The 50th Annual Henderson County Farm & Ranch Tour will be taking off from the Fairpark Complex tomorrow at 9 a.m. … and there are three great stops planned (read about the speakers here):
J1 Ranch
J1 Ranch is a cattle operation begun by Ben and Patsy Johnson in the 1960s. It began by purchasing land in western Henderson County. This land was sold in the early 1980s to purchase the current location, which consists of 1,400 acres in southern Henderson County. J1 Ranch is a family run business with Patsy and Chris, her son, making management decisions.
The livestock include grass finished yearlings and a cow-calf enterprise. The current cow herd is close to 300 pairs with approximately 50 heifers retained as replacements every year. Calves are born in the spring and weaned in the fall. They are retained, finished on grass, and sold at 22 to 28 months of age weighing about 1,100 pounds.
Dal Riata
The Robertson family has been actively involved in the development of ranch properties throughout Texas over the previous 15 years, but has primarily been focused on the Henderson and Anderson county areas. While many of the ranch properties are pieced together for resale, this property will likely become the home to three generations of the Robertson family. The family desired a name that would lend some significance to the property in anticipation that it will likely become a place the family can call home for years to come. In searching for something meaningful, the family discovered a rich Scottish history. The family has no known ties to the original Robertson Clan, but found meaning in the symbolism. This was the origin of Dal Riata which was the ancestral home of the Robertson Clan.
The vision for the Dal Riata has been focused on woods, wildlife and water in an effort to provide a tranquil environment that removes you from the hustle and bustle of daily life. This vision begins at the recessed entrance that will be protected by stands of planted pines and opens into an area of hardwood timber. It is further accented with the placement of roads and planted pines in an effort to accentuate the vista views and lush rolling hills while limiting the felt impact of neighboring improvements.
Although the typical farm and ranch property in the area may be primarily focused on agriculture production, the Robertsons have attempted to enhance the recreational nature of the property. Water is a must on these types of properties whether it is put together for speculation or enjoyment of use. This property is improved with a 25-acre lake, which was originally constructed 10-15 years ago, but suffered a dam breach in subsequent years. Part of the work recently performed on the property included significant repairs including re-coring the structure to provide additional support and limit seepage.
Milan Quarter Horses
Milan Quarter Horses, LLC was established in Athens in 2011. They are in the business of breeding, raising and exhibiting the finest halter show horses in North America. The facilities and business is owned by Scott and Kelly Trahan of Dallas and managed by Tyler Oneal.