Craig Buford, Buford Resources, Inc., has been in the auction, banking and ranching business for over 30 years. He has a history of making big things happen; from the organization and sale of a 30-property six-county real estate sale for the United States Federal Court in Dallas, Texas, to building a banking franchise, to rebuilding a state association of 100 community banks, to developing hundreds of top quality replacement females and managing large stocker and seed stock cattle operations.
Buford, a native of Bonham, Texas, graduated with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Texas Christian University (TCU) and furthered his education graduating from the prestigious TCU Ranch Management Program. Buford later continued his education graduating from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Buford has extensive banking connections in Texas and Oklahoma and is known in banking circles nationally, through serving on the boards of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (www.swgsb.org), the Independent Bankers Association of Texas in Austin, Texas, and the Independent Community Bankers of America in Washington, DC.
Buford has conducted numerous complex real estate auctions throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Aside from Buford's widespread networks that will attract serious buyers from across the nation and increase the credibility of the auction, Buford's organizational and marketing skills benefit sellers from the planning of the sale to a successful closing. His passion, knowledge of the real estate auction industry, adn drive for success allows him to help clients reach their goals on sale day. Buford is an active member of the National Auctioneers Association, Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association, and Texas Auctioneers Association. Outside of the auction industry, Buford serves on a committee and is an active member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and is an active member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association.
Morgan Hopson
Marketing Director, Real Estate Associate, Auctioneer
Morgan Hopson
Marketing Director, Real Estate Associate, Auctioneer
Morgan Hopson, CAI, UCMA, is a native of Bonham, Texas and a graduate of Texas Christian University. She is a licensed auctioneer, a graduate of Texas Auction Academy and the Professional Ringman's Institute. Morgan is also a licensed real estate associate in Texas and Oklahoma and has experience with many types of auctions. Her specialities include farm & ranch, recreational, and luxury real estate as well as consulting with non-profits and associations to help them achieve their fundraising goals. Morgan holds the prestigious Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) from the National Auctioneers Association’s Education Institute. In 2015, Morgan was awarded with the Pat Massart Award at the Certified Auctioneers Institute in Bloomington, IA. The Pat Massart award is given to the student with the best auction proposal submitted in year two of the three-year designation program. Morgan has also been awarded with the United Country Master Auctioneer designation. Morgan was recently named the 2019 International Auctioneer Champion at the National Auctioneers Association's Conference and Show in New Orleans. Earlier this year, Morgan was also named the 2019 Texas State Champion Auctioneer. Morgan is currently serving as an Ambassador for the National Auctioneers Association. She is a member of the Texas Auctioneers Association as well as the Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association. Outside of the real estate auction industry, Morgan is an active member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City and is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Speaker in the City Committee. Having a strong and professional stage presence is something that Morgan is accustomed to, having performed as a concert violinist and fiddler at many prestigious events nationwide. She will bring high-energy and charisma to any auction and will help you meet or surpass your goals on sale day.
Van Baize
Real Estate Associate, Ag Inspection & Appraisal
Van Baize
Real Estate Associate, Ag Inspection & Appraisal
Van Baize, a native Texan, has a long and successful history as a community banker, rancher, and civic leader. Van graduated from Texas A&M University with an Animal Science Degree and currently operates a combination registered Black Angus, commercial cow calf and stocker cattle operation just north of Bowie, Texas. In addition to the real estate and ranching business, Van still works actively with numerous financial institutions providing consulting and inspection services for their agricultural portfolios. Van has over 35 years in agricultural and commercial lending experience.
Van is very well known throughout the banking, ranching, feedlot, and association circles throughout the United States. He recently retired as Branch President from Wellington State Bank in Bowie, Texas. He is actively involved in the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association currently serving as a Director and previously serving as Chairman and on the Executive Committee. Van has written articles about the cattle industry that have been published in Beef Magazine, Drovers Journal, and the Cattleman Magazine. He has a strong belief that information is the key to profitability and the sustainability of our industry and believes in passing this on to the next generation so that we can honor and preserve the ranching way of life.
