The Cattleman - December 2022

Fostering

Ag Literacy

A photographer’s philosophy on capturing stories that resonate.

Love of the Land

Texas Agricultural Land Trust marks 15 years protecting working lands.

Blake Birdwell

Plainview, TX (806) 681-3667

Jason Griffin Atoka, OK (580) 271-1333

Cole Johnson Dallas, TX (214) 384-2653

Don McCauley Seymour, TX (940) 256-8353

Wes Miller Independence, KS (928) 245-6560

Kyle Parrish

Corsicana, TX (903) 654-8996

Blake Rogers Collins, MS (601) 315-0962

Kade Setzer

Tony Setzer

Hydro, OK (405) 929-0379

Eakly, OK (580) 774-7403

Wesley Wood Stephenville, TX (254) 485-9781

10 FEATURES 20

For Love of the Land

Texas Agricultural Land Trust marks 15 years protecting working lands, due in part to the tremendous efforts of Blair Calvert Fitzsimons.

By Jena McRell

Intersection of Humans and the Outdoors

A Texas photographer’s philosophy on fostering ag literacy with a complete story.

By Diane Meyer

INSPIRED STORIES

Do people ever ask if you like your job? It is one of my favorite questions.

Each time someone inquires about my work, I have the opportunity to boast about the wonderful members of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. It is the people, folks just like you, who make this career rewarding.

In the pages of this issue, you will find stories about these very people. People like Blair Calvert Fitzsimons, who is a trailblazer in working lands conservation.

Blair is a longtime Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association member and personal inspiration — she balances her family, professional career, and ranching operations with grace and admiration. You will love reading about the legacy she preserved on her family’s ranch, as well as her efforts throughout her career that ensure others can do the same.

We also visited with Jerod Foster, who is certainly no stranger to The Cattleman. As a talented photographer

who has captured beautiful images of our industry, Jerod’s work has graced the magazine cover and pages numerous times. You are in for a treat as you learn his story and passion for conservation and agriculture.

Not to be missed is our first-ever holiday gift guide!

We rounded up ideas to help cross off your favorite cattle-loving cowboys and cowgirls from your list. You will find unique, Texas-made products alongside our top picks from some of our national partners.

On behalf of the entire team at The Cattleman, we wish you a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. T C

Jaclyn Roberts Executive Director of Communications & Marketing/ Editor-in-Chief, The Cattleman

Even planted that late and with all that stacked against it, Wax Marshall took it and came on strong! Wax Marshall takes all kinds of weather and somehow still produces the high quality forage we need and have grazing into May. Before the Fall of 2018, we believed Wax Marshall was the best (been planting it for over 20 years), but now we KNOW Wax Marshall IS the Best Ryegrass!

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ON THE COVER

During times of adversity, celebrations are all the sweeter. Counting rainfall among the year’s blessings this holiday season. Pictured is Myles Brown, a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association member from Stinnett.

Published on the first day of each month by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Inc., P.O. Box 101988, Fort Worth, Texas 76185. The Cattleman (ISSN 0008-8552, USPS 095000), copyright 2022 by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Title registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Member Alliance for Audited Media. Subscription $50 per year; foreign $70 per year. Correspondence on all phases of the cattle business is invited. Publisher reserves exclusive rights to accept or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication in The Cattleman magazine. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Worth, Texas, and additional mailing offices.

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Photo by Emily McCartney

FOR LOVE OF THE LAND

Texas Agricultural Land Trust marks 15 years protecting working lands, due in part to the tremendous efforts of Blair Calvert Fitzsimons.

By Jena McRell

Photos courtesy of Texas Agricultural Land Trust

Nothing prepared Blair Calvert Fitzsimons for the moment her family signed a conservation easement in December 2021.

As the founding CEO of Texas Agricultural Land Trust, she had shepherded others through the process for more than a decade.

But this time, the feeling was personal.

The land, where her family spent starry nights on the banks of the Leona River, was officially protected and preserved forever.

After retiring in May 2020, Blair went back to work with her former team at Texas Agricultural Land Trust to develop an agreement for her family’s Calvert Brothers Ranch in Frio County.

Together with her sisters, Sarah Calvert Doerr and Mollie Calvert Massari, and her cousin, Toby Calvert, they knew it was an imminent priority.

The landscape was changing quickly, and previous generations had surrendered to dividing up the property.

“We decided it was going to stop with us,” Blair says. “No more breaking up the land. It was a huge peace of mind and an exhilarating feeling to know it will stay together.”

Along with countless others Blair advised throughout the years, her family’s ability to codify their love of the land is a direct result of her own commitment, tenacity and passion for conservation and private land ownership.

Keeping Texas big, wide and open

Created by farmers and ranchers, for farmers and ranchers, Texas Agricultural Land Trust is the largest home-grown land trust in the state. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association has had a seat at the table since the beginning, and its members continue to provide invaluable leadership toward the effort to protect working lands from threat of development.

“Blair’s heart and passion about Texas is as big as Texas,” says Chad Ellis, who succeeded her as CEO at Texas Agricultural Land Trust. “For someone so visionary and who was able to help so many families, many of whom she may never meet, it was very special to help protect the legacy and heritage of her family’s land.”

When Texas Agricultural Land Trust was founded 15 years ago, it was the first opportunity for landowners to ensure property would remain perpetually intact, undeveloped and protected — while held by an agriculture-specific land trust.

With nearly 1,000 acres of working land lost in Texas each day, time remains of the essence. Reversing the trend will require private landowners joining together to find solutions.

As Blair describes: the ranchers, farmers and hunters.

“We have a rich legacy of private lands conservation that preceded Texas Agricultural Land Trust for many years,” she says. “All who understand the value of working lands conservation, they do come together. I hope we never lose sight of that.”

Texas Agricultural Land Trust’s establishment in 2007 proves those with shared passions for the land, wildlife and open space, can bring about change for everyone. Blair understood this truth and saw it to fruition.

Blair’s heart and passion about Texas is as big

as Texas.”

— Chad Ellis, Texas Agricultural Land Trust

Blair and Joseph Fitzsimons share a deep passion for working lands conservation, landowner rights and protecting the state's wide-open spaces.

THE PREAMBLE

As history will tell, Blair and Joseph Fitzsimons know a solid partnership when they see one. The two met while attending a wedding of mutual friends in the late ‘80s.

Sharing a common love for the outdoors, agriculture and their ranching heritage, they hit it off quickly. After dating for six months, they were married.

Blair says moving to the San Pedro Ranch, which has been in Joseph’s family for 90 years, was always in the cards. The ranch, originally part of an 1812 Spanish land grant, is located in Dimmit County near the Mexican border.

In 1989, they loaded up, left San Antonio and moved nearly 130 miles southwest with their newborn son and two-year-old daughter. The couple took the reins of the operation from Joseph’s father, a trailblazer in many rights.

Hugh Fitzsimons Jr., a long-time Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association director, was a well-respected cattle and thoroughbred horse breeder. He was also visionary leader who helped bring Alan Savory and the concept of holistic resource management to the U.S. from Africa.

While raising their children on the San Pedro Ranch, Blair and Joseph Fitzsimons worked side-by-side managing the family operation.

Guided by his example, Joseph and Blair set about their work on the San Pedro Ranch. Joseph continued to practice law in nearby Carrizo Springs, and Blair oversaw the day-today ranch operations and management.

A few years after they moved, their youngest daughter was born. All three children — Fay, Jonny and Kate — were raised alongside the daily rhythms of the ranch. Blair homeschooled them while they enjoyed a front-row seat in nature’s premier classroom.

Over the years, San Pedro Ranch has been recognized with the highest stewardship honors an operation can receive. The 2005 Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award from the Texas Society for Range Management; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s 2007 Environmental Stewardship Award for Region IV; 2016 Lone Star Land Steward Award for the South Texas region; and most recently, the 2020 Leopold Conservation Award presented by the Sand County Foundation.

But it was never about the honors or recognition. It was about conserving the natural landscape, caring for it efficiently and making things better than how they found them.

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“My husband is a devoted conservationist, cattleman and hunter,” says Blair, who was also recognized with Joseph as the 2015 Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationists of the Year. “He embodies the spirit we find in Texas, where all these things can come together to help conserve the land we love.”

By the mid-2000s, the Fitzsimons children were nearly grown and seasons began to change.

Joseph, a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association director, had an opportunity to start a law practice with fellow association colleague, and current-day president, Arthur Uhl. The firm is known today as Uhl Fitzsimons.

Joseph continued to manage ranch operations on the San Pedro Ranch, along with his sister, Pam Howard, from their new home in San Antonio. He would also go on to serve as chair of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Blair stepped out into her own professional horizons, too.

She was hired by American Farmland Trust to garner support from agricultural organizations for legislation to create a program aimed at funding conservation easements, and protecting farmers and ranchers from the pressures of development.

As part of the effort, Blair commissioned an update of the Texas Land Trends report to collect data and tell the story of rural land loss across the state.

“The data coming out of Texas A&M University showed we were losing our ag lands at a faster rate

than any other state in the country. And it’s still true today,” Blair says. “It was the first time anybody had really taken a hard look at land loss, specifically ag land loss, and what the implications were.”

PUT INTO ACTION

A prominent voice at the table during the early conversations and beyond was Bob McCan, a fifthgeneration rancher from Victoria. He was the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president from 2003-2005 and remembers the urgency clearly.

“At the time, the accepted path of generational transfer was try to minimize your estate tax burdens, do the best you could to get it into your children’s names and hope for the best,” McCan says. “A lot of ranches were being divided and sold. Ranchers really didn’t have a whole lot of choices.”

Attitudes surrounding conservation easements and land trusts were skeptical, at best, he recalls. Many others had tried and failed to pass a state-funded program through the Texas Legislature.

That is, until Blair stood at the helm. She knew she needed a different approach, and one that involved key stakeholders across three major landowner organizations — Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Wildlife Association and Texas Farm Bureau.

“The idea of having a group made up of those involved in production agriculture, that eased people’s feelings about it a lot,” McCan says. “As leadership for TSCRA, we said, we feel this is something that needs to go forward, we need to be a part of and help develop.”

Moments of happy chaos on the Calvert Brothers Ranch make all the years of effort worthwhile for Blair Fitzsimons. Generations in future, family members will continue to enjoy and respect the land.

Through countless meetings, educational outreach and conversations, the legislature passed a bill in 2005 establishing the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservations program. Once fully funded, the program would provide money to land trusts to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners.

From there, Blair continued to engage with leaders and explore how to create a non-profit agriculture-based land trust. While there are 30-plus such land trusts across the state, none were specifically rooted in farming and ranching.

And so, the concept for Texas Agricultural Land Trust was born.

“When your sole mission is to protect agricultural lands, you do business differently,” Blair says. “Our focus was to try and figure out how to do a conservation easement and keep the land working. Not let the conservation easement interfere with the ability of the land to be a working farm or ranch.”

In 2006, a steering committee was formed with representatives from the three guiding landowner organizations, including McCan with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

The group cast the vision and laid the groundwork for what would become the Texas Agricultural Land Trust. The first official board of directors meeting was in May 2007.

“I think it should be recognized as a big accomplishment that we’re one of the three founding members and that we’ll always have a seat at that table,” McCan says.

Because a producer-led approach had never been done before, most continued to have their doubts. It required a coordinated effort between leaders, like McCan, and others to dispel the myths and reshape the narrative.

“We really wanted people to understand that to place a voluntary conservation easement on your land is an exercise of your private property rights,” Blair says. “And then also that there was a lot of flexibility in the tool.”

Throughout the entire journey, Blair’s leadership kept the effort on its tracks, first as a consultant and then as the founding CEO. She clearly understood both the urgency of the matter and the need to balance stakeholder perspectives.

“The hunters, farmers and ranchers really came together on our board,” Blair says. “Everyone was so dedicated, committed and supportive that it kept me going. It kept all of us going.”

In 15 years, Texas Agricultural Land Trust has helped 38 families codify their love of the land, representing more than 270,000 acres forever protected from development.

LEGACIES

FULFILLED

Before Texas Agricultural Land Trust was officially open for business, Blair received regular phone calls from a rancher itching to get started.

Jim Bill Anderson and his wife, Deborah, had spent their entire adult lives putting back the pieces of his family’s Frying Pan Ranch near Canadian. Originally his grandfather’s land, Anderson was motivated to never see the property broken up again.

Theirs was among the first conservation easements held through Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

“People enter into conservation easements for all sorts of reasons, including tax considerations and estate planning benefits, and while those were important considerations, the big reason we chose to do this was philosophical,” Anderson said at the time.

