K4 Ranch was purchased in 1941 by prominent businessman J.W. Kieckhefer, president of Kieckhefer Container Company. J.W. had decided to diversify his holdings by purchasing ranches in Northern Arizona, and with advice from his business associate Wirt Morton, of Morton Salt Company. J.W. acquired the K4,  nestled on Walnut Creek north of Prescott, Arizona. The ranch sits on some of the Southwest’s most diverse and productive rangelands and is one of Arizona’s most well-known and historic ranches. For many years K4’s focus was producing top registered and commercial Hereford cattle. 

J.W. 's son, Robert (Bob) H. Kieckhefer, began raising Quarter Horses in the 1940s. He registered his first horse in 1943, just three years after the formation of the American Quarter Horse Association. Some of the first horses he bought were reputable RO branded horses from neighboring Greene Cattle Company. Within a decade, K4 horses were known throughout the country for championships in racing, showing, and rodeo events. 

Chuck Sheppard, World Champion, Cowboy Hall of Fame honoree and Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame cowboy, came to work for K4 Ranch as manager in 1959 and greatly influenced the quality of the K4 horse program. The Sheppard and Kieckhefer families merged when Chuck’s daughter, Lynda, married Bob Kieckhefer’s son, John, in 1970. In 1974, the family continued to invest in land when John and Lynda purchased a ranch outside Clovis, California to utilize seasonal grazing and focus on quality cattle genetics and raising fine Quarter Horses while raising three children, Kelli, Johnny and Rick. 

Though all the children have been involved in K4, it is Rick and his wife Sarah who operate the ranch holdings today. Their daughter, Kodi, will be the 7th generation to carry on the passion for the ranching legacy. The family continue to expand the operation by adding additional ranches and ranch leases through the Southwest, including Bar M Ranch in 2009 and 3T Farms in 2015, both located in the Southeast corner of Arizona.  

Bob Kieckhefer served as AQHA President in 1976, and in 1994 he was inducted into the AQHA Hall Of Fame for lifetime of achievements and dedication to the industry. K4 Ranch’s dedication to breeding registered Quarter Horses for 75 consecutive years was recognized by AQHA in 2023.  K4 horses have been some of the most successful arena performance horses in the country. The ranch continually strives to produce the best all-around ranch horses, rope horses, and barrel horses. K4 horses are offered at the Legacy Ranch Horse Sale every September.

The cattle operation for K4 totals over 120,000 acres. Cattle raised on the family ranch are part of the “K4 Brand” boxed beef program, K4 Gourmet Beef and K4 Copper State Reserve, for retail and wholesale consumers. You can find their beef in Arizona’s finest restaurants, order it online, or purchase it in-store in Prescott or at a local Farmers Market.