annual Thanksgiving bull auction, sharing laughs and helping drive up prices for their prized Hereford bulls. The first official production sale was held in 1967 at the sale barn behind Johnson’s home, and John Wayne never missed the auction—even during filming—making it his favorite Arizona weekend tradition. Did you know about Duke’s deep roots in ranching? What part of his off-screen legacy do you admire most? #JohnWayne #26BarRanch #ArizonaRanching #WesternLegacy #JohnWayneExperience