A Unit of the Texas Historical Commission
line decor
  
line decor
 
 
 
 
  

TEXAS FAMILY LAND HERITAGE PROGRAM


William Lich Ranch Est. 1877

The Family Land Heritage Program honors farms and ranches that have been in continuous agricultural operation by the same family for 100 years or more. The program is designed to recognize and chronicle the unique history of Texas agriculture and the men and women who settled this great state and continue the tradition today.

Since the program started in 1974, the Texas Department of Agriculture has recognized more than 4,200 farms and ranches in 232 counties across Texas. Fayette County has the most Family Land Heritage honorees with 129 properties, Houston County is next with 86 properties, Austin, Medina and DeWitt counties are tied with 84 properties each and Gillespie County has 83 properties.

.

In 2000, the Family Land Heritage Program started recognizing families who have kept their farm or ranch in agricultural production for 150 and 200 years. Since then, five ranches have been recognized for 200 years and 80 farms and ranches for 150 years of operation.

Each year a ceremony is held to recognize the farms and ranches accepted into the Family Land Heritage Program. Participants whose farm or ranch qualifies receive a certificate of honor in the name of the farm or ranch. They can also obtain a Texas Century Farm or Ranch sign to proudly display on their property and the family's agricultural history is documented in the Family Land Heritage Registry.

 

Ranches by the Texas Department of Argicultureas of October 2008

Kerr County Farm or Ranch

Location

5 H Dairy, 1859 (1975)

Twelve miles east of Kerrville on IH-10.

Albrecht Ranch, 1883 (1997)

Four miles northwest of Comfort on Interstate 10 and FM 1341.

Allerkamp Ranch, 1863 (1975)

Nine miles east of Kerrville.

Bartel Farm, 1875 (1975)

Twelve and one-half miles southeast of Kerrville.

Biermann Farm, 1884 (1984)

Four miles west of Comfort on Highway 27.

Black Bull Ranch, 1850s (2002)

Thirty miles northwest of Kerrville on Highway 41.

Bonita Oaks, 1873 (1974)

Ten and one-half miles northwest of Kerrville.

Emilie Neill-Jeanette Boster Ranch, 1875 (1982)

Seven miles south of Kerrville.

Cold Spring Creek Ranch, 1902 (2005)

Approximately two and one-half miles southwest of Highway 41 on FM 1340.

Crowder Ranch 1859 (1974)

One mile north of the Center Point Post Office.

Dale Dean Ranch, 1900 (2000)

Ten miles north of Bandera on Upper Mason Creek.

Dietert Ranch, 1883 (1983)

Three miles west of Comfort on Cypress Creek Road.

F. Dietert Ranch, 1883 (1983)

Three miles west of Comfort on Cypress Creek Road.

Doebbler Ranch, 1876 (1976)

Eight miles northwest of Interstate 10.

Holekamp Ranch, 1904 (2004)

Eleven miles from Kerrville on Fall Creek Road off Highway 2771.

Holekamp Volkenburg Ranch, 1883 (1983)

Three miles west of Comfort on Cypress Creek Road.

Kerr-Wes Farm, 1854 & 1859 (1996)

Twelve miles southeast of Kerrville off of FM 1341.

Arlen Leeder Place, 1882 (1990)

Four miles east of Centerpoint on Lane Valley Road.

Lester Leeder Place, 1882 (1990)

Four miles east of Centerpoint on Lane Valley Road.

Leinweber Ranch, 1903 (2004)

Highway 1340.

Lich Ranch, 1877 (1983)

Eight miles northeast of Kerrville.

Robert Lindner Ranch, 1875 (1975)

Five miles southwest of Comfort.

Nuernberger Farm, 1879 (1979)

Twelve miles southeast of Kerrville.

The Priddy Ranch, 1902 (2005)

Approximately one mile southwest of Highway 41 on FM 1340.

Rahe Ranch, 1898 (1998)

One mile north of IH-10 on left side of FM 479.

Ranchos De Las Puertas, 1874 (1974)

Forty-five miles northwest of San Antonio.

Julius Real Ranch, 1875 (1981)

Seven miles southwest of Kerrville.

Rusch Farm, 1879 (1979)

Twelve miles southeast of Kerrville.

Schladoer Farm, 1891 (1991)

Three miles west of Comfort on Old Cypress Creek Road.

Schumacher Ranch, 1873 (1974)

One mile east of the Hunt Post Office.

Schumacher Ranch, 1903 (2005)

Five miles west of Kerrville on Bear Creek Road.

Seidensticker Farm, 1861 (1974)

One mile north of Comfort.

Spenrath Farm, 1876 (1990)

Two and one-fourth miles southwest of Comfort off Highway 27 along Wilson Creek Road.

Sturdy Oak Farm, 1879 (1979)

Ten miles east of Kerrville.

Thomason Ranch, 1890 (1990)

One and one-half miles west of Center Point Post Office on Highway 27.

Walker Ranch, 1898 (1998)

One mile north of IH-10 on left side of FM 479.

John Walker Ranch, 1898 (1998)

One mile north of IH-10 on left side of FM 479.

Henry Wellborn Ranch, 1867 (2002)

Two miles southwest of Center Point on FM 280.

Witt Homeplace, 1884 (1987)

Three miles west of Center Point on FM 480.

Y. O. Ranch, 1880 (1980)

Sixteen miles west of Mountain Home.

Family Land Heritage Qualifications:

  • The same family must have maintained the land in continuous agricultural production for 100 years or more. Family can include relatives by blood, marriage or adoption.
  • Texas residents who own agricultural land may apply if they can trace the line of ownership from the first family member to the present.
  • The land must also fit the old U.S. Census definition of a farm: 10 acres or more with agricultural sales of $50 or more a year; or if less than 10 acres, sales of at least $250 a year.
  • Owners must be actively managing the everyday operation of the farm or ranch.
  • If all the land has ever been rented or leased to someone outside of the family, it will not qualify. If only a portion was leased, and as much as 10 acres retained in the family for agricultural production with sales of at least $50 annually, it will still qualify.
  • Applications are accepted Jan. 1 through Sept. 15 of each year. For an application or more information, contact FLH at TDA at
    (512) 463-7476 or P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711. The application and rules are also on TDA's Web site at http://www.thc.state.tx.us/links/lkstate.shtml  under the "Family Land Heritage" section.