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It’s hard for me to believe but here we are again—another Thanksgiving weekend is upon us. And, in spite of the dry weather we have experienced this year, I still have many things to be thankful for....

Texas Tales

published: November 25th 2011 by: Mike Cox

Harvey Hughes’ Short Literary Career Like most elected officials, Brewster County Sheriff E.E. Townsend received a fair amount of correspondence, from postcards bearing descriptions of wanted felons to legal papers to magazines, but the package that arrived from San Antonio that day in March 1923 ranked as the most unusual piece of mail he ever received....

Executive Director’s Report...

published: November 25th 2011 by: Bill Hyman source: ICA of Texas

Cattle Drive 2011 is halfway through and to tell you the truth, contributions are down. The ongoing drought is the culprit. Ranchers are reluctant to send funds for Cattle Drive when they remain uncertain about their ranching future; unfortunately the bureaucrats, the animal activists, and those who just plain want what is ours, are not resting....

Chapter Happenings Around The Lone Star State

published: November 25th 2011 source: ICA of Texas

Colorado Valley ICA By Les Mallory Reminders: January 9, 2011 Map sponsors confirmed and dinner tickets delivered. February 18, 2012 Annual map sponsors dinner and chapter members dinner at the KC Hall....

President’s Address

published: November 25th 2011 by: Robert L. Bruner source: ICA of Texas

When I received the notice that it was once again time for me to write this column (just like a child, I have to be reminded), I was sitting in my recliner watching my favorite TV channel – the weather channel – and wondering about the difference between depression and anticipation....

The Texas Side Of Things...

published: November 11th 2011 by: JIm Banner

This past week I had the opportunity to experience a small part of my family’s heritage when our ranch located in Llano County was recognized at the 36th Annual Family Land Heri-tage Ceremony in Austin, Texas....

Texas Tales

published: November 11th 2011 by: Mike Cox

Born with great expectations in the optimistic post-World War II days, death came 63 years later amid gangs and drug dealers. Only this was a brick and mortar Baby Boomer, not a person. Nevertheless, when the end came, it was not pretty....

Just Your Standard Bull

published: October 28th 2011 by: Michael Sturgess

What a series! At the time of this writing, our beloved Texas Rangers have pulled ahead with a 3-2 game lead in the World Series against the St Louis Cardinals. It seems I have been close to cardiac arrest on a number of occasions already (games 2, 4 & 5)....

Texas Tales

published: October 28th 2011 by: Mike Cox

On June 19, 1941, a cross-country traveller who had spent the night at Alpine's Holland Hotel picked up a black-and-white postcard of the hotel and mailed it to a relative. While the sender's scribbled message amounted to nothing out of the ordinary, a promotional blurb printed on the card did a good job of summing up the venerable Big Bend holstery in a catchy way: The Largest Hotel In the Largest City In the Largest County In the Largest State In the Largest Group of States In the World While all that could not be disputed, the Holland had only 70 rooms, certainly no giant....

Executive Director’s Report...

published: October 28th 2011 by: Bill Hyman source: ICA of Texas

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) recently proposed a rule (Chapter 53, entitled “Market Identification”) for the mandatory identification of all adult cattle sold cattle at livestock markets in Texas....

Chapter Happenings Around The Lone Star State

published: October 28th 2011 source: ICA of Texas

Colorado Valley ICA By Les Mallory CVICA is preparing for 2012 programs Sponsorships are being solicited for the chapter’s annual map. Proceeds help to fund the scholarship fund which consists of four scholarships under the direction of Dave Derrick....

President’s Address

published: October 28th 2011 by: Robert L. Bruner source: ICA of Texas

The issues facing ranchers continue to keep piling up. The importers want to water down the Country of Origin Labeling rules so consumers won’t be able to tell US beef from mystery beef. The Department of Labor wants to strengthen child worker laws so that your 16 year old can’t work for your neighbors....

The Texas Side Of Things...

published: October 14th 2011 by: Jim Banner

Good News from Castell, Texas! I’m proud to say I received 3.25 inches of rain at the ranch last weekend and it couldn’t have come at a better time… well maybe Sep-tember 1st would have been better but I’m not complaining....

Texas Tales

published: October 14th 2011 by: Mike Cox

The Man under the Black Fedora Doing research for his master’s thesis on the history of a trading post that operated in a remote part of Big Bend from the mid-1920s through mid-1940s, former Upton County sheriff Glenn Willeford paged through the guest registry of which owner Elmo Johnson had kept....

AgriLife Tips

published: October 14th 2011 source: Texas AgriLife Extension Service

RAIN WAS WELCOMED BUT MORE NEEDED The rain we received over the past weekend was very welcomed, as some folks had one to two inches, while others received less than that. It’s a start, however, we remain 15+ inches below normal for this year, so keep up the rain dances or whatever you can do to help stimulate the clouds to release some of that fruitful moisture that we continue to need so badly....

Over My Shoulder

published: October 14th 2011 by: J.D. Sartwelle, Jr.

Did September signal the end to the long, hot, dry summer? It just seemed like another in a long line of miserable months. During the month, there did seem to be some slight shifts in the weather pattern that resulted in lower temperature and some rain makers particularly during the last half of the month....

Weather Wise

published: October 14th 2011 by: Brian Bledsoe

Not About Weather This Time… By now, you are likely tired of hearing about the weather. Sick of the bad news from me, sick of the problems that the drought has caused, and sick dealing with the life changing questions that go along with it....

Just Your Standard Bull

published: September 30th 2011 by: Michael Sturgess

October is now upon us and we have been busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! The sales closing for Pasture Rangeland Forage (PRF) insurance was September 30th (whew…), the fall bull sales are just around the corner and now the Texas Aggies finally officially announce their move to the SEC! Most of you know that I have a daughter Shelbi who is an Aggie....

Texas Tales

published: September 30th 2011 by: Mike Cox

From his office in the 1857-vintage Land Office Building, Land Commis-sioner W.C. Walsh had been watching the construction of the new Capitol since the first shovel of dirt was tossed on February 1, 1882....

AgriLife Tips

published: September 30th 2011 source: Texas AgriLife Extension Service

CATTLE BRAND RE-REGISTRATION BEGAN AUGUST 31 Cattle producers are encouraged to re-register their cattle brands in order to guard against livestock theft. In Texas brands have to be re-registered every 10 years....