As the campaign progresses, I want to highlight some out-of-the-way locales in Texas that capture the rich heritage of the Lone Star State. These places, and the people who inhabit them, have lively and colorful histories, but more importantly they have a meaningful impact on our state’s agricultural industry.
Just outside the small West Texas town of Mertzon (west of San Angelo), sits the Rocker b Ranch. The story of the Rocker b dates back to the days of the Goodnight-Loving Trail, before barbed wire fences were erected, and cowboys were still in high demand. Purchased by Senator William A. Blakely in 1954, the ranch would transform into something of great significance. In 1977, Senator Blakely donated the ranch to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The TSRHC, established in 1921 by a group of Texas Masons, treats children with orthopedic conditions at no charge to their families. Today, the revenues provided by the Rocker b go to support the hospital’s operations.
In April, I was fortunate enough to visit the Rocker b. Ranch manager Dennis Webb likes to run the ranch’s cattle operation the “old-fashioned way,” not just for nostalgia or romance, but because it’s the “right way” and happens to be the most efficient. At over 170,000 acres, the Rocker b is one of the largest ranches under one fence in the state, and that sure became apparent as we spent the morning gathering and working cattle.
The day began before the sun, with a traditional chuck wagon breakfast and good-natured ribbing by the cowboys. As the West Texas landscape came alive with the stunning light of dawn, we mounted up to gather a herd of cattle, accompanied by antelope, deer, and other native wildlife. Of all the things I witnessed that day, the most enduring was the attitude of the cowboys. These men, professionals in every sense of the word, knew that their work transcended that of mere cow punching; they were riding for a greater cause. The fruits of their labor not only benefit the consumers of Texas, but also support the functions of a great Texas institution.
I salute Dennis Webb and the cowboys of the Rocker b for their indomitable spirit and commitment to Texas agriculture. I think we could all use a little tradition, and the Rocker b Ranch is a place were the spirit of the West is alive and well. Is it any wonder they write books and make movies about Texas?
Just outside the small West Texas town of Mertzon (west of San Angelo), sits the Rocker b Ranch. The story of the Rocker b dates back to the days of the Goodnight-Loving Trail, before barbed wire fences were erected, and cowboys were still in high demand. Purchased by Senator William A. Blakely in 1954, the ranch would transform into something of great significance. In 1977, Senator Blakely donated the ranch to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The TSRHC, established in 1921 by a group of Texas Masons, treats children with orthopedic conditions at no charge to their families. Today, the revenues provided by the Rocker b go to support the hospital’s operations.
In April, I was fortunate enough to visit the Rocker b. Ranch manager Dennis Webb likes to run the ranch’s cattle operation the “old-fashioned way,” not just for nostalgia or romance, but because it’s the “right way” and happens to be the most efficient. At over 170,000 acres, the Rocker b is one of the largest ranches under one fence in the state, and that sure became apparent as we spent the morning gathering and working cattle.
The day began before the sun, with a traditional chuck wagon breakfast and good-natured ribbing by the cowboys. As the West Texas landscape came alive with the stunning light of dawn, we mounted up to gather a herd of cattle, accompanied by antelope, deer, and other native wildlife. Of all the things I witnessed that day, the most enduring was the attitude of the cowboys. These men, professionals in every sense of the word, knew that their work transcended that of mere cow punching; they were riding for a greater cause. The fruits of their labor not only benefit the consumers of Texas, but also support the functions of a great Texas institution.
I salute Dennis Webb and the cowboys of the Rocker b for their indomitable spirit and commitment to Texas agriculture. I think we could all use a little tradition, and the Rocker b Ranch is a place were the spirit of the West is alive and well. Is it any wonder they write books and make movies about Texas?
