Time honored: Over 100 Texas farms, ranches awarded for keeping land productive and in the family

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

Dr. Sam Winkelmann of Brenham accepts a Family Land Heritage certificate from Ag Commissioner Susan Combs during the March 15 ceremony. The Charles Winkelman Farm in Washington County was established in 1901. -- Staff photo by Taylor

March 28, 2002 -- "There's so much rich Texas history here in this room. This year is particularly special and meaningful to each and everyone of us. We Americans will never be the same after the events of Sept. 11, opened Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs at the March 15 Texas Family Land Heritage Ceremony in Austin.

"Our nation's spirit is challenged, but I truly believe that it renewed patriotism in which farmers, ranchers, businesses - everyone - began displaying the American flags on their gates and in their stores and homes. Our spirit was not broken."

Poetry and song were featured at the ceremony, the 27th annual, in which 114 Texas farms and ranches that have been in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years were honored. Over 1,000 people were present to applaud the Family Land Heritage award recipients.

For a second year, the Texas Department of Agriculture honored ranches that were 150-200 years old.

Those honored for 150 years were the Vornkahl Ranch in Austin County; the Calame-Yeldell Ranch and Yeldell Ranch in Freestone County; the Sallie B. Ranch in Grayson County; the Young Ranch 1825 and Young Ranch 1831 in Liberty County and the Rocking D Ranch in Robertson County.

Ranches honored for 200 years were the Agua Nueva Ranch and Noriecitas Ranch both in Jim Hogg County.

The other 107 ranches honored for 100 years are spread out in counties across Texas as the early settlers discovered a place and stopped to began a new life.

"Your ancestors dreamed of owning land and building a life better than the one they left behind ...," said Combs. "You are the living proof, today, that they succeeded."

Ron Stone, well-known Texas broadcaster and historian served as master of ceremonies and Red Stegall, named "Official Cowboy Poet of Texas" in 1991 by the Texas Legislature, entertained the crowd.

Combs read a proclamation from Governor Rick Perry which proclaimed March 15 Family Land Heritage Day across Texas.

"It is their (ranchers/farmers) contributions to our state and way of life that are being honored ... ," said Perry.

Statistics show that there are 226,000 farms and ranches in Texas which cover 130 million acres of land. Texas is first in the nation in number of farms, ranches and acreage, and the ag business adds $80 billion a year to the economy.

During the past 26 years, the Family Land Heritage Program has honored more than 3,600 properties.