Van is a civic leader being involved in 4-H and FFA projects, serving as the current Director of the Bowie Chamber of Commerce, being a member of the Montague County Agricultural Committee, Montague County Veterinary Medical Operations Disaster Recover Team, serving as Director of the Cross Timbers Commercial Steer Program, Past Finance Chairman for the Santa Fe District of the Boy Scouts of America, presenting programs for Agri-Life extension seminars on risk management, and the list goes on.
Van is a vital part of the Buford Resources Real Estate & Auction team and brings a plethora of knowledge and insight that will be valuable to buyers and sellers alike.
Jeff Tebow is the CFO/General Manager of Heritage Place, Inc., one of the nation’s premier horse sale facilities. He is also the Sr. Vice President for Andreini and Co, one of the nation’s largest commercial insurance brokerage firms. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Central Oklahoma, an MBA from Oklahoma City University. Jeff is a seasoned auctioneer, winning the 2010 Oklahoma Auctioneer’s Association auctioneer contest, and resides with his family in Piedmont, Oklahoma.
Dan Wedman, a third generation Oklahoma rancher and purebred cattle breeder from theCalumet, Oklahoma area, is a 1974 graduate of Oklahoma State University with an Animal Science degree. Fresh out of college, Dan went to work as a field editor for the official publication of the Limousin breed of beef cattle, The International Limousin Journal. In 1983, Dan co-founded The Limousin World and managed it to become the one of the largest and most successful beef breed magazines. His professional management, promotion and marketing skills are served well by the 37 years of auction and private treaty sale experience across North America.
Jim Kollman, Real Estate Associate, currently resides on a ranch in San Angelo, Texas. Jim has a long history of successful ranch sales in southern and southwestern Texas. Jim has been a representative for Superior Livestock Auction for many years working with Vaquillas Trading Co. He is very well respected in ranching and cattle circles nationwide as well as in Mexico. Jim is a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Jim brings a wealth of ranching knowledge and numerous contacts to the Buford Resources Real Estate & Auction team.
Chip Lynch is a resident of Dallas, Texas and works for the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) representing Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Prior to joining ICBA, he was with the Federal Home Loan Bank in Dallas, Texas. Chip has 25+ years’ experience in banking and real estate: all forms of lending, bank balance sheet management (including liquidity and interest rate risk), construction / OREO management, investment analysis, and ranch management. As you can imagine, he has developed an extensive network of banking relationships regionally throughout the Southwest.
Cooper Eden, a native of Freedom, Oklahoma is a fifth generation cattle rancher raised on his family’s cow-calf operation along the banks of the Cimarron River. In 2014 he graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Agricultural Economics. After graduating, Cooper continued his education at Texas Christian University and completed the Ranch Management Program in 2015. Cooper has lived and worked around cattle his entire life instilling him with a passion for the agriculture industry and continues to remain active in the management decisions of his family’s cow-calf operation. When he’s not in the office you can find Cooper working on the ranch, hunting quail with his German Shorthair, Sadie, snow skiing, or fly fishing a mountain stream. Cooper’s education combined with his work experience in the agriculture industry presents him with a unique perspective that will aid in fulfilling the goals of any prospective buyer or seller.
Vicki Tebow is a Vice President for Andreini and Company, one of the nation’s largest commercial insurance brokerage firms. Vicki speacializes in equine mortality insurance, as well as farm and ranch insurance.
Craig Danner, a native Texan, has a long and successful history in the power plant and mining industries including project development, project management, mining operations, and long-range planning. Craig has worked for Luminant in the plant asset management division designing equipment and developing and implementing long-range operational plans. Craig has also worked for Priefert Ranch Equipment as a fabricator and played a large role in equipment design. He has long been involved in the ranching world and is an avid team roper. He is a gifted artisan, designing spurs, and has crafted pieces for some of the top professional cowboys in the nation. Craig’s “can-do” attitude and strong work ethic will serve buyers and sellers well in any market to achieve their goals.
