Our story

Four generations.
One family.

From Clarence Courtright’s first hay contracts with the U.S. government to four generations shipping forage across North America, East Asia, and the Middle East — a century of family expertise, rooted in Moses Lake, Washington.

Since 1992

A legacy built on hard work, integrity, and a passion for quality service.

Courtright Enterprises was founded by John and Susie Courtright in 1992, carrying forward a family legacy that spans over a century in hay, cattle, and the Columbia Basin.

John’s grandfather Clarence supplied hay to the U.S. government in the early 1900s. His father Cal founded Courtright Cattle Company in the 1950s and pioneered the family’s first Japan shipments. In 1992, John and Susie moved into custom harvesting and forage export — and in 2003 opened their own export facility in Moses Lake.

Today, their sons Scot and Thomas drive the export business worldwide, with Jake supporting finance and technology and Tyler keeping the equipment running. The fourth generation carries the standard that started four generations ago: deliver the same quality, reliability, and personal service we’d expect for our own family.

Four generations

A century in forage.

From Clarence Courtright’s first hay contracts with the U.S. Government to four generations shipping forage across North America, East Asia, and the Middle East — the milestones that built the business.

First generation
Clarence Courtright supplies hay to the U.S. Government

The family’s forage business takes root on the Columbia Basin, with Clarence selling hay under government contracts.

1900s
Second generation
Cal Courtright founds Courtright Cattle Company

Clarence’s son Cal strikes out on his own, launching a cattle operation that grows into a Columbia Basin mainstay.

1950s
Going global
Cal begins cattle shipments to Japan

Cal starts flying live cattle across the Pacific, opening the family’s first overseas market and seeding a decades-long export relationship.

1970s
Third generation
John & Susie Courtright found Courtright Enterprises

Cal’s son John and his wife Susie launch custom hay harvesting and step into the forage export business.

1992
Building at home
First dedicated export facility opens

John and Susie open their own export facility in Moses Lake, bringing compression and logistics in-house.

2003
Fourth generation
Scot & Thomas Courtright join the partnership

John and Susie partner with two of their sons, Scot and Thomas, to grow the export business worldwide.

2017
Today
Four generations, one family

10 countries served. 100K+ tons annually. Still family-owned, still in Moses Lake.

2026