“In the long-term, keeping our land intact is as good for the people who live in the city as it is for us. Open space land benefits us all.”

Before the end of its first full year, Texas Agricultural Land Trust closed on two conservation easements.

Now, 15 years later, momentum continues to build.

Chaired today by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Director David Crow, of Corpus Christi, Texas Agricultural Land Trust has helped 38 families protect their heritage and preserve working lands into the future. These stewards represent more than 270,000 acres of wide-open spaces, natural ecosystems and breathtaking views across the state.

All of which will remain intact forever.

“We are a true partner to help keep that legacy and heritage together, keep working lands working and providing for the next generation,” Ellis says. “What excites me most is what those ranchers and families are

able to do through conservation and land stewardship. For example, these landscapes supply enough to meet the drinking water needs of the city of San Antonio, the seventh-largest in the U.S.”

A few years ago, Ellis says the staff may have had around seven easements in the pipeline at various stages. Now that number is closer to 75.

As success begets success, more families are seeing the real benefits of conservation easements and understanding how the tool can be tailored specifically for their operations. There are also new avenues on the horizon involving ecosystem markets, carbon credits and other stewardship-linked benefits back to producers.

As Blair describes, land conservation is no longer a question of why. It is a question of how.

“The battle when we started was for legitimacy,” she says. “The battle today is how do you choose among all the opportunities? In that way, Texas Agricultural Land Trust was able to change the conversation about the value of working lands conservation. And of that, I’m very proud.”

These days, Blair and Joseph reside on the San Pedro Ranch and enjoy the happy chaos that comes with having three grandchildren. The family gathers often to enjoy the outdoors, tend to the cattle and soak in quality time together.

With both the Calvert Brothers Ranch, which Blair co-manages, and the San Pedro Ranch protected under conversation easements, the family can rest assured these moments will continue.

“It’s always been such a source of joy for Joseph and me that our children love the land as much as we do,” Blair says. “It’s their true north. And now to see their children instinctively having that love also, it is hard to describe how meaningful that is.” T C

Earlier this year, Texas Agricultural Land Trust honored Blair Calvert Fitzsimons and celebrated 15 years during a “For the Love of the Land Gala.” Around $775,000 was raised, in Blair’s honor, to support the Forever Texas Fund, an endowment held by the Texas Agricultural Land Trust Foundation.

INTERSECTION OF HUMANS AND THE OUTDOORS

A Texas photographer’s philosophy on fostering ag literacy with a complete story.

By Diane Meyer

On a Friday afternoon, a food technology turned agricultural communications student with his sights on law school waited anxiously outside the office of his future Texas Tech University professor — more famously known as Wyman Meinzer, the only official state photographer of Texas.

The decorated Texas Tech alumnus taught one class a week at the Lubbock campus and, rumor had it, only answered email on that day.

So, a young Jerod Foster, bound and determined to take Meinzer’s 15-day photography course in Junction, decided a face-to-face conversation was his best bet to photograph the Texas Hill Country.

Meinzer and Foster sat outside a campus building, striking similar chords while exchanging stories of their cattle ranching backgrounds.

As the conversation wound down, Foster asked and Meinzer immediately agreed to admit him in the course that “changed my life,” Foster shares.

That summer, stationed tripod-to-tripod next to his mentor in the Llano River’s dense vegetation, Foster says he realized, “I can do this, too,” while capturing the same scenes as the most in-demand photographer in Texas.

Today, Foster teaches that same field course as an associate professor of practice at his alma mater, where he received a doctorate in mass communications. He splits time teaching in Lubbock; at home with his wife, Amanda, and three daughters, Eva, Lola Mae, and Emmy, in Ruidoso, New Mexico; and traveling the world, seeking the intersection of humans and the outdoors.

Jerod Foster explores Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo, on a shoot for an upcoming Ken Burns film.

Photo by Justin Rex

As an associate professor of practice at Texas Tech University, Jerod Foster leads students on photography excursions around the world. Photo by Justin Rex.

STAIRCASE OF STEWARDSHIP

As Foster pursued a passion for capturing people in natural elements, he discovered another: agricultural literacy.

The seed was planted early at Meadows Ranch, his mother’s family’s cattle operation in Cottondale, just south of Paradise. Growing up “across the pasture” from his cousins, he spent summers working alongside his grandpa and uncle, and showing Angus heifers and cows in 4-H and FFA. His parents were both educators — his dad an ag teacher.

“I don’t regularly work in agriculture [now], but I’m a strong advocate for ag literacy,” says the travel and conservation photographer. “We need to know where the things that we eat and wear come from.”

Though admittedly cliché, he says, the testament has been reinforced in his travels. Audiences are always thirsty for a story, he says, especially that of agriculture.

This past July, Foster co-led a group of 13 aspiring photographers and videographers on a 900-mile gravel cycling excursion across the Great Plains. The hot air smelled of corn, hay and soybeans as they pedaled by cow pastures and crop fields lining the unpaved county roads. It was tough travel, but through Foster’s encouragement, the metropolitan Gen Zers were genuinely interested in the passing sights.

“Every single day, there would be something that just blew their minds,” he tells. “It created a tie to the significance of agriculture in their life.”

Foster says this experience brought to light the younger generations’ openness in gleaning information. Especially, the need for modern farmers and ranchers to be part of the storytelling.

“We live in a time with technologies that make it so easy to put information out there,” he says. “And we can cover up a lot of misinformation with the right stuff, if we are proactive enough.”

He points to social platforms as a way to provide context, using those networks as a tool for advocating for ag literacy. He references the “staircase of stewardship” — a business tool to visualize stages of initiative people are willing to take to accomplish a task, particularly used by conservation and fundraising organizations.

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A personal favorite

Perhaps one of Jerod Foster’s favorite photographs is a portrait he took of his grandparents, two people who have dedicated their lives to agriculture. Melvin and Jannie Lou Meadows are pictured here before heading to an evening church service.

“I just knew exactly what needed to be in the photograph,” Foster says. “It emphasized how important it is to get to know who you’re photographing.

“Dive into their story,” he urges. “Don’t be the person who pushes the button and walks out and says there is a picture.”

At the lowest level, a person requires set instructions to initiate a behavior and will not seek action on their own. A person at the highest level will act independently. Foster believes ag literacy can use this concept in driving attention and interest into what agriculturalists do, connecting agriculture to stewardship.

“For a farmer to appropriately communicate what they do and who they are — there’s significance in that,” he says.

THE CONVERSATION ELEMENT

Farmers and ranchers have a distinct advantage to share their perspectives in the correct context — to tell the complete story.

Foster is a firm believer photos, especially for print, are meant to help tell a story. He explains a photographer’s job is to attract and explain information, while being responsible storytellers and stewards of information.

“Good photographers don’t just walk into the room, set up and take a couple pictures, especially not in this field [agriculture],” he says. “I may spend most of the time visiting with my subjects. That is the surest way I can connect them to the story and make their surroundings incredibly relevant to them.”

Conversation leads to the crucial element of an impactful photograph — knowledge and commitment to the story. In building trust with subjects, they are more willing to share information.

Most importantly for Foster’s work, conversation centers the story back to humanity. As a student looking for feedback and freelance opportunities, he recounts sending a slide film portfolio to retired Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Jim Patrico. In a handwritten response, Patrico complimented Foster’s technical skills, but critiqued a crucial missing element: people.

“At that moment, I realized people are the central component of any story,” Foster describes. From then on, his interest shifted from just landscapes and animals to peoplecentered photography because ‘a story is inherently human — it’s what motivates us, what inspires us.’”

Gone are the days of his LSAT prep, slide film portfolios and nervous conversations with strangers. These days, Foster’s commitments are largely devoted to improving ag literacy in the classroom and on the road, camera in hand.

Though his images grace the covers and pages of esteemed publications like Texas Parks & Wildlife, The New York Times and The Texas Tribune, this awarded storyteller is especially proud to motivate The Cattleman readers by taking part in telling stories of Texas and Southwestern cattle raisers — showing how agriculturalists and the land are codependent, an intersection of humans and the outdoors. T C

Diane Meyer is the associate director of content for Grant Company based in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Photo by Jerod Foster

PHOTO LIKE FOSTER

Making compelling, high-quality photographs takes practice, but as professor and professional Jerod Foster assures, “Knowledge is the key to a good photo.” As experts in cattle raising, ranchers already have a leg up in taking a great photo. Foster shares these practical tips for picturing your animals and land at their best:

• Don’t shoot cattle too wide. Instead, try shooting from farther away, and use a longer lens with a clear focal point to diminish a busy background.

• Don’t worry about getting the whole animal in the shot. Focus where the action is.

• Capture animals in their environment — include the natural landscape in the scene.

• When picturing just land and space, shoot lower and closer to objects in the foreground to give a sense of depth.

• As a photographer, be catlike — go everywhere to find unique angles.

• Make photos more interesting by taking the viewer closer, helping them see things they wouldn’t see if they were just walking by.

• Showcase the unknown.

Know a budding photographer? Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association hosts a youth photo contest each year during Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo. Photographs can be submitted, beginning Jan. 1, in age groups ranging from 5-18 years old.

Most in his element outdoors, Jerod Foster enjoys traveling and documenting stories, instructing future photographers and spending quality time with family.

Middle photo by Madison Walker

THE GAMEPLAN FOR TEXAS’ RECORD BUDGET SURPLUS

By Dale Craymer

Lawmakers in January will convene in the 88th regular session of the Texas Legislature.

While they are used to seeing a budget surplus, this time they have a surplus of record proportions. We have survived the worst the pandemic has thrown at us, and the Texas economy is humming along. Even fears of a national recession are unlikely to change the budget outlook, as much of that money is already in the bank.

So, what’s on tap for legislators in 2023?

First, some perspective: The biggest previous surplus in the state’s history was just over $11 billion. Today’s surplus is roughly three times bigger than anything seen before. Comptroller Glenn Hegar projects the state currently has a $27 billion surplus through the end of 2023. That number will only grow by January when he extends his revenue forecast through 2025, the two-year budget period lawmakers will tackle.

Legislators will likely address issues on the spending side before crafting a tax cut package. Their greatest focus likely will be issues that can be tackled with a onetime infusion of money. Many do not want to create a recurring obligation out of concern that future revenues may fall short of that bigger spending base.

High on many lists will be shoring up state pension systems for retired teachers and state employees. Others will want to see a greater investment in infrastructure: roads, water, electricity and extending broadband to the state’s rural and underserved areas. Lawmakers may also want to offset recently passed increases in utility charges to pay for strengthening the state’s electricity grid, as well as new phone bill fees adopted by the Public Utility

Commission to build the Universal Service Fund, which helps support the phone network in rural Texas.

But there will be some permanent additions to the state budget. High inflation has hit Texas school districts, driving up costs. At the same time, teacher pay has lagged the market, creating a shortage of classroom teachers. Public education will be a big winner in the 2023 budget sweepstakes.

Then, all eyes will turn to tax cuts. At the top of most state officials’ target list is a tax the state doesn’t levy: property tax. Gov. Greg Abbott is advocating the use of half of the state’s surplus to reduce school property taxes, an item also high on the wishlists of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan. That may include a combination of further tax rate cuts and raising the homestead exemption. For some, that may be enough to actually lower property tax bills; for others, it may at least hold tax bills flat for the next two years.

Capitol observers often note that the easiest sessions, ironically, are those when money is tight. Legislators can simply say “no” to anything costing more money without hurting anyone’s feelings. The hardest sessions are those with money. Lawmakers have to prioritize, saying “yes” to some and “no” to others.

If that’s true, the 2023 session may be one of the hardest ever. Stay tuned. T C

Dale Craymer is president of Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. The non-profit, non-partisan membership-supported organization, which Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a member, is a group of businesses and individuals interested in state and local fiscal policies and the way those policies impact our economy.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT TSCRA

SPECIAL RANGER FOUNDATION RECEIVES RECORD GIFT

Several Farm Credit organizations recently joined forces to make a record donation to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Special Rangers Foundation in support of their efforts to provide law enforcement and investigative resources to agricultural producers and rural communities.

AgTexas Farm Credit, Capital Farm Credit, Central Texas Farm Credit, Heritage Land Bank, Legacy Ag Credit, Lone Star Ag Credit and Texas Farm Credit combined to donate $77,000 — smashing the foundation’s fundraising goal of $60,000.

“The donation from these Farm Credit organizations will be used to supply training, equipment and advanced investigative resources to TSCRA Special Rangers,” said Scott Williamson, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association executive director of law, brand and inspection services.

