Rodeo Arenas to Ranch Fields: An Alberta Legend’s Love for Kubota

When champion bull rider Scott Schiffner made the move towards ranching, it seemed like a natural progression.

When champion bull rider Scott Schiffner made the move towards ranching, it seemed like a natural progression. Never one to walk away from a challenge, Scott, along with his wife, Brandy, and their three daughters, settled into their Alberta stead S Bar S Ranch in 2005. And while the days of getting bucked off in the ring may be behind him, the day-to-day operations on his ranch aren't any less hectic. 

With nearly 200 head of cattle to manage, Scott and his family rely heavily on their four-legged friends to tackle the day-to-day-tasks. On any given day, they have between 15 and 20 horses that they leverage to herd their livestock from pasture to pasture, rope and sort their cattle, brand and doctor sick animals and support in non-cattle focused work, such as fence checking. 
But traditional horses aren’t the only horse Scott and his family use on their ranch. While tremendously helpful in navigating challenging terrains with thick brush and steep hillsides, the S Bar S Ranch bring in engineered horsepower to tackle some of the larger, more time-consuming jobs and to give their equine friends a well-earned break.
And when it's time to rely on machinery, for Scott, there's only one place to go.

The Kubota connection

Now a long-time customer, Scott’s relationship with Kubota began purely by happenstance – and with some masterful customer service.

“I was on the hunt for a used tractor and randomly decided to stop in at Tractorland Kubota one day, after noticing they had one that fit my budget,” Scott recounts. However, the dealership owner, Archie Hall, had other plans. “He said to me, ‘I don’t think you actually want that tractor. Give me a bit and I’ll figure something out.’”  

A couple of days later Scott received a call from Archie with an offer he couldn’t refuse. “I remember him offering me a brand-new Kubota M6 for a price that met my budget. Right then and there, our partnership was born, and I’d endorse Tractorland, and Kubota, any day.”

Putting the tools to work

Managing a ranch of any size requires reliable equipment – and Scott is quick to point out the Kubota machines he and his family rely on day in and day out at S Bar S Ranch. While the Schiffner family’s schedule is always full, operationally, their workload is typically tackled in less time with the same exceptional results, thanks to the dependable performance and multifunctional practicality of his Kubota equipment. 

“The SSV Skid Steer Loader is hands down the piece of equipment that I use every day,” says Scott. “It’s so versatile and I catch myself jumping in it every chance I get.” 

But it doesn’t stop there, as the Schiffner's have an entire line-up of orange machines in their yard. 
“We use our RTV-XG850 for everything – even for projects you may not typically think of it for, like moving sheds and buildings around our property. I ask a lot of my equipment because sometimes we just have to get the job done with what we’ve got – and it always performs.” 

And in true Kubota style, the brand manages to provide a uniquely human element at S Bar S Ranch.

According to Scott, his family specifically leverages the RTV-XG850 during a very special moment on the ranch – calving season. “We use it to tag all of our calves when they’re first born. In fact, it’s one of the key times where we don’t rely on our horses because the cattle are still a bit protective of their newborns, so tagging them from the side of the RTV is much safer.”

Looking forward

For family-owned farming and ranch operations, building and growing working relationships with equipment dealers and brands is of paramount importance. Someone that you can trust completely to get you in the right machines and take care of them for years to come. 

In terms of overall satisfaction, the results at S Bar S Ranch speak for themselves. Scott still struggles to keep track of every Kubota machine the ranch has purchased over the years. 

“We started with the one M6 tractor, then added in an M7. Then we have the SSV, a BV4500 round baler, the RTV-XG850, and I know there are some others kicking around the property.”

Scott and Brandy are fortunate for their relationship with Tractorland and Kubota and hope, one day, to bring their daughters into the fold as they work to be more involved in the business.