Mike Higgins and Melinda Branchini are co-owners and operators of Long Straw Ranch, LLC.
Since purchasing the ranch in 2006, they've pursued their research on quail habitat through involvement with University of North Texas, the Texas Quail Coalition, and Mike's serving on the Park Cities Quail organizing committee for the annual Boone Pickens Lifetime Achievement Award fund raiser.
Both Mike and Melinda are involved in other aspects of the sport shooting/hunting community. Melinda is a member of DIVA WOW, (Women Outdoors Worldwide). Mike is a past board member at the Dallas Gun Club and past president of the St. Louis Skeet and Trap Club. He is also a member of the Dallas Safari Club, and is past President of the United States Helice Association.
In 2011, Mike and Melinda founded the Higgins Branchini Shooting Foundation (a 501c3 organization) to provide financial support to collegiate shotgun competitors. To date, over 180 collegiate shooters have received financial support nationwide.
HBSF sponsored athletes have won 13 National Collegiate Championships in Skeet, International Skeet/Trap, Sporting Clays, and High Over All titles.
Several of our grant recipients have represented the U.S. on the world stage; a number of them have gone on to become World Champions as well as members of U.S. Olympic teams. Over the years, HBSF has distributed over $212,508 in grants to 181 collegiate shooters across the U.S.
Ronnie Smith is the Chief Guide for Long Straw Ranch. If you have a question about horses and hunting dogs, Ronnie is your go-to guy.
Ronnie grew up in Texas into a ranching family. He learned to break horses and perfected his methods of using a gentle approach to training. This has transferred to his love of dogs and his dog training methodology. Ronnie believes in treating every dog as an individual, exercising great patience, and dealing with each dog's individual personality.
Ronnie earned a degree in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry from Abilene Christian College, specializing in effective wildlife and land management, especially as it relates to upland bird management. Ronnie then became a world-class dog trainer, guide, and shooter. He began his career after college as an apprentice to Roger Buddin (Big Country Kennel & Outfitters in Albany, Texas).
Ronnie has been active and instrumental in assisting Long Straw Ranch in the development and cultivation of the land for upland bird hunting. Ronnie guides dogs and hunters to enjoy the experience of upland bird hunting at Long Straw Ranch.
Ronnie and his wife, Stacy (along with their sons Ryan and Reed and daughter, Reece) have lived in Bartonville, Texas, since 1991, where they own and operate a large hunting dog training facility as well as a horse boarding and training business. Ronnie's kennel breeding and training operation focuses on English Pointers and Labradors. He trains and breeds over 60 dogs a year for sportsmen all over the country. His kennels include 35 dog runs and an all-weather dog barn. Ronnie's philosophy of dog training is: "A dog in training is part of the family and we train everyone as a member of the pack."
Ronnie became the youngest National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSRTA) judge in 1985, and began guiding professionally in 1987. He is an accomplished sporting clay shooter and recently won the 2010 NSCA side-by-side championship. Ronnie is also a member of the Dallas Gun Club.
Ronnie is also an accomplished exhibitor in Cowboy Mounted Shooting, and is a member of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. His recent results include a win at the Mounted Cowboy Action Futurity in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as well as a 3rd Place finish at the CMSA World Championships in Amarillo, Texas.