“The investment by these Farm Credit associations will help prevent livestock and equipment theft and help ensure our law enforcement professionals are equipped with the latest safety equipment.”

HAMILTON NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

On Nov. 16, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced Melissa Hamilton as executive director of government relations.

Hamilton oversees legislative and regulatory efforts for the association in Austin and Washington, D.C., and directs the TSCRA political action committee. She also advises leaders and members on the development, implementation, strategy, and communication of policy and political issues.

Hamilton previously served as public counsel for the Office of Public Insurance Counsel since being appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2017 and later confirmed by the Texas Senate.

TSCRA Executive Director of Government Relations

She also served as staff counsel for then Texas State Senator, now Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts,

Glenn Hegar, and later as director of government relations for the Texas Department of Insurance.

“With the growing pressures facing ranchers and landowners, it is important now more than ever that TSCRA members are well represented in Austin and Washington, D.C.,” said Jason Skaggs, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association executive vice president and CEO. “Melissa is a well-respected and experienced leader who understands the issues important to TSCRA members and she will make them proud.”

Hamilton holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law.

She was raised in her family’s ranching operation in Goliad and DeWitt counties.

“Coming from a cattle ranch with more than a 100year history, ranching is a part of who I am,” Hamilton said. “TSCRA has a long history of supporting ranchers and landowners and it is great to join a team dedicated to protecting this way of life and the rancher’s ability to steward the land entrusted to them.”

PERKINS JOINS TSCRA LAW ENFORCEMENT, BRAND AND INSPECTION SERVICES

Bringing extensive experience in cattle production and marketing, Katie Perkins began her role Nov. 1 as the executive assistant for law enforcement, brand and inspection services at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Based in the Fort Worth office, Perkins is responsible for assisting with law department projects, supporting special rangers, handling reports and managing the Special Ranger Foundation silent auction. She will also contribute to brand inspection and registration needs.

Perkins was raised on her family’s farming and ranching operation in Hill County, where they managed grazing crops, a cow-calf herd, and stocker and feeder operations. The family also owns Hubbard Livestock Market, where she experienced everything from tagging to sorting cattle and helping in the office and sale ring.

She has a strong history with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and working with the organization’s market inspectors and special rangers.

Perkins earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Tarleton State University; and is completing a master’s in agricultural and consumer resources, with an emphasis in agriculture leadership, from Tarleton State University. T C

Melissa Hamilton

Katie Perkins

TSCRA Executive Assistant of Law Enforcement

A N D T HO S E W H O PR OT E CT I T

TSCRA Special Rangers investigate and solve agricultural crime, assist with natural disaster recovery, and protect and educate cattle raisers across the Great Southwest.

To lend your own support to the Special Rangers Foundation visit w www.tscrasrf.silentauctionpro.com or text TSCRASRF to 888-990-9876.

A STRONGER STATE OF BEEF

Keeping beef top of mind for consumers across the state is a key mission for Texas Beef Council. In the upcoming Ranching 101 session, held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, participants can learn about the council and how their Checkoff dollars are put to work through beef promotions.

Interested members can register for the hour-long Zoom webinar by scanning the QR code below.

The December speaker will be Jordan Manning, Texas Beef Council’s producer communications manager. In her role, she provides strategy, education and advocacy support reaching beef producers and industry stakeholders.

Growing up working in the office of her parents cattle auction market instilled Manning’s appreciation for the industry. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and journalism at Texas A&M University allowed Manning to seek out a career where she uses her passions to support local farmers and ranchers.

In 2016, Manning joined Texas Beef Council as digital communications coordinator, where she helped run the Beef Loving Texans social media pages and website. She then spent three years as farmer communications manager for Dairy MAX. Manning feels honored to have returned to Texas Beef Council, working closely with beef producers and the industry that built her. T C

Scan to register:

Jordan Manning Texas Beef Council

Upcoming Ranching 101 session to explore beef

promotions

through the Texas Beef Council.

INDUSTRY BRIEFS

TSCRA MEMBERS: FREE ADMISSION

TO FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo have shared a bond since the earliest days of both organizations.

To honor this relationship, cattle raisers can take advantage of two special offers to enjoy the stock show — especially Ranching Heritage weekend, which kicks off the event held Jan. 13-Feb. 4. As a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association member, the stock show is extending their traditional offer of a special TSCRA souvenir pin for free grounds admission to the show’s 23-day run.

Members will also have the opportunity to purchase $40 tickets to the annual Ranch Gathering Party scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. in the Round Up Inn of the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall. The party allows cattle raisers the opportunity to catch up prior to the Saturday night Ranch Rodeo performance and to enjoy a meal catered by Reata.

Grounds passes and tickets will be available to claim starting Nov. 1. Visit tscra.org or call 817-916-1753.

CATTLEMEN REMAIN COMMITTED TO QUALITY

With ranchers continuing to produce high-quality beef at notable marks and consumer demand staying strong, Certified Angus Beef closed its books on the secondhighest sales year of record.

The brand’s success is a reflection of an entire community pointed toward providing premium beef, starting with steady supply.

Certified Angus Beef sold 1.234 billion pounds in 54 countries during the 2022 fiscal year. Up 1.6% or 19 million

pounds from fiscal year 2021, the brand celebrates its seventh year selling more than a billion pounds and set a new record sales month with 113.8 million pounds sold in March 2022.

The second-largest supply in the brand’s history, 5.78 million carcasses achieved the brand’s 10 beef quality specifications. The year also marked a record 16.38 million Angus-influenced cattle evaluated for the brand, a 1.7% increase from the previous year.

Cattlemen’s commitment to increasing high-quality beef supply continues to be rewarded through grid premiums. As reported in March, premiums paid by packers to producers for brand-qualifying cattle totaled $182 million annually, or $3.5 million per week.

LEADERSHIP AT TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE

On Oct. 5, David Yoskowitz, Ph.D., was named the new executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Beginning in January, Yoskowitz will assume responsibilities held by department’s current executive director, Carter Smith, who announced his retirement in June after almost 15 years of leading the department.

Currently with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Yoskowitz has served in many roles, including professor of environmental economics; associate director for research, policy and development; endowed chair for socioeconomics; and since 2020, the senior executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.

Yoskowitz earned a master’s degree and doctorate in economics from Texas Tech University, and a bachelor’s in economics and finance from Bentley College in Waltham, Mass.

TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE TO LEAD HISTORIC CLIMATE-SMART INVESTMENT

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is anticipating the largest competitive grant in the organization’s history, up to $65 million, to execute a five-year, multi-commodity project to work with the state’s agricultural sector on expanding climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices.

In key locations across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, Helena has branches staffed with people who can provide landowners, ranchers and wildlife enthusiasts with all their management needs.

For more information, contact your local Helena representative or visit HelenaAgri.com.

The grants are not just historic for the Texas A&M University System, but for the nation, as part of a federal investment in 70 partnerships recently announced by USDA.

According to the announcement, the federal projects will expand markets for climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.Project partners will be tasked with providing technical and financial assistance to producers to implement climate-smart production practices on a voluntary basis on working lands.

Texas A&M AgriLife’s internal members for this initiative include AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Texas A&M AgriLife also will serve as a major contributor to four other partnership projects totaling $265 million that focus on cotton, beef and bison production, and sorghum systems:

• Climate-Smart Beef and Bison Commodities, led by South Dakota State University: This project, with potential funding up to $80 million, will create stronger market opportunities for beef and bison producers, educate on best management practices and manage large-scale data.

• U.S. Climate-Smart Cotton Program, led by US Cotton Trust Protocol:

This project, with potential funding up to $90 million, will build markets for climate-smart cotton and aid more than 1,000 cotton farmers, including historically underserved cotton producers, across the country.

• Climate-Smart Cotton Through a Sustainable & Innovative Supply Chain Approach, led by ECOM USA LLC:

This project, with potential funding of $30 million, will strive to implement methods to restore soil and ecosystem health in cotton production through regenerative farming and best practices based on specific regions and needs.

• National Sorghum Producers Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Project, led by National Sorghum Producers Association: This project, with potential funding up to $65 million, plans to implement climate-smart production practices across hundreds of thousands of acres of sorghum working lands over a five-year period, with the goal to reduce hundreds of millions of pounds of carbon emissions and develop markets for sorghum as a climate-smart commodity. T C

Join or renew your membership today.

Member benefits include the support of TSCRA Special Rangers, government relations advocacy, educational programs, networking and social events, member-only discounts, The Cattleman magazine and phone app, and insurance services.

To learn more about membership, scan the code above or visit TSCRA.org.

OBITUARIES

NANA KELLEY BROWN, 76, of Beeville, died Oct. 26. Together with her husband, the late Austin Edwin Brown II, she spent 56 years of married life on the Brown Ranch in Bee County.

Brown was born April 30, 1946, in San Antonio, to Robert Martin Kelley and Ora Nell (Thigpen) Kelley. She was a 1964 graduate of William B. Travis High School in Austin. She also earned an associate degree in business administration before getting married on June 11, 1966.

In addition to supporting her husband, who was a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association honorary director, in ranching life, Brown was an incredible cook. She enjoyed entertaining friends and family with her widely known culinary skills, and

managed a successful catering, interior decorating and event planning business. She also was an avid seamstress, designing and taking to market her own clothing line.

Above all, Brown held her job as professional grandmother as her most prized role.

Her survivors include a daughter, Kelley Fair Matheny of Pensacola, Florida; two sons, Austin Edwin (Jody) Brown III, a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association director, of Beeville; and Case Edwin (Danaca) Brown of New Braunfels; grandchildren Austin Edwin Brown IV, Addie Ruth Brown, Riley Fair Matheny, Case Edwin Brown II, Gage Matheny and Weston Anderson Brown. T C

GIFT GUIDE Holiday 2022

‘Tis the season for finding the perfect gift. Let us help.

1. Santa’s got style. Pair the cowgirl graphic t-shirt with the Cheyenne Aztec cardigan for the ultimate holiday win. kimmiejeanboutique.com 2. Gift a complete look including the Reba crossbody purse, Lonestar belt, intricate earrings and necklace. kimmiejeanboutique.com

3. Take your pick of turquoise dreams, handmade jewelry and accessories, including a custom horse head necklace. chjewelrydesigns.com 4. A beautiful collection of colors and Americanmade traditional wild rags. gillilandhcwildrags.com

Gifts for

him

1. Stand out, or better yet, blend in, with this camouflage hat from Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. tscra.org

2. A sharp-looking hat can’t be beat for the cattle raisers on your list. Custom options available. shopcapitalhatters.com

3. These 13-inch Rios of Mercedes are sure to be someone’s next favorite pair of boots. Royal blue, Wyoming top, cutter toe. nrsworld.com

4. A mouth-watering gift from Linz Heritage Angus with steakhouse quality cuts, delivered right to your door. meatsbylinz.com

5. Showcase your support for the agriculture community with this comfortable hooded sweatshirt. aggearstore.com

For the TSCRA

1. An iconic metal gate sign is just the gift for any TSCRA member. 2. Purchase a Yeti mug for friends or family this holiday season. 3. The Cattleman magazine is a gift that keeps giving all year. 4. Give the gift of a registration to the 2023 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo in Fort Worth.

A cozy, puffy vest will be a winter wardrobe staple for anyone lucky enough to receive this gift. 6. Columbia fishing shirts, complete with TSCRA logo, will be perfect under the tree for any outdoor enthusiast. Pictured right. Visit TSCRA.org to order gifts today.

DISTRICT 2 — TEXAS PANHANDLE

Bull missing in Jack County.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Ben Eggleston reports one 3-year-old registered Red Angus bull missing near Bryson. The bull has a scar on his left hip and a green ear tag in the right ear with RAE written on it. The bull was last seen Oct. 7 in a pasture near Salt Creek Road. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Eggleston at 806-852-4741.

DISTRICT 4 — NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

Equipment stolen near Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Bart Perrier reports a 2007 John Deere 6215 FWD tractor, 2007 John Deere 563 front-end loader and a 2012 Frontier box blade missing. The serial number of the tractor is L06215D515825. The loader serial number is W00563D001094, and

the box blade serial number is 1XFBB41XCC0000280. The equipment was last seen Oct. 4. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Perrier at 918-440-8360

DISTRICT 7 — NORTH TEXAS Cattle

missing in Haskell County.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Jay Foster reports seven bred cows and three Wagyu heifers missing from a pasture southeast of Lake Stamford. Last seen Sept. 8, the cattle have EID buttons and notches in the right ear, and lime green ear tags in the left ear. The missing tag numbers are 2, 7, 13, 15, 17, 20, 25, 31, 33, and 37. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Foster at 940-457-0295.

