Rising Star Ranch, formerly the McJunkin Farm, located south of Shelbyville at 481 Snell Road, is now owned by Duane and Jan Wiltse and Frank and Debbie Eichler.

Duane and Jan Wiltse have relocated from Cody, Wyo., to Shelbyville, Tenn., to manage the facility. Frank and Debbie Eichler will provide administrative services from their hom in Denver, Colo.

The ranch will be a full service operation offering training, buying and selling choice Tennessee Walking Horses. They will specialize in breeding, buying, starting and training young horses who will go on to be show ring stars for their new owners.

Troy Yokley will be training the future champion colts in the large indoor all-weather riding arena. Troy's stellar 20-year career in starting colts has produced show ring favorites such as JFK, Black Rain, Bold Design, Drop Of Gen, I'm In Command and many more.

Duane and Jan have enjoyed a successful 30-year career of outfitting summer pack trips and guiding elk and deer hunters in Wyoming and Montana. They have been involved with horses throughout their lives including Tennessee Walking Horses. It was their love of walking horses and their relationship with Troy Yokley that brought them to Shelbyville. Throughout their career, the Wiltses have always worked with premium quality animals. They look forward to taking that same philosophy and applying it to the Rising Star Ranch.

They plan to utilize their first-class facility to offer premium horse training and to use their expertise and experience to help riders and owners achieve their goals in the horse business.

The Rising Star Ranch is planning an open house cookout on the Thursday of the National Trainers Show in March where they look forward to meeting more of the walking horse community.