Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Honors Texas Farm and Ranch Families at 43rd Annual Family Land Heritage Ceremony (10/30/2018)

AUSTIN

“Every Texan living today owes a debt of gratitude to the generations of Texas farmers and ranchers who have kept our agricultural heritage alive,” Commissioner Miller said. “Today, we honor these hard-working men and women and their families as the true heroes of Texas agriculture. For a century or more, these families have raised the livestock, plowed the land and harvested the crops that make the Lone Star State what it is today. It is because of them that Texas is the last best place. May God continue to bless them and the wonderful legacy they leave behind.”

Joining Commissioner Miller today was renowned rodeo announcer Terry Starnes as master of ceremonies. Cowboy poet and entertainer Red Steagall provided his trademark wit and musical accompaniment.

With each historic farm or ranch comes a story about its establishment and how the land has passed through the generations. For example, John H. Jackson was a descendent of Humphrey Jackson, who came to Texas in 1823 with Stephen F. Austin’s original 300. As a merchant, he saved enough money to accumulate over 30,000 acres of land in Chambers County, one of the largest landholders and ranchers in Southeast Texas. John raised cattle, bahia, rice, corn, sorghum, and hay.

Otto Fischer came to Texas from Germany in 1852. He married Adolfine and raised four sons. Over the years he added properties to his original land for a total of about 1,600 acres. Otto was known as the "Stock Fischer" because of his reputation as a noted horse breeder of trotting and racing stock.

Among the families honored today are seventeen who represent properties that have been in continuous agricultural production for 150 years or more, including:

• Pecan Trail Farms in Anderson County (Founded 1860)
• WH Kale Estate in Anderson County (Founded 1860)
• Reyes Family Farm and Ranch in Atascosa County (Founded 1868)
• Mahlmann Farm in Austin County (Founded 1866)
• Stanford Ranch in Austin County (Founded 1865)
• Omenstad in Bosque County (Founded 1868)
• Brownsboro Ranch in Caldwell County (Founded 1850)
• Quinten Lowell Jackson Sr. Ranch in Chambers County (Founded 1868)
• ACL Fischer Ranch in Comal County (Founded 1854)
• Schaeferkoeter Ranch in Comal  County (Founded 1862)
• Duderstadt-Bettge Ranch, D.B.A. 6D Cattle in DeWitt County (Founded 1855)
• Stanley Farm in Franklin County (Founded 1860)
• The Beard Farm in Houston County (Founded 1850)
• El Colorado in Jim Hogg County (Founded 1866)
• Jim Moore Ranch in Llano County (Founded 1862)
• Triple T Ranch in Madison County (Founded 1868)
• Justiss Ranch in Morris County (Founded 1868)

With the generous support of our sponsors, no taxpayer dollars were used for the Family Land Heritage event. Sponsors include:

• The Scotts Company
  
• Capital Farm Credit
  
• Earthmoving Contractors Association
  
• McCoy's Building Supply
  
• Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association
  
• AgWorkers Insurance
  
• Texas Poultry Federation
  
• Ranching Heritage Association
• South Texans' Property Rights Association
  
• Texas Corn Producers
  
• Texas Cotton Producers, Inc.
  
• Austin County Historical Commission
  
• Blue Bell
  
• Texas Tea
  
• Freytag's Florist