DISTRICT 22 — CENTRAL TEXAS Calves missing near

Brenham.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Brent Mast reports two black Wagyu calves missing. The calves had been recently weaned when they went missing in October 2021. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Mast at 936-714-6619

DISTRICT 25 — SOUTHEAST TEXAS Bull missing in Goliad County.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Robert Fields reports one black Brangus bull missing. Last seen July 2022, the bull is branded with QQ on the right hip and has white ear tags in both ears. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Fields at 361-207-5207. T C

TSCRA offers a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and/or grand jury indictment of individuals for theft of livestock or related property. Anonymity is guaranteed. To provide information, call the Operation Cow Thief tip line at 817-916-1775.

DIRECT TO CONSUMERS

Six questions to ask before beefing up sales efforts.

By Sarah Hill

With consumers hungry for greater connection with how products are sourced, the local food movement has spurred opportunity for cattle raisers looking to directly market beef off the ranch. But before selling that half beef to a neighbor or batch of steaks at the farmer’s market, there are important legal and economic questions to consider.

Experts from Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension recently released a guidebook, titled Where’s The Beef, to guide producers through the layers of details associated with direct marketing. Among the recommendations are six guiding questions.

1. WHAT IS THE PRICE POINT?

Justin Benavidez, Ph.D., Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension economist, says producers should outline their goals for the direct sales enterprise and keep copious records to determine if it was profitable.

“There are costs involved with getting started,” he says. “You have to have a plan for how you’re going to cover those costs.”

Covering costs depends on setting appropriate beef prices. Typically, those in agriculture are price takers. In this instance, assign product prices as needed for your business, but understand pricing too high can be risky.

Like anything on the ranch, it’s helpful to consider the financial implications should things turn south.

“You should also have an exit plan,” Benavidez says. “What if you lose all of your customers? Plan for the worst-case scenario.”

2. HOW DO YOU WANT TO SELL?

There are several ways to go about selling beef products directly to consumers, and each has its own benefits and challenges. Producers should think about which method will work best for their operations.

The first way is selling the live animal — a whole, half or quarter — prior to going to the harvesting facility.

According to Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, this allows producers to take cattle to a custom slaughter facility without additional permitting or insurance requirements, since it is only the live animal being sold.

“When selling the animal, the customer will be the one to call the slaughter facility about cut requests and those specifications,” Lashmet says.

However, some customers may not want to pay the larger cost for buying an animal at live weight or may not have room in their freezers, so this method could limit your customer base.

“As with any sales method, you have to watch the facility quality,” Lashmet says. “If the facility does not do a good job, the consumer will likely blame the producer, not the processor, and that can harm your reputation. Only work with facilities you can trust.”

Another method is selling a percentage of processed beef — for example, a half or quarter of the meat after an animal has been processed. The key here is ensuring the facility is properly inspected for the given market.

“You must have the animal processed at an inspected facility in order to sell meat,” Lashmet says. “You will also need additional insurance and permits, because you are selling food products and not live animals.”

Selling individual cuts can be done either in person or online, and the product is either picked up or shipped directly to the consumer. This approach expands the potential customer base, because many consumers are willing to buy smaller quantities and typically have enough freezer space for beef they are purchasing.

“An inspected facility, permit and insurance are required for this method,” Lashmet adds. “Of all the producers I’ve talked to who already utilize direct beef sales, they say that managing inventory is an issue when selling retail cuts.”

This means you need to be ready when you start selling beef directly to accommodate customer requests. Keep

Photo by Jerod Foster

in mind, the most popular cuts are going to be easier to sell than say, soup bones, ground beef or roasts.

“Be prepared to have direct sales be someone’s fulltime job,” Lashmet says. “You can sell beef halves or quarters on the side, but selling individual cuts is a lot more work.”

3. WHERE IS YOUR INTENDED MARKET?

Where the beef will be sold determines what additional pieces are needed to begin selling product.

“If you’re selling beef to customers outside the state where you live, then you need to have that animal processed at a federally inspected facility,” Lashmet says.

There are three different types of slaughter facilities to choose from in Texas:

• Federally inspected facilities are inspected by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. An official inspector is present anytime the plant is operational, and the facility must meet all federal guidelines. Go online to locate federally inspected facilities in your area. Any meat to be sold across state lines must be slaughtered at a federally inspected facility.

• State inspected facilities must always have a state inspector present from the Meat Safety Assurance Unit of the Department of State Health Services. Not all states offer this option, but 27 states do, including Texas. The meat can only be sold in the state where the animal was processed, not where your operation is based, so be careful if you live in a border area. This may not be a good choice if you choose to have online sales, as it potentially limits your sales opportunities.

• A custom exempt facility does not have any type of inspection but is required to follow the same sanitation and humane slaughter laws. If you sell the live animal rather than beef, then it can be processed at a custom exempt facility.

“If you utilize a custom exempt facility, the beef may not be sold or donated,” Lashmet says. “The beef can only be used by the owner of the animal, members of your household, non-paying household guests or household employees.”

4. WHAT OTHER PRACTICALITIES?

Each producer must determine which option best fits their operation. Some other factors to consider are slaughter date availability and flexibility.

“If you are selling beef on a large scale, will the slaughter facility be able to get you in?” Lashmet asks. “You should also tour the plant and determine the skill of the butcher and if they’re good to work with. A good butcher can get more cut options for marketing.”

Some producers initially opt to get an animal processed at all of the plants local to them and choose which one does the best job to do business with.

Visit agrilife.org/texasaglaw to download a free PDF copy of the guidebook. Printed copies can be purchased for $5 each. Call 806-677-5681 for more information.

Packaging is another critical component. Bad packaging can result in freezer burn on the finished product, leading to unhappy customers. Ask to see and handle the packaging so you know what the finished product looks like.

“Ask for pricing so you can compare apples to apples,” Lashmet says. “Each plant charges differently; for example, live weight versus hanging weight, or if there are additional fees for aging or special cuts.”

5. WHAT ARE THE LABELING AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS?

All products are required to have a label that includes product name, the type of cut, inspection stamp, address, net weight, a handling statement and safe handling instructions as part of the approved label design. Any specialty claims, such as grass fed, grainfinished, Certified Angus Beef, farm raised, etc., must also be pre-approved. “The more you add to the label, the more rules there are,” Lashmet explains.

“If a product has more than one ingredient, an ingredients statement and nutrition information have to be included,” Lashmet says.

Depending on the type of slaughter facility, labels will be approved on the federal or state level. Federal-level labels must be approved by Food Safety and Inspection Service in a process that can take 4-6 weeks.

Another option for federal labels is to obtain generic approval. If there are no specialty claims, a federal inspector can approve the label at the plant, but the label is limited to the required elements and information

such as aged, product of the USA, or grade if the product has been graded.

State-inspected plants must follow state level Meat Safety Assurance Unit rules, and there is no generic approval option. All labels must be pre-approved. Any specialty claims must include supporting documents with the application, and the approval process typically takes only 2-7 days.

Texas requires anyone direct selling beef to have a food manufacturer permit from the Department of State Health Services. Permits can cost between $103-$1,700 and are applicable for two years. It takes 4-6 weeks to obtain a permit.

“The permit cost is based on the amount of your gross sales, so choose the lowest one if you are just getting started — you can always bump it up,” Lashmet says.

Most direct beef sales operations will need a food manufacturer’s license, but those operating a storefront without self-service likely need a retail food permit from the Department of State Health Services, which is a bit more expensive. That permit can cost anywhere between $258-$733, and takes 4-6 weeks to get. You’ll also have to follow Texas food establishment rules on freezer temperatures, storage requirements, etc.

“You should also check with your county or local health department for additional regulations if you live in a bigger county or city,” Lashmet adds.

6. ARE THERE LIABILITY CONCERNS?

Lashmet advises cattle producers have a separate business entity established for direct sales and insurance coverage for that business.

“An LLC or other entity structure gives you additional liability protection in case of foodborne illness,” she says. “Be sure to talk with your lawyer and accountant, because there are tax implications for each type of business entity.”

All farming operations should have a liability insurance policy, Lashmet says, but additional coverage is needed for direct sales — particularly, a commercial general liability insurance policy with products operations coverage. Additional property insurance is needed to cover any equipment, freezers or refrigerated trucks. Workers’ compensation is also recommended if you have employees.

“An umbrella policy can also be a good way to add additional insurance coverage cheaply,” Lashmet says. T C

Sarah Hill is a freelance writer for Grant Company based near Brookings, South Dakota.

HOW STRATEGIC DISRUPTIONS BENEFIT SOIL HEALTH

By Kayla Jennings Photos courtesy of Noble Research Institute

While repeated, unchecked soil disruption goes against the third soil health principle to “minimize soil disturbance,” disrupting the soil in strategic and natural ways can positively benefit both a ranch’s productivity and the environment.

Noble Research Institute General Ranch Manager Joe Pokay has had a front-row seat to watch this balance play out on 14,000 acres across seven Noble Ranches stocked with cattle, sheep and goats.

“We’re doing different types of disturbance to the soil at different frequencies,” he says. For example, sometimes it makes sense to trample standing mature forage with hoof action. “That is encouraging the soil microbial growth by feeding the soil microbes with forage we put back into the soil.”

Aldo Leopold once wrote, “The central thesis of game management is this: Game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have heretofore destroyed it — axe, plow, cow, fire and gun. Management is their purposeful and continuing alignment.”

Pokay says the same principle applies to soil health.

Over time, rangeland soil health across the country has been depleted by the repeated, manmade disruptions of plowing, overgrazing, allowing brush encroachment and more. But on the flipside, the intentional and judicious use of disruptions such as grazing livestock, mechanical means and fire can restore rangeland to its former glory.

STOCKING RATES & ADAPTIVE GRAZING

On the ranches Pokay manages, he places heightened emphasis on stocking rate and adaptive grazing. This

requires careful evaluation of the land and livestock on a frequent basis to determine the correct rate and necessary adjustments.

“If we picked a stock density in an acre-sized paddock and said, ‘We rotate cows every day in this size paddock at this stock density at this time of day,’ you’ve completely gone away from being adaptive in your grazing management, and you are being prescriptive,” he explains.

By alternating livestock species and fluctuating stocking rates, then following grazing events with longer periods of forage rest, Pokay says soil microbiology is encouraged to be more productive by challenging it to do more.

He first saw the value of this strategy managing yearling cattle several years ago.

Adaptive grazing takes advantage of cattle as natural fertilizer spreaders by balancing their time on each part of the pasture, giving the soil an equal chance to replenish nutrients.

And not only was the grazing distribution more even due to smaller pasture size, Pokay also was able to see the cattle more frequently to monitor their health and condition.

Grazing smaller paddocks at the right stocking rate can benefit livestock nutrition, too.

“If you turn a cow out in 1,000 acres, she’d probably just walk around, grazing exactly what she wants to graze every day and lie in the shade the rest of the day,” Pokay says. “But if you ask her to work a little bit, she will reap the positive benefits of eating plants she normally wouldn’t select that have high nutritional value.”

Not all soil disruptions are bad. Choosing the right mix can pay off over time.

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ADDITIONAL DISRUPTIONS, AS NEEDED

However, like anything extreme, using too high a stocking rate for too long can have negative cascading effects on soil health.

Pokay says many ranchers battle brush encroachment due to overgrazing many years before. Invasive plants are using valuable nutrients in the soil that the more desirable plants need to thrive — eventually making it difficult for higher-quality plants to grow at all.

“We can’t graze down a 4-inch post oak,” he says. “At that point, we introduce mechanical brush removal to try to open up some more grazeable acres.”

By removing invasive species from an area, a rancher allows more opportunity for desirable plants to grow. This may mean another form of mechanical disruption should be implemented during such a transition — planting cover crops. Pokay says this keeps a living root in the ground and eventually leads to more resilient rangelands.

“That’s an example of a positive compounding and cascading disruption, because we’re introducing diversity into our pastures,” Pokay says. “That accomplishes several of the soil health principles. The more diversity, the more resilient the whole system is to extremes in weather.”

The last form of soil disruption Pokay subscribes to is fire. Prescribed fire clears dead vegetation while also putting nutrients back into the soil. After a prescribed fire, a pasture often comes back more productive than before.

“We have been managing against soil health for so long, and that’s why all these woody species have taken over,” he says. “So, we have to do something to reset the system, and that’s where fire can come in. We can use fire to clean up some dead woody species and open more grazeable acres to manage with our grazing animals.”

