An old proverb states, “Don’t change horses in midstream”. The Edmiston family, proprietors Bronco Sue Custom Hats, did just that. They left their life in Georgetown, Texas, for the lure of ranching in Mason County to bring up their daughter in the ranching tradition established by Chip Edmiston’s family in the 1890s. Raised in Katemcy and Lampasas respectively, Chip and Tracy lived in Georgetown where Chip was involved in real estate and Tracy taught school in Liberty Hill. Having made the decision to make a new start here, they sold their home in Georgetown and moved to the family ranch in Mason. Chip maintains his ties to the real estate business while his wife, Tracy, has been a full-time mother since 2014. Their daughter was already active in junior rodeo, so moving to Mason was a natural transition for her. The family ranch is located on the North side of Mason Mountain. Chip explains, “my great-great grandparents came from Germany. When my great-great grandfather passed away; so, the story goes; in an accident with a horse; my great-great grandmother decided to keep running the ranch.” Chip’s story adds to the rich history of German immigrants in Mason and the many stories of wives who carried on working the ranch after losing a husband.
The Edmistons’ operate Bronco Sue Custom Hats on the Mason square. Bronco Sue hats are made using antique machines which were developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The newest machine they have is 65-years old. The machines represent one of the most complete collections of antique hat equipment around. The goal of Bronco Sue Custom Hats is to produce the finest hat you can buy, using a combination of machines and hand work. Bronco Sue features custom-made western hats designed in many colors, materials, and styles. Shoppers can browse among felt, palm leaf, and old-west hats in off-the-shelf or customizable styles and sizes. Chip states that about half of their business orders are online and the other half are from customers that visit their shop on the Square. When asked about plans for the business, Chip cites “growth and finding a larger space to store and display our hats.” He also commented that many new folks are finding their way to Mason through tourism and other interest in the community.
The motto of Bronco Sue Custom Hats is “We’ve got you covered” and one suspects that the custom hats from this hard-working family will provide not only a cover for your head but also a delightful experience and some new friends. Visit Bronco Sue at 238 Ft. McKavitt on the Square in Mason, Telephone (575) 630-1912, [email protected] , and check out their website at www.broncosue.com.
