'Chamblee Bottom' farm gains 100-year Family Land Heritage award from TDA

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Kevin and Donna Wilkerson of Mabank accepted the award in Austin on March 15. -Staff photo by Montgomery

April 18, 2002 -- Blood, sweat, tears, and lots of hard work make a ranch prosper, but add plenty of love and you have a legacy. On March 15, a Van Zandt family's legacy earned them a Texas Family Land Heritage award.

This award, presented by the Texas Department of Agriculture, is given to individuals whose land has remained in the family, and in agriculture production, for 100-plus years. For Kevin and Donna Wilkerson of Mabank, the rich heritage of their land is beyond compare.

"This land has been in our family since 1901 and the only way we would leave the land is by force, and then it would be a long hard battle," Donna said.

The Covered W Ranch, also known as "the Chamblee Bottom," is currently 170-plus acres of prime coastal bermuda. There are only around five acres of timber left, according to Gerald Chamblee, Donna's dad.

The ranch's rich history began in 1901 when W. G. Chamblee, Donna's great-grandfather, purchased 65 acres from his aunt, Annie R. Martin. Later he added 126 acres and began raising corn, cotton and ribbon cane.

In 1942, Riley Fletcher (Dutch) Chamblee purchased the land from his father and continued his father's way of raising crops and ribbon cane. He operated the syrup mill and a grist mill, selling his wares to the public.

"In the 40's, syrup sold somewhere around $1 per gallon because people who worked for my father would take a gallon for their pay and they made $1 a day," Chamblee said. "The syrup mill I still have and it probably would work but I would have put it back together and it's heavy."

Changing of the guard was made on Jan. 18, 1966, when Chamblee purchased the ranch from his father. Like his father and grandfather, Chamblee continued on with growing crops, plus added beef cattle.

"I started with Charolais cattle on a rent-to-own type deal. This gentleman I knew had Charolais and he told that I could pay him with the calves I sold. I paid him off by the second calf crop," Chamblee said. "Most calves at that time (1972) were bringing around $200 per calf. I got around $500.

"Mr. Gibbs, the banker came over one day and I had 13 bull calves weighing close to 850 (pounds) and he wanted to look at them. He looked and then said ,'Let's go look at the momma cows,' so we went and looked at the momma cows. We came back and he threw the checkbook at me and said, 'Write the check,'. I was asking $550 per head," Chamblee continued. "'How many do you want?' I asked him, and you know he took all 13.

"I did pretty good with the Charolais. Then when the Simmental took off, I bought some of those. Did pretty good with them too."

But not only was the ranch doing "pretty good" at cattle, Chamblee had improved the land by planting Coastal bermuda grass. He sold sprigs to make money.

"I bought 20 bushels of sprigs for $20 and planted all of it. By the next year, I was able to sell some sprigs. There was a man over at Ennis and I guarantee I sold him enough sprigs to cover Ennis. He would come everyday and get a load of sprigs and two loads on Saturday," Chamblee added.

After working the land for 33 years, Chamblee sold the land to his daughter Donna.

"Momma called and said, 'Your daddy wants you and Kevin to come over tonight.' I kinda guessed what he was wanting," Donna said. "Sure enough, the land became ours."

"I knew about the 100-year certificate and that the application had to be in Austin six months prior to the ceremony. I went to the courthouse and got all the necessary papers, filled them out, and sent them back," Donna explained about registering for the Texas Family Land Heritage award.

Donna and Kevin both have full-time jobs, but the ranch was a way to supplement income. Donna is a first grade teacher at Canton Elementary and Kevin is a Plano Fire Department captain.

"My full-time job is becoming my fun job and the ranch is the real job," Kevin said.

Much work has gone into making the ranch what it is today. Fences have been restrung and built a pipe corral has been built. Brush has been cleared and the cattle herd has increased.

Life on the ranch is what the Wilkerson's live for, they agree. In the summer, life gets a little busier with baling their hay in addition to custom baling. Son, Eric, helps with the baling while son, Cody, and daughter, Lana, are in college.

"Lana does bring us tea," joked Donna.

Besides having a full-time job and a "real" job, Kevin is a member of the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association and the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association. He competes in bullriding and last year made it to the finals in Reno, Nev.

Donna, who attends all the rodoes she can, decided last year that since she is there, she might as well compete too. Now, she is a "ribbon runner." This timed event requires two people. The first person is a calf roper whose job is to rope a calf and then touch the calf which has a ribbon tied on its tail. Once the roper has touched the calf, the ribbon runner grabs the ribbon and races back to the starting gate.

"We won $104 at Houston with a fourth place. The entry fee was $40 so I I made $64," Donna said. "Kevin is very supportive and we have a good time."

"Wait a minute," Kevin said. "I paid the entry fee so I believe you didn't make anything. I'm still waiting to get paid back."

"Like I said, Kevin is very supportive," laughed Donna.

When asked about any advice Donna would give to a young rancher, her reply was,"Love your land and teach your children the importance of agriculture and maybe one day, they will continue the legacy which our grandfathers left behind."

"It's so peaceful here and our plans our for the children to continue the legacy if that's what they choose to do. I plan on being buried here," Donna said. "I love this land and you've got to love the land to continue the legacy."