A BALANCED APPROACH

While each strategy has value, not every ranch needs to use every method to ensure soil health.

Pokay stresses the importance of finding the appropriate balance of soil-disruption strategies for the situation. No two ranches are the same, and

therefore, a hard-and-fast prescriptive approach won’t yield desired results.

“Our goal is to increase our soil health with grazing animals and remain profitable,” he explains. “How each ranch does that is going to be different, because each ranch is different.”

Pokay and his team implement an adaptive stewardship strategy. This means there is a plan in place to achieve the respective goals. However, it is not set in stone.

“If you do that, you’re trying to apply linear thinking into a very complex system,” he describes. “Linear thinking and linear problems don’t apply to nature and our ecosystem.”

Factors to consider when using an adaptive stewardship strategy are the current state of the land, the goals of the operation and historical weather patterns. Some ranches will need a more aggressive approach to reach the desired outcome, while others may benefit from a “less is more” philosophy.

For example, using a chemical to treat brush encroachment has some negative effects. However, in some situations, it may increase the soil health longterm, because more grazing animals can access the land to put down more manure and cycle nutrients through the soil much faster. Likewise, opening the canopy to get more sunlight through to desirable plants will increase the energy flow to the soil.

“The follow-up strategy to a chemical or mechanical brush treatment is most times more important than the initial treatment,” Pokay stresses.

For example, he explains that after mulching, they planned to use goats to clean up the regrowth. If they’d used chemicals, they might follow up with fire.

“If we didn’t have a plan, we would be right back where we started in a few years,” he says.

MINDSET & GOAL SETTING

“The first step a ranch really needs to do is take a look at their goals,” Pokay emphasizes. “What are they really after? How much risk are they comfortable with? How much outside of their comfort zone can they go into?”

Tough questions, but important to ask and answer, even if the answers include soil disruptions that seem like a step backward at first glance. The results will be worth it in terms of productivity and sustainability.

When it comes to setting goals for improving the grasslands on the Noble Ranches, “We really go back to our historical ecological context,” Pokay says. “The Cross Timbers region, where our ranches are, was a post oak savanna with grasses throughout. That’s our goal. We want to have the diversity of all the functional groups of grasses, forbs and trees.” T C

Kayla Jennings is a freelance writer who lives in Throckmorton. She authored this story on behalf of Noble Research Institute.

ESTIMATING WINTER FEED

How much hay does a cow need?

Estimating forage use by cows is an important part of calculating winter feed needs. Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated to make these determinations.

Forage quality is a determining factor in the amount of forage consumed. Higher quality forages contain larger concentrations of important nutrients, so animals consuming these forages should be more likely to meet their nutrient needs.

Also, cows can consume a larger quantity of higher quality forages, which are fermented more rapidly in the rumen, leaving a void that the animal can refill with additional forage. Consequently, forage intake increases.

For example, low-quality forages — below 6% crude protein — will be consumed at about 1.5% of bodyweight, on a dry matter basis, per day. Higher quality grass hays — above 8% crude protein — may be consumed at about 2% of bodyweight.

Excellent forages, such as alfalfa, silages or green pasture, may be consumed at the rate of 2.5% dry matter of bodyweight per day. The combination of increased nutrient content and forage intake makes high-quality forage valuable to the animal and producer.

With these intake estimates, producers can calculate an estimated amount of needed hay.

Using an example of 1,200-pound pregnant springcalving cows, let’s assume the grass hay quality is good and tested 8% crude protein. Cows will voluntarily consume 2% of their bodyweight, or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100% dry matter. Grass hay is often 7-10% moisture.

If we assume the hay is 92% dry matter, or 8% moisture, then cows will consume about 26 pounds per day on an as-fed basis. Unfortunately, hay waste must

also be considered when feeding big round bales. It’s difficult to estimate, but generally has been found to be 6-20% or more.

For this example, let’s assume 15% hay waste. This means approximately 30 pounds of grass hay must be hauled to the pasture for each cow, each day that hay is the diet’s primary ingredient.

After calving and during early lactation, the cow may weigh 100 pounds less, but will be able to consume about 2.6% of her body weight, 100% dry matter, in hay. This would translate into 36 pounds of as-fed hay per cow, per day necessary to be hauled to the pasture. This again assumes 15% hay waste.

Accurate knowledge of the herd’s average cow size, as well as the average weight of the big round bales becomes necessary to predict hay needs and feeding strategies. Diameter, length, density, type of hay and moisture content all will greatly influence the bale’s weight. Weighing a pickup or trailer with and without a bale may be the best method to estimate weights.

Utilizing standing forage in native and bermudagrass pastures to supply much of the forage needs during fall and early winter months will reduce hay feeding. An appropriate supplementation program will help the cows digest the lower quality roughage in standing forage.

When standing forage is in short supply or covered by snow and ice, hay becomes the primary feed source. The number of days hay feeding is necessary is hard to predict going into the winter months. Looking back at previous years’ records may be the best source of information to help make that determination. T C

Glenn Selk is an emeritus animal scientist with Oklahoma State University Extension.

By Glenn Selk

Photo by Jerod Foster

WHAT PLANT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER?

By Kent Ferguson

Photo by Lee Page, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Tumble windmill grass is a short, compact perennial bunchgrass found growing in many soil types. Often an indicator of overgrazed lands, the grass does not dominate the landscape as other plants may have the tendency to do.

Tumble windmill grass: Grows from tufts with smooth, flattened culms reaching more than 16 inches tall.

• Can be found growing erect or flat on the soil surface. It has short stolons that often give a turfgrass appearance.

• Has light-green leaves, folded at the midrib, with a round tip. The seedhead will be purple in early stages and light red at maturity.

• Has short leaves at the plant’s upper reaches. At the base, leaves are often 7 inches long.

• Has a seedhead with up to 15-plus, 2-6 inch long branches. They are arranged in whorls, resembling a windmill, that will spread. The seedhead will break off and tumble in the wind, thus the name Tumble windmill.

Tumble windmill grass is relatively poor for livestock grazing, but animals will use the forage when it is in early growth stages. Production is very low compared to other natives. Proper stocking and rotational grazing systems can benefit other, more desirable species and increase composition in the plant community.

The grass is also poor forage for wildlife species, but white-tailed deer and antelope have been observed using the plant in the early stages when leaves are most tender and palatable. T C

Tumble windmill grass (Chloris verticillata)

Kent Ferguson, a retired rangeland management specialist from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides plant identification photo stories to help ranchers.

BQA

VACCINATIONS

Cattle vaccines are generally classified in two categories: killed or modified-live.

The timing and application may vary depending on the classification and specific product, so it is critical to read and follow all label instructions.

In general, killed vaccines can be used across all cattle types regardless of previous vaccine history. Most killed vaccines are given in a twodose series, which is initially followed by an annual booster.

Modified-live viral vaccines have restrictions for use in breeding animals or calves nursing cows. Restrictions also vary depending on previous vaccine history.

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ANCHOR YOUR PLATE WITH PROTEIN

Nutrient-packed beef offers benefits at every life stage.

By Chrissy Fly

For generations, ranch families have been living proof of how beef supports healthy diets. In recent years, federal dietary guidelines have also documented this truth.

On the TSCRA Talk podcast, Hannah Fuerniss, Texas Beef Council nutrition and health program manager, discussed the latest research and how Beef Checkofffunded outreach connects health professionals and families with accurate information about beef’s nutritional value.

“The diet as a whole really matters,” said Fuerniss, a registered dietitian. “All the foods we are putting on our plate or that make up our dietary pattern are going to have an impact. So, making sure that most of those foods are nutrient-rich is critical.”

The 2020 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released every five years, recognizes nutrients in beef are essential at every life stage.

THE EARLY YEARS

For the first time ever, dietary guidelines were released for young children aged 6 to 24-months. Experts noted the importance of adequate nutrition among infants and toddlers, who require high amounts of iron and zinc to keep up with the pace of their quickly developing bodies.

“By the time they reach about six months of age, there's an increased need for iron and zinc from complementary foods in addition to breastmilk or formula,” Fuerniss said.

Fuerniss states that one to two ounces of beef per day helps meet this need. In her conversations with parents and healthcare professionals, she suggests pureed beef as a great starter food for infants before graduating to more tender cuts of steak, meatloaf or roast.

“Nutrition outreach has been part of the Texas Beef Council’s work for decades, and recently we’ve been doing more to ensure that health professionals know the many benefits of beef in the diet for this young population,” Fuerniss said.

“Whether we’re sharing with dietitians working with young children or pediatricians or other health professionals, we tailor education to make sure they feel confident in the evidence behind recommending beef as a first food.”

Supporting a strong foundation in the early years helps establish lifelong healthy decisions, too. Beef may also have a role in weight improvement, satisfaction and energy, especially for teens and young adults. Research shows overweight adolescents are lacking a variety of

nutrients, many of which can be found in a high-quality protein like beef.

“In one study, teens who had a higher protein breakfast actually voluntarily snacked less on high-energy food like sweets throughout the rest of the day,” Fuerniss said. “The research also saw reduced body fat gain in adolescents eating a higher protein breakfast.”

PROTEIN NEEDS IN ADULTS

Muscle maintenance is a critical part of healthy aging. Because lean muscle mass can start to decline as early as 40 years old, maintaining a healthy weight can become increasingly difficult.

“High quality protein is really important for muscle maintenance,” Fuerniss said. “It helps to think about this when building meals. Anchoring your plate with protein is a great way to start, then build around that with the other food groups.”

Animal-based proteins can also contribute more protein per calorie than some other protein alternatives, which is beneficial in the weight management equation.

For example, three ounces of beef, which is about 170 calories, provides 25 grams of protein. Quinoa, a plantbased protein, requires about three cups and triple the calories to achieve a comparable protein intake.

For more of the conversation with Fuerniss, download TSCRA Talk via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. T C

Chrissy Fly is a freelance writer and graduate student at Oklahoma State University.

Hannah Fuerniss Texas Beef Council

FOLLOWING HER PASSION

TSCRA Director Missy Bonds shares her voice on behalf of cattle raisers.

By Sarah Harris

At the ripe age of eight, Missy Bonds informed her father she would grow up to be a rancher. Since then, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association director has worked hard to fulfill that declaration — serving in a prominent role within her family’s beef cattle operation and rising through the leadership ranks of member organizations.

“I love this industry,” Bonds says. “I love being involved and feeling that my voice has made a difference.”

She was raised on the family’s Bonds Ranch, a commercial cowcalf, stocker and feeding operation headquartered in Saginaw. Today, she helps manage the ranch’s herds spread across 26 Texas counties and 13 states. She is also in charge of qualifying any of their cattle within process verification programs, including the non-hormone treated cattle program, which allows cattle raised without growth hormones to be exported to the European Union.

Missy Bonds, pictured second from right, stands in front of the U.S. Capitol after the signing of the U.S.-MexicoCanada trade agreement.

in history,” she says. “Because of my involvement on that committee, I was fortunate enough to represent cattlemen, the committee and TSCRA on the White House lawn for the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement in 2020.”

Bonds and her two sisters are thirdgeneration ranchers. She is a Texas Christian University Ranch Management program graduate and a recipient of the Mitzi Lucas Riley Award from the National Cowgirl Museum.

Before being elected to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association board of directors, Bonds was part of a team that established a student membership and later helped develop the organization’s Young Leadership Series. She looks forward to putting her leadership skills to further use within the association.

Through her involvement and proximity to DallasFort Worth, Bonds says they have hosted several foreign dignitaries at the ranch. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association recognized her interest and knowledge in foreign markets from some of these visits and selected Bonds to represent the organization on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s international trade committee.

“I was a part of that during one of the most exciting times, during the Trump administration, when we saw more free trade agreements than any other time

“I am living proof that if you want to be involved with TSCRA, all you have to do is show up and say ‘I want to be involved,’ and they will put you to work,” she says. “I’ve helped bring the YLS program to some college campuses and host ranch gatherings for these groups. It’s important to take the message of how networking leads to career success in agriculture.

“My involvement in TSCRA and NCBA has allowed me to find some of my closest friendships, and I don’t come away from a meeting without finding a new business relationship.” T C

Sarah Harris is a freelance writer who splits her time between Austin and her family’s ranch near Tilden.

