Texas A&M University-Kingsville has been part of Ross and Stephanie West’s story for more than two decades. The two met while attending TAMUK and both graduated in 2002. Ross earned his degree in Agricultural Science and Wildlife, while Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science and later her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2004.
While attending TAMUK, Ross began working as a hunting guide on the King Ranch in 1999, eventually building a career in ranch and wildlife management. Years spent working with hunters, anglers, ranch managers, and landowners gave him firsthand knowledge of the outdoor industry and the needs of those who enjoy the South Texas outdoors. In 2018, Ross and Stephanie recognized a need in the Kingsville community, where options for fishing and outdoor gear were limited. They began with a small selection of saltwater fishing tackle, rods, and reels inside a 900-square-foot office space. As customers asked for more, hunting gear was added, inventory expanded, and Westican Outdoors grew with the community it was created to serve.
Today, Westican Outdoors is continuing that growth with a new, larger location now open in Kingsville. The new store reflects how far Westican has come from its original space while allowing the West’s to better serve the community whose support helped make that growth possible.
Through all of that growth, Westican Outdoors has remained a family affair. Ross and Stephanie raised their three children around ranch life, where hunting, fishing, and time outdoors were simply part of growing up. A longtime friend affectionately nicknamed the children the “Westicans,” a name that eventually found its way onto the family business. Today, their family’s connection to TAMUK continues as their daughter attends the same university where her parents first met.
Ross and Stephanie will celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Westican Outdoors location October 2-3, adding another milestone to a story with deep roots in TAMUK, Kingsville, and the South Texas community.
