Ranch used for university research, education

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

J.B. Bach, ranch manager of the Freeman Ranch, is proud of its rich history and is looking forward to a bright future. -Staff photo by Taylor

December 20, 2001 -- "There is no other place ... that can do for me what this land and what this water and what these people and what these hills and what these surroundings can do," said Lyndon B. Johnson, discussing the Hill Country of Texas many years ago.

According to J.P. Bach, ranch manager of the Freeman Ranch, part of Southwest Texas State University (SWTSU) system, Johnson enjoyed frequent trips to the Freeman Ranch to play cards and dominoes, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) enjoyed yearly deer hunts on the land during that time.

The Freeman Ranch has been a part of SWTSU since 1985, after Harry Freeman left responsibility for operation of the ranch to the university in his will. The stipulation was that the land be used for farm, ranch, game management, educational and experimental purposes.

At the front of the main ranch house is a plaque on the flagpole that was presented to the Freemans by their FBI friends "on the occasion of the 20th annual FBI Hunting Party, November 1967."

The flagpole is one of a number of things that have not been changed or removed from the property.

"This is now a small scale convention center and facility for conferences and things like that. Anyone who wants to use it for the purposes of the University meetings, student groups or faculty or whoever can," said Bach.

The ranch house has been restored with the native rock and wood interior and exterior, but there are still things needed to complete the project.

"The future that we're moving towards is that we will probably look for corporate interests and other things to start helping support the ranch. As you know, most places don't support themselves very well," he added.

"Some of the money comes directly from the (Texas) Legislature and some of it comes from the University. There's some revolving endowments that help fund the ranch, too."

While the classes are taught on the SWTSU campus in downtown San Marcos, labs are held in agriculture and science classes along with research projects on the ranch. The over 4000 acres of land offer students and visitors a chance to see livestock and wildlife habitats.

"This ranch has always been, and will become even stronger, a place for showing and celebrating the successes and failures of ranching in the Hill Country of Texas.

"That means we'll celebrate the failures as well as the successes, because we learn from them just as much or more than we have from the successes," said Bach.

The ranch has always had a German influence and was over-grazed at one point in its history.

Today, about 140 head of Gelbvieh/Brangus crossbreed cattle, 60 head of Rambouillet sheep and 45 head of mostly Boer goats graze the land.

Like many ranches, this is a cow/calf operation with the calves used for showing, with working pens completely under cover for the students. Stables are available for students who have horses.

About 50-55 hunters are allowed in and out of blinds for the deer each year. Arrangements are made to hunt through the University.

The annual Cattle Barons Ball for the American Cancer Society is held at the ranch every year, too.

Bach said he is working very hard on a project that could involve special federal funding for the property and would be very good for the University as well as the Hill Country.

"The ranch has a very rich history and it's going to have a very bright future," said Bach.

Approaching the ranch off FM 12 outside of San Marcos, you are aware of very high fencing around the ranch.

"The high fences generally have two purposes: to improve the genetics of the deer behind it and to keep trespassers out. This one is to keep trespassers out," said Bach.

After suffering through a recent flood, some of the roads are being restored on property that Bach believes could be worth as much as $10,000 per acre.

The ranch does not own a bulldozer and uses no chemicals due to the location on top of the Edwards Aquifer.

While Bach sites the positive influence of the past, he has big plans for the future of the Freeman Ranch.

"A little more of the good, and a little less of the bad," he said.