FINANCING YOUR PIECE OF TEXAS

ARTHUR G. UHL 111 President

4040 Broadway St., Ste. 430 San Antonio, Texas 78209

PAST PRESIDENTS

John M. “Jack” Shelton III Amarillo, 1984-1986

James L. Powell San Angelo, 1988-1990

Tom Beard Alpine, 1994-1995

C. Coney Burgess Amarillo, 1997-1999

J. Mark McLaughlin San Angelo, 1999-2001

John E. Dudley Comanche, 2001-2003

Bob McCan Victoria, 2003-2005

C.R. “Dick” Sherron Beaumont, 2005-2007

Jon Means Van Horn, 2007-2009

Dave Scott Richmond, 2009-2011

Joe J. Parker Byers, 2011-2013

Pete Bonds Saginaw, 2013-2016

CARL RAY POLK JR.

First Vice President P.O. Box 155108 Lufkin, Texas 75915

Richard Thorpe lll Winters, 2016-2018

Robert E. McKnight Jr. Fort Davis, 2018-2020 G. Hughes Abell Austin, 2020-2022

HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS

Jack Hunt

San Juan Capistrano, California W. R. Watt Jr. Fort Worth

Richard Wortham Austin

EXECUTIVE STAFF HEADQUARTERS

P.O. Box 101988

Fort Worth, Texas 76185 817-332-7064 • 800-242-7820

Jason Skaggs

Executive Vice President/ Chief Executive Officer

STEPHEN DIEBEL

Second Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer

3907 Salem Rd. Victoria, Texas 77904

Jaclyn Roberts

Executive Director, Communications & Marketing

Emily Lochner

Executive Director, Engagement & Education

Grace Dunham

Executive Director, Events & Partnerships

Megan Wills

Executive Director, Finance & Human Resources

Michele Woodham

Executive Director, Insurance Services

Scott Williamson

Executive Director, Law Enforcement, Brand & Inspection Services

Lisa Walker

Executive Director, Membership & Operations

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

919 Congress Ave., Suite 750 Austin, Texas 78701

Melissa Hamilton

Executive Director, Government Relations

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REGION 1

DIRECTORS

Joe M. (Jody) Bellah, Throckmorton

Blake Birdwell, Canyon

E. S. F. “Swasey” Brainard II, Pampa

J. K. “Rooter” Brite Jr., Bowie

Donnell Brown, Throckmorton

Campbell Burgess, Amarillo

J. D. Cage, Muleshoe

Deborah Clark, Henrietta

Lynn Cowden, Skellytown

J. B. Daniel, Crowell

James Henderson, Memphis

Clayton Henry, Wichita Falls

Brooks Hodges, Guthrie

Joe Leathers, Guthrie

Frank McLelland, Tahoka

Jeff Mitchell, Amarillo

Gage Moorhouse, Benjamin

Diaz W. Murray, Wichita Falls

J. Malcolm Shelton IV, Amarillo

Dale A. Smith, Amarillo

Jim Thompson, Breckenridge

Tom Watson, Muleshoe

Wesley Welch, Lubbock

HONORARY DIRECTORS

William L. “Buck” Arrington, Pampa

Van Baize, Nocona

Emry Birdwell Jr., Henrietta

Mary Lou Bradley-Henderson, Childress

R. A. “Rob” Brown Jr., Throckmorton

Mike Gibson, Paducah

Ronald J. “Ron” Gill, Chico

Robert B. Mansfield, Amarillo

Tom Moorhouse, Benjamin

Boots O’Neal, Guthrie

James Palmer, Roaring Springs

Wilson Scaling, Henrietta

Chris Scharbauer, Amarillo

John Welch, Wolfforth

A. B. “Buck” Wharton III, Vernon

Tom Woodward, Decatur

REGION 2 DIRECTORS

Kevin Busher, Winters

Charles M. “Charley” Christensen Jr., San Angelo

C.A. “Chili” Cole IV, San Angelo

Alan F. Curry, San Angelo

James H. Dudley IV, Horseshoe Bay

Amanda Dyer, Fort Davis

Johnny Ferguson, Big Lake

D.A. “Day” Harral, Fort Stockton

Ron Helm, Van Horn

Heath Hemphill, Coleman

Shelby W. Horn, Fredericksburg

Larry R. Horwood, Sterling City

Grant Jones, Rochelle

Mark W. Jones, Brady W. Clay Jones, Brady

Ty Keeling, Boerne

Lorenzo Lasater, San Angelo

Brian T. McLaughlin, Midland

David L. Neal, San Angelo

Gerald Nobles Jr., Brady

James Oliver, Ozona

Wade Perks, San Angelo

Gordon E. Sauer, Fredericksburg

Jessica Tate, Marfa

James Uhl, Fort McKavett

Cody Webb, Barnhart

Ken Welch, Baird

Ray W. Willoughby III, Eldorado

HONORARY DIRECTORS

C. A. “Chip” Cole III, San Angelo

William C. “Billito” Donnell Jr., Alpine Richard Gates, Marfa

W. H. “Billy” Green III, Albany

Rafe Hargrove, Rotan

Dr. Joe Pat Hemphill, Coleman

Richard D. “Dick” Hughes, El Paso

Ken Jordan, San Saba

Don Keeling, Fredericksburg

Chris Lacy, Fort Davis

Laurence M. Lasater, San Angelo

Ben Love, Marathon

Len P. Mertz, San Angelo

Tom Perini, Buffalo Gap

Bill Phinizy, Gail

Frank Price, Sterling City

Danny B. Stewart, Sterling City

Rick Tate, Marfa

Cliff Teinert, Albany

Dennis W. Webb, Barnhart

W. C. “Billy” Williams, Mertzon

REGION 3 DIRECTORS

Ford Drummond, Pawhuska, Oklahoma

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Les Nunn, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

REGION 4

DIRECTORS

Edward Bordovsky Jr., Riviera

Austin Brown III, Beeville

W. Christopher Bush, Refugio

Presnall C. Cage, Falfurrias

James Clement lll, Kingsville

David S. Crow, Corpus Christi

Dustin Dean, Floresville

David DeLaney, Kingsville

Robert “Bobby” Dobson, Birmingham, Alabama

James L. “Jamie” Donnell Jr., Fowlerton

J. David Eppright, Cost

Benjamin Eshleman III, Corpus Christi

Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons, Carrizo Springs

Cody Fry, Lueders

Jim L. Gates, Pearsall

Milton S. Greeson Jr., Victoria

Bret Griffith, Del Rio

Heath Grigg, Kingsville

Marty R. Harris, Tilden

Leslie Kinsel, Cotulla

Claude Koontz, San Antonio

Steven J. Mafrige, Tilden

Beth Knolle Naiser, Sandia

Federico Nieto, Raymondville

T. Michael O’Connor, Victoria

Jason Peeler, Floresville

J.R. Ramirez, La Pryor

Gilly Riojas, Corpus Christi

M. Stuart Sasser, Corpus Christi

Lew Thompson, Pearsall

Gene S. “Primo” Walker Jr., Mirando City

C. Clark Welder, Beeville

John Zacek, Victoria

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Steve G. Beever, Pearsall

Richard H. Bennett, San Antonio

Chip Briscoe, Carrizo Springs

Martin W. Clement II, Kingsville

Thurman S. Clements Jr., Victoria

Nixon Dillard, Pleasanton

Trainor Evans, Mercedes

Thomas J. “Tommy” Haegelin, Concan

Dr. Philip C. Hardee, Beatrice, Alabama

Allen C. “Dick” Jones IV, Corpus Christi

Joan Negley Kelleher, San Antonio

David W. Killam, Laredo

Dan W. Kinsel III, Cotulla

Steve C. Lewis, San Antonio

Jim McAdams, Seguin

James A. McAllen, Linn

Red McCombs, San Antonio

Tim Pennell, Westhoff

Jim Peters, Quemado

Scott Petty Jr., San Antonio

Tom Risinger, Weslaco

Frates Seeligson Jr., San Antonio

Richard Traylor, Batesville

Roger F. Welder, Victoria

David W. Winters, Del Rio

REGION 5 DIRECTORS

Wayne Cockrell, College Station

Herff Cornelius Jr., Wadsworth

Carlos Detering III, Houston

Dr. Lewis (Bud) Dinges, Richmond

Gardner H. Dudley, Houston

Jay C. Evans, Dripping Springs

Dan Gattis, Georgetown

Kelley Sullivan Georgiades, College Station

George Harrison, Bay City

Tom J. Haynie, Navasota

Robert Hodgen, Houston

Colt Hoffman, Marlin

Clay Kenley, Crockett

Gary Price, Blooming Grove

Clive Runnells III, Austin

John Sumner Runnells III, Bay City

Tony Spears, Rosanky

John “Rocky” Sullivan, Galveston

Bill White, Stowell

Claudia Scott Wright, Richmond

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Leroy Ezer, Anahuac

Frank Green, Liberty

Coleman H. Locke, Hungerford

Katharine Armstrong Love, Austin

Richard M. Lucas Jr., Houston

William “Alan” McNeill, Beaumont

Evalyn Moore, Richmond

Raymond E. Moore IV, Richmond

Rick Peebles, Baytown

Gordon Richardson, Caldwell

Charles R. “Butch” Robinson, Navasota

Nolan Ryan, Round Rock

J. D. “Bubba” Sartwelle Jr., Sealy

Ed Small, Austin

Guy F. Stovall Jr., El Campo

Linda Joy Stovall, El Campo

Gerald Sullivan, Galveston

John L. Sullivan, Galveston

Robert J. Underbrink, Houston

Mark A. Wheelis, Montgomery

Beau Brite White, Rosanky

Dr. M. R. “Mike” Wirtz, Brenham

REGION 6 DIRECTORS

April Bonds, Saginaw

Missy Bonds, Saginaw

John L. Cantrell, Cresson

Ian Chapman, Madill, Oklahoma Hunter Crow, Dallas

James T. Dangelmayr, Muenster

Seth Denbow, Weatherford

Crawford Edwards, Fort Worth

John Greer, Henrietta

Jason Harlow, Dallas

Pete Hudgins, Sherman

Tom Johnson, Wortham

John Z. Kimberlin Jr., Dallas

Ken Leiber, Fort Worth

James E. “Jim” Link, Crowley

Stefan Marchman, Fort Worth

William H. McCall, Fort Worth

Dan Nance, Haslet

Susan Roach, Fort Worth

Stephen S. “Steve” Sikes, Fort Worth

Bragg Smith III, Dallas

Bart Wulff, Dallas

Curtis Younts Jr., Belton

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Bradford S. “Brad” Barnes, Fort Worth

George Beggs IV, Fort Worth

John W. Carpenter III, Dallas

Barrett D. Clark, Breckenridge

Markham B. Dossett, Waco

Bob Drake, Davis, Oklahoma

James H. “Jim” Dudley, Comanche

Jon David Mayfield, Dublin

C. H. “Terry” McCall, Comanche

Bob Moorhouse, Weatherford

Russell “Rusty” Noble, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Mary Joe Reynolds-Montgomery, Fort Worth

Tom L. Roach III, Bozeman, Montana

Stephen T. “Steve” Swenson, Dallas

New Members

3C Ranch San Angelo

3R San Angelo

7L Simons Family Cattle Port Lavaca

A Ranch

Elgin

Lucy Abell Venus, Florida

Agrofuture Veterinary Services PLLC Rosenberg

Thomas Aquino Commerce

aZf Cattle Co. Hearne

Sarah Balzen Hico

Matthew Barron Fort Worth

Larry Bayer Floresville Beck Ranch Victoria

Michael Beggs Midland

Bingham Creek Ranch Forestburg

Melissa Bolado Sugarland

Boster Kerrville Ranch San Angelo

Box T Ranch San Angelo

Kyle Braswell Fort Worth

Sammy Briscoe Laneville

Richard Britz Spring Branch

Broken S San Angelo Brian Butler Nederland C-3 Bar Ranch San Antonio

Taylor Carter Longview

James Cawley Bloomington

Weldon & Charolett Chambers Gatesville

Paul & Charlotte Cheek Tom Bean

Eric Cherry Muldrow, Oklahoma

Clean Slate Cattle Sulphur Springs

CM Cave Farm Bronte

Collins Cattle Spring Brian Collins Weatherford William Collins Wylie

Mark Connally Jr. San Antonio

Conner Ranch San Antonio

McKinsey Copeland Georgetown

Copano Cattle Sinton

Robert Crenwelge Fredericksurg

Heath & Jennifer Crumley Lorena

Jacob Crumpton San Angelo

Dakota -47 Ranch Conroe

Reed Dittert Stephenville

Double Circle Ranch Water Valley

Danner Duncan Bonham

El Campo Livestock Exchange LLC & Aparicio Cattle Palacios

Endless R Ranch Tyler

Favor Ranch Prosper Austin Fischer Throckmorton

Roy Frosch Marietta, Oklahoma

FT Bar Floresville Claudette Galen Sherman

Julian Gonzales San Angelo

Gould Ranch Clifton

HM Cattle Co. Yancey

Hallie Hackett Texarkana

John Hankins Kemp

John Hardin Edgewood Brynn Harris Poch

Ronnie & Ginger Hejl Caldwell

Hidden Pines Ranch Lipan

Hog Wallow Ranch Newcastle

Hollar Cattle Co. Clarendon

Ted Huseman San Angelo

Emily Joie Commerce

Jeff Jordan Olney

Jorgensen Land & Cattle Dandridge, Tennessee

JP Farms Waco

Micheal Justiss Big Spring

Jason Kelley Roanoke

KK&T Interests LLC Shiner

Ronald Kostelnik Hallettsville

Jeff Koza Pearland

Kuykendall Ranch Liberty Hills

Lankford Farms Wolfe City

Lazy B Ranchito Fort Worth

Lazy J Farm & Ranch Goliad

LC Cattle Co. Scurry

Legacy Ranch San Angelo

Jeanette Lombardo Waco

Earnest Lowe Graford

Thomas Marbach Victoria

Wendell McMahon Pittsburg

Tommy Meek Shallowater

Elaine Mika Kenedy

Mirrow C Livestock Millsap

Allen Moeller Cuero

Miguel A. Montejano Trophy Club

Spencer Murray Sumner

MY Ranch Lubbock

Myres Ranch Conroe

Stephen O'Brien McDonough, Georgia

Over The EDJE Ranch Mount Calm

Richard Penn Pittsburg Casey Pepau Orange Grove

Matthew Purvis Valetine

R7 Ranch Winnsboro

Carlos Ramirez Zapata

Doroteo Ramirez Dickinson Joseph Reznicek Anderson

RH Quarter Horses LLC San Antonio

Sharon Rhodes Point Riddle Ranch San Angelo

Rocking C Cattle Gary

Christine Rohe Huntsville

Rolling Oaks Houston

Rosada Ridge Ranch Crowley

Running M Seguin

S Bar 2 Hay & Cattle LLC Hingerford

San Isidro Farm & Ranches

Alpine

Oscar Sanchez

Premont

Kris Schertz

Anna

Tommy Scheurer

Richardson

Scott Morris Farms

San Angelo

SEA-DAN Ranches LTD Victoria

John R. Smith

Healdsburg, California

Kevin Staples

Inez

Star H Ranch LLC

Copperas Cove

Storts Cattle Co. Bay City

William Stripling

Fredericksburg

Stutts Ranch

Alpine Sugar Creek Ranch Cost

Rebecca Sullivan Wills Point

Swanson Ranch LLC Holliday

Tarkington Athletic Center Cleveland

Thomsen Foundation

Gainesville

Thomson Ranch LLC Boerne

Sean Tiner Mineral Wells

TR Cattle Co.

Mount Pleasant

Carol Trevino

North Richland Hills

Triangle P Farm & Ranch Winters

Triple H Land & Cattle LP

Harper

Bob Vandrovec

Shelbyville

Craig Wagenfuhr

Aspermont

Robert Wehe

Floresville

Brett Wells Lindale

Don Wideman New Braunfels

Woodard Family Ranch Flint

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

ANDERSON

Anderson County Livestock Exchange

Where: Elkhart Phone: 903-764-1919

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Michael Little, 903-876-3153

Elkhart Horse Auction

Where: Elkhart Phone: 903-764-1495 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Tiffany Patterson, 903-388-7288

ATASCOSA

Atascosa Livestock Exchange

Where: Pleasanton Phone: 830-281-2516

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Marvin Bendele, 210-213-5890

AUSTIN

Four County Auction

Where: Industry Phone: 979-357-2545

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Lisa Sebastian, 979-270-3041

BAILEY

Muleshoe Livestock Auction

Where: Muleshoe Phone: 806-272-4201 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Benny Parker, 806-946-9142

BEE

Beeville Livestock Comm.

Where: Beeville Phone: 361-358-1727 Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Robert Bridge, 361-542-6693

BOSQUE

Meridian L/S Comm. Co.

Where: Meridian Phone: 254-435-2988

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Larry Brown, 254-265-1920

BOWIE

J & J Livestock Auction

Where: Texarkana Phone: 903-832-3576

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Lana Caldwell, 903-908-0530

BRAZOS

Brazos Valley Livestock Comm.

Where: Bryan Phone: 979-778-0904 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

BURLESON

Caldwell Livestock Comm.

Where: Caldwell Phone: 979-567-4119 Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Mark Nygard, 512-281-6330

CALDWELL

Lockhart Auction

Where: Lockhart Phone: 512-398-3476 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

CAMP

Bruce Overstreet Livestock Where: Pittsburg Phone: 903-856-3440 Sale Day: Monday Contact: Michelle Willeford, 903-767-0670

CHEROKEE

Tri County Livestock Market

Where: New Summerfield Phone: 903-726-3291 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Michael Little, 903-876-3153

COLEMAN

Coleman Livestock Auction

Where: Coleman Phone: 325-625-4191 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Dave Williams, 325-669-2030

COLORADO

Cattleman’s Columbus Livestock Auction

Where: Columbus Phone: 979-732-2622

Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Lisa Sebastian, 979-270-1228

COMANCHE

Comanche Livestock Exchange

Where: Comanche Phone: 325-356-5231 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Michael Davis, 254-879-3121

COOKE

The New Gainesville Livestock Auction

Where: Gainesville Phone: 940-665-4367 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Robin Gibbs, 903-227-0791

CORYELL

Coryell County Comm. Where: Gatesville Phone: 254-865-9121 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

DALLAM

Cattleman’s Livestock Comm.

Where: Dalhart Phone: 806-249-5505 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Clifton Miller, 806-570-7439

DEAF SMITH

Hereford Livestock Auction Where: Hereford Phone: 806-240-3082 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Joe Bob Via, 806-452-9280

DEWITT

Cuero Livestock Comm. Where: Cuero Phone: 361-275-2329 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Rodger Koehler, 830-305-5544

EASTLAND

Texas Cattle Exchange Where: Eastland Phone: 254-629-2288

Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Ronnie Ober, 817-371-7071

EL PASO

Rio Grand Classic

Where: El Paso Phone: 956-487-5551

Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Joe Karl Rios, 915-858-0590

ERATH

Dublin Livestock Auction

Where: Dublin Phone: 254-445-1734

Sale Day: Friday Contact: Ronnie Ober, 817-371-7071

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

Erath County Dairy Sale

Where: Dublin

Phone: 254-968-7253

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

Stephenville Cattle Co.

Where: Stephenville Phone: 254-968-4844 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

FAYETTE

Flatonia Livestock Comm.

Where: Flatonia Phone: 361-865-3538 Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Danielle Robbins, 512-944-0383

Schulenburg Livestock Auction

Where: Schulenburg Phone: 979-743-6566

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Megan Stavena, 979-320-4228

FLOYD

Floydada Livestock Sales

Where: Floydada Phone: 806-983-2153

Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: John Hindman, 806-778-4899

FRIO

Pearsall Livestock Auction

Where: Pearsall Phone: 830-334-3653

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Clarence Stevens, 210-415-0441

GILLESPIE

Gillespie Livestock Co.

Where: Fredericksburg Phone: 830-997-4394

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Tom Roarick, 830-889-5155

GONZALES

Gonzales Livestock Market

Where: Gonzales Phone: 830-672-2845

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: JoGayle Stavena, 979-332-2186

Nixon Livestock Comm. Where: Nixon Phone: 830-582-1561

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Cade Burks, 830-391-4501

GREGG

Longview Livestock

Where: Longview Phone: 903-235-6385

Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

GRIMES

Mid-Tex Livestock Auction

Where: Anderson Phone: 936-825-3970 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Danielle Robbins, 512-944-0383

Navasota Livestock Auction

Where: Navasota Phone: 936-825-6545 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Rick Faught, 936-442-1039

GUADALUPE

Seguin Cattle Co. Where: Seguin Phone: 830-379-9955 Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Cade Burks, 830-391-4501

HAMILTON

Hamilton Livestock Comm.

Where: Hamilton Phone: 254-386-3185

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

HARDIN

Gore Family Auction Center

Where: Silsbee Phone: 409-782-0612

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Christy McCoy, 409-782-0612

HENDERSON

Athens Comm. Co.

Where: Athens Phone: 903-675-3333

Sale Day: Friday Contact: Brandy Baughman, 903-440-4382

HIDALGO

Edinburg Livestock Auction

Where: Edinburg Phone: 956-383-5671 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Coney Alvarez Jr., 956-437-3899

HILL

Hubbard Livestock Market

Where: Hubbard Phone: 254-576-2584 Sale Day: Monday Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

HOPKINS

Sulphur Springs Livestock Comm.

Where: Sulphur Springs Phone: 903-885-2455

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

HOUSTON

East Texas Livestock Auction Where: Crockett Phone: 936-544-2246

Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Robert Ware, 903-388-5365

HOWARD

Big Spring Livestock Auction

Where: Big Spring Phone: 432-267-5881 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Bruce Brandenberger, 254-977-5763

JACKSON

Edna Livestock Auction

Where: Edna Phone: 361-782-7666

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Galynn Mazoch, 979-578-1823

JASPER

Kirbyville Auction Barn

Where: Kirbyville Phone: 409-423-2612

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Casey Jones, 409-423-0685

JIM WELLS

Gulf Coast Livestock Market

Where: Alice Phone: 361-664-4395

Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Ramiro Garcia, 361-460-0008

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

JOHNSON

Johnson County Cattle Auction

Where: Cleburne

Phone: 817-556-9090 Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Lee Snyder, 254-707-1682

KARNES

Karnes City Auction

Where: Karnes City Phone: 830-780-3382 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Kaylee Malatek, 979-942-0323

Karnes County Livestock Exchange

Where: Kenedy Phone: 830-583-2574

Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Kaylee Malatek, 979-942-0323

LAMAR

Cattlemen’s Livestock Comm.

Where: Paris Phone: 903-784-2238 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Robin Gibbs, 903-227-0791

Paris Livestock Auction

Where: Paris Phone: 903-739-2575 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Lana Caldwell, 903-908-0530

LAMPASAS

Lampasas Cattle Auction

Where: Lampasas Phone: 512-556-3611

Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

LAVACA

Hallettsville Livestock Comm.

Where: Hallettsville Phone: 361-798-4336

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Kaylee Malatek, 979-942-0323

LEE

Giddings Livestock Comm.

Where: Giddings Phone: 979-542-2274

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

Lexington Livestock Comm.

Where: Lexington Phone: 979-773-2922

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

LEON

Buffalo Livestock Comm.

Where: Buffalo Phone: 903-322-4940 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Robert Ware, 903-388-5365

LIBERTY

Raywood Livestock Market

Where: Raywood Phone: 936-587-4941 Sale Day: Monday Contact: Harvey Williamson, 963-334-5325

LIMESTONE

Groesbeck Auction & Livestock Where: Groesbeck Phone: 254-729-3277 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Tyler Rader, 713-907-2725

LIVE OAK

Live Oak Livestock Auction

Where: Three Rivers Phone: 361-786-2553 Sale Day: Monday Contact: Marvin Bendele, 210-213-5890

LUBBOCK

Lubbock Stockyards

Where: Lubbock Phone: 806-745-3383 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: J.E. Stone, 806-777-4396

MASON

Jordan Cattle Auction

Where: Mason Phone: 325-347-6361

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Warren Ottmers, 830-669-2262

MCLENNAN

Waco Stockyards

Where: Waco Phone: 254-753-3191 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Larry Brown, 254-265-1920

West Auction

Where: West Phone: 254-826-3725

Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

MEDINA

Union Comm.

Where: Hondo Phone: 830-741-8061, Sale Day: Monday Contact: Clarence Stevens, 210-415-0441

MILAM

Milam County Livestock Auction

Where: Cameron Phone: 254-697-6697 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Rick Faught, 936-442-1039

NACOGDOCHES

Nacogdoches Livestock Exchange Where: Nacogdoches Phone: 936-564-8661

Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Michael Witcher, 936-556-0992

NAVARRO

Corsicana Livestock Market Where: Corsicana Phone: 903-872-1631 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Lee Snyder, 254-707-1682

PANOLA

Panola Livestock Where: Carthage Phone: 903-693-6361

Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Lori Blankenship, 936-234-3441

POLK

Livingston Livestock Exchange

Where: Livingston Phone: 936-327-4917

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Harvey Williamson, 963-334-5325

POTTER

Amarillo Livestock Auction Where: Amarillo Phone: 806-373-7464

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Michael Vessels, 806-517-3188

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

Lonestar Stockyards

Where: Amarillo

Phone: 806-677-0777 Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Michael Vessels, 806-517-3188

RAINS

Emory Livestock Auction

Where: Emory Phone: 903-473-2512

Sale Days: Tuesday & Saturday Contact: Brandy Baughman, 903-440-4382

ROBERTSON

Calvert Livestock Co.

Where: Calvert Phone: 979-364-2829 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

RUSK

Hunt Livestock Exchange

Where: Henderson Phone: 903-657-2690

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Samuel Steadman, 318-617-1141

SAN SABA

Jordan Cattle Auction

Where: San Saba Phone: 325-372-5159 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: David Munden, 325-456-7253

SHELBY

Center Auction Co.

Where: Center Phone: 936-598-4395 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Michael Witcher, 936-556-0992

STARR

Triple G Livestock Auction LLC

Where: Rio Grande City Phone: 956-437-1988

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Coney Alvarez Jr., 956-437-3899

SWISHER

Tulia Livestock Auction

Where: Tulia Phone: 806-995-4184

Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Michael Vessels, 806-517-3188

TAYLOR

Abilene Auction

Where: Abilene Phone: 325-673-7865 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Dave Williams, 325-669-2030

TITUS

Stone Livestock Comm.

Where: Mt. Pleasant Phone: 903-575-9099 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

TOM GREEN

Producers Livestock Auction

Where: San Angelo Phone: 325-653-3371 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Bruce Halfmann, 325-315-5972

UVALDE

Southwest Livestock Exchange

Where: Uvalde Phone: 830-278-5621 Sale Day: Thursday Contact: Clarence Stevens, 210-415-0441

VAN ZANDT

Mort Livestock Exchange

Where: Canton Phone: 903-287-6386 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

Van Zandt Comm. Co.

Where: Wills Point Phone: 903-872-2117 Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

WASHINGTON

Brenham Livestock Auction

Where: Brenham Phone: 979-836-3621 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Lisa Sebastian, 979-270-3041

WHARTON

El Campo Livestock Co.

Where: El Campo Phone: 979-543-2703 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Galynn Mazoch, 979-578-1823

Wharton Livestock Auction

Where: Wharton Phone: 979-532-3660 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: JoGayle Stavena, 979-332-2186

WICHITA

Wichita Livestock Sales Where: Wichita Falls Phone: 940-541-2222 Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: R.C. Langford, 832-330-7279

WILBARGER

Vernon Livestock Market LLC

Where: Vernon Phone: 940-552-6000 Sale Day: Tuesday Contact: Larry Lee, 940-886-6746

WISE

Decatur Livestock Market Where: Decatur Phone: 940-627-5599 Sale Day: Monday Contact: R.C. Langford, 832-330-7279

WOOD

Winnsboro Livestock Auction

Where: Winnsboro Phone: 903-365-2201 Sale Day: Friday Contact: Alan Pruitt, 903-725-6200

YOUNG

Graham Livestock Comm. LLC

Where: Graham Phone: 940-549-0078 Sale Day: Monday Contact: Ronnie Ober, 817-371-7071

AKAUSHI

ANGUS

Bob Funk, owner Jarold Callahan, president Yukon, Oklahoma 800.664.3977

Angus & Hereford

WWW.EXPRESSRANCHES.COM

18th Annual Fall Bull Sale • 9.26.22

20th Annual “Profit Proven” Com’l Female Sale • 11.21.22

6th Annual “Early Bird” Bull Sale • 1 23.23

44th Annual Production Sale • 4.1.23

8th Annual “Meating Demand” Bull Sale • 5.1.23 Ashland, KS 67831 • (620) 635-2156 Mark • Greg • GAR@GardinerAngus.com www.GardinerAngus.com

HOGUE CATTLE COMPANY

<—>

Registered Black Angus

Robert L. Hogue M.D. • Judy Hogue

6 Spring Hollow, Brownwood, Texas 76801

Ranch: 10108 CR 237 • Phone: 325-643-2225 Cell: 325-647-9168 • Fax: 326-643-6235 Email: rlhmd@familymedical.us

Lesikar

www.2barangus.com

Steve & Laura Knoll

James Burks 254-718-5193 Doug Slattery 979-451-2003 Females Also Available Private Treaty

Upcoming Events MARK YOUR CALENDAR

DECEMBER

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

Replacement Female Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

44 Farms: Abilene Christmas Sale Where: Abilene When: 12 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

TSCRA Ranch Gathering

Where: F&T Farms, Rio Grande City When: 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

Special Stocker & Feeder Sale Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

Bull & Female Replacement Sale

Where: Navasota Livestock Auction Co., Navasota When: 10 a.m.

MONDAY, DEC. 12

Special Stocker & Feeder Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, Mason When: 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13

Oklahoma Quality Beef Network Sale

Where: OKC West Livestock Market, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Ranching 101: Texas Beef Checkoff Year in Review Where: Online When: 1 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 15

Leachman’s Texas Fall Stabilizer Bull Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

JANUARY 2023

THURSDAY, JAN. 5

Commercial Cattlemen’s Luncheon

Where: Cattlemen’s Congress, Oklahoma City Fairgrounds When: 11 a.m.

Linz Heritage Angus Open House

Where: Blue Branch Ranch, Byars, Oklahoma When: 12 p.m.

MONDAY, JAN. 9

Stocker-Feeder Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, Mason When: 10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

Weaned Calf Sale

Where: Navasota Livestock Auction Co., Navasota When: 10 a.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

Shady Oak Farm –Charolais & SimAngus Bull Sale Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

Stocker-Feeder Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 11 a.m.

Wichita Falls Luncheon Where: McBride’s Steakhouse, Wichita Falls When: 11:30 a.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13 –

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Where: Fort Worth

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

TSCRA Ranch Gathering Where: Ranching Heritage Party, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

MONDAY, JAN. 16

Van Newkirk Herefords Annual Sale Where: Oshkosh, Nebraska When: 12:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17

Ranching 101: So You Want to be a Rancher? Where: Online When: 1 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

Replacement Female Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

MONDAY, JAN. 23

Gardiner Angus: 6th Annual “Early Bird” Bull Sale Where: Ashland, Kansas

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

Oklahoma Quality Beef Network Sale

Where: OKC West Livestock Market, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25 –

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Where: San Angelo

FEBRUARY 2023

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 –

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Where: New Orleans, Louisiana

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

Stocker & Feeder Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

South Texas Hereford Association: Sale Featuring Case Ranch Herefords Where: Beeville Livestock Commission, Beeville

THURSDAY, FEB. 9 –

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Where: San Antonio

THURSDAY, FEB. 9

Special Bull Offering: Martin-Bruni Cattle & Cannon Charolais Sale Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

Wichita Falls Luncheon

Where: McBride’s Steakhouse, Wichita Falls When: 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

San Antonio Beefmaster Subasta Sale Where: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

Bradley 3 Ranch: Wide Body Sale Where: Estelline When: 12 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Replacement Female Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

Ranching 101 Where: Online When: 1 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

44 Farms: Spring Bull Sale Where: Cameron When: 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 28 –

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Where: Houston

2 Bar Angus 82

3K Land & Cattle ................................................... 85

44 Farms 82, Back Cover

A-F Ranches ............................................................ 82

Accredited Land Brokers 84

Adams Ranch 27

AgriWebb 53

American Angus Assoc. ................................... 82

API Advanced Pedestals Ltd. 30

Arrowhead Ranch 83

Arrowquip ................................................................ 37

Artesian Cattle & Farming LLC 82

B

Bacica Farms .......................................................... 82

Bar G Feedyard 25

Bar J Bar Hereford Ranch 83

Bar N Ranch 83

Bayer Environmental Sciences ................... 67

Beefmaster Breeders United 3

BioZyme Inc. 55

Borchers Southern Y Ranches LP .............. 85

C

Cactus Feeders 60

Case Ranch 57

Casey Beefmasters 82

CattleDomainNames.com .............................. 17

Cattle Raisers Insurance 38

Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo 35

Cattlemen’s Congress ....................................... 60

Cattlesoft Inc. 63

Charles S. Middleton 84

Chip Cole & Assoc. 84

Coates Ranch Co. ................................................. 83

Cox Concrete Products 33

D

Dale Lasater Ranch, The 82

Dan W. Kinsel III ................................................... 84

Dennis Charolais 83

Detering Brahmans 82

Doak Lambert 84

Double Creek Farms .......................................... 82

Double Diamond Herefords 83

Double Diamond Ranch 83

Dudley Bros. ............................................................ 83

E

Endovac Animal Health 15

Express Ranches 82

Express Scale Services 23

F

Farris Ranching Co. ............................................. 83

Filegonia Cattle Co. 85

Fishpondaerator 83

Foster Bros. Farms .............................................. 85

GKB Cattle 9

Grandin Livestock Systems 47

AHall & Hall 84

Harlow Cattle Inside Front Cover

Harris Riverbend Farms 85

HeartBrand Cattle ............................................... 87

Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC 32

Herbster Angus 44, 45

Hilltop Ranch Beefmasters 82 Hi-Pro Feeds 79

Hogue Cattle Co. .................................................. 82

Holiday Gift Guide 39-43 Howard Herefords 83

IIndian Hills Ranch ................................................ 83

Indian Mound Ranch 83 Isa Beefmasters 82

Noack Herefords 83 Nufarm 47

HO H Triangle Ranch 50

OKC West Livestock Market .......................... 19

Olson Land & Cattle Co. ................................... 82 Outfront Cattle Service ................................... 84

OP

Parker Friedrich Marketing & Consulting ..... 84

Partin & Partin Heart Bar Ranch ................ 82

Peacock Angus Ranch 82

Petta Ranch 83

Powell Ranch Herefords 59, 83

R

RJ Cattle Co. 47, 83

Rocker b Ranch 84

JRockin’ W Ranch 84

J.D. Hudgins Inc. .................................................... 13

John Martin Ranches 85

Johnson Cattle Marketing 84 Jordan Cattle Auction 36 Justin Insurance Agency ............................... 84

K3 Ranch/Kenneth King 84 Kaddatz Equipment 83

L

Lawrence Family Limousin 84 Leachman Cattle 75 Lee, Lee & Puckitt 84

Lesikar Ranch ......................................................... 82

Lezlie McPhail ....................................................... 84

Linz Heritage Angus 51

Littlerobe Angus Ranch 82

Lone Star Ag Credit 65

Lone Star Angus ................................................... 82

Lone Star Ranch Consulting 84 LRB Ranches 85

Rocking Chair Ranch 84, 85

Roeder Angus Ranch 82

Rolling O Farms 83

Rusty’s Weigh Rental Scales 55

S

KSanta Rosa Ranch 83

Sartwelle Brahman Ranch 82

Satterfield Ranch 82 Schneider Brahmans ......................................... 82

Scott Land Co. ....................................................... 84

Seven-Peaks Fence & Barn ............................. 31

Shelby Trailer Service ........................................ 74

Skrivanek Ranches ............................................ 84

Stonewall Valley Ranch .................................... 85 SW&S Cattle Co. .................................................... 83

TTexas Christian University 13 Texas Hereford Assoc. 84

Thickety Creek Farm 82

Thomas Charolais Inc. 83

MTSCRA Membership 34

TSCRA Special Ranger Foundation 29

M6 Ranch .................................................................. 85 Mallett Simmentals 85

Massey Ferguson 61 Mesa T Ranch 84

MK Ranch 83

Moly Manufacturing ....... Inside Back Cover

Moore Angus 82

Morgan Stanley/Mark McAndrew 84

MP Brangus 83

Muleshoe Ranch ........................................... 14, 83

Multimin USA ................................................. 22, 23

Gardiner Angus Ranch ..................................... 82

Navasota Livestock Auction Co. 46 Neel Polled Herefords ....................................... 83 No-Bull Enterprises LLC ................................... 55

U

United Country/Craig Buford 84

V8 Ranch 83

Van Newkirk Herefords 77

NWalker Cattle Co. ................................................. 85 Wax Company .................................................. 7, 89 Wesley Theuret Herefords ............................ 84

On the cover, Tom B. Saunders, of Fort Worth, was pictured on his father’s Archer County ranch. Within the magazine pages were highlights from the 1922 American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, which boasted an attendance of 115,000 in support of the livestock industry.

The report said the show drew in more from Texas and Oklahoma than any other Western states, besides Kansas. “The Royal was heralded this year as the West and Southwest’s own great show.” T C

From

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14