Attractions
Electra II: The Legacy of Electra Waggoner Biggs
By Shannon Gillette
The mystic of the Waggoner Ranch, headquartered near Vernon, Texas, in Wilbarger County has long fascinated Texans, non-Texans, and western culture lovers. What could be more intriguing than a ranch that spread over 500,000 acres in six counties, with hundreds of homes, 1,200 oil wells and 30 cowboy camps that was owned by one family for generations? The individuals that made up the Waggoner family were just as awe inspiring as the ranch itself.
The Waggoner Ranch was established in 1852 by Daniel Waggoner. When he died in 1902, the ranch was inherited by his only child, W.T. “Pappy” Waggoner. W.T. discovered oil on the property and the ranch continued to grow and prosper. W.T. and wife Ella had three children, Guy, E. Paul and Electra. W.T. Waggoner placed the ranch in a trust to be shared by his three children. A board of directors was appointed to handle the day to day business. E. Paul, and his wife Helen, had one daughter. They named her Electra, known as Electra II, after his sister. Electra II’s artistic talents as a sculptor gained her as much notoriety as the Waggoner name. Electra was born Nov. 8, 1912, in Fort Worth. She spent most of her childhood in the family’s stately home on Summit Avenue in Fort Worth. Her mother organized a school in their backyard for Electra and seven other students. They eventually outgrew the backyard and a larger school was opened just down the street.
Once Electra turned 13, it was determined that she would attend a private boarding school. She enrolled in Miss Wright’s Boarding School in Pennsylvania. It was a difficult transition for Electra, who had never been away from her close-knit family. But she soon discovered a love of art, especially sculpture. After finishing school, she traveled to New York to study sculpting. She also spent a year studying at the Sorbonne in Paris. She loved the hustle and bustle of New York and enjoyed the active social scene. She met and married Gordon Bowman in 1933. The tumultuous relationship ended in divorce two short years later. Concerned she might never return to her home in Texas, her father built her a ranch of her own on the Waggoner, the Santa Rosa Roundup Ranch. She returned home, but continued her love affair with sculpting and was gaining quite the reputation as an artist.
To read more pick up a copy of the July 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
On The Road With Dave Alexander
Rarely will you find an event center that includes a music venue, a steakhouse and a wildlife refuge all rolled into one.
Oak Meadow Ranch has been welcoming guests for over two decades with one thing in mind, your complete happy experience.
The Chef Dinner and Exotic Animal Experience includes a four-course meal followed by a hands-on experience with exotic animals.
You can catch up with Dave at the Birthplace of Western Swing Festival in Fort Worth, Texas on November 7, or at the Irving Symphony Orchestra in Irving, Texas on November 9. To read more about his experience at Oak Meadow Ranch, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print.
To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Lindsey Monk
On Aug. 22, 2024 at 11:40 p.m., the Remington fire jumped the line in Wyoming to burn towards Montana at a high rate of speed. The fire burned 194,459 acres and over 41 miles from one end to the other in a span of two days. Livestock producers will be feeling the effects for years to come.
Pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor
The GO TEXAN program is a Texas Department of Agriculture initiative dedicated to showcasing and supporting Texas based busi- nesses. During the State Fair of Texas, held in Dallas each year, the program puts together the GO TEXAN pavilion. Within the pavilion, presented by Southwest Dairy Farmers, visitors have the opportunity to sample and shop Texas-based products, learn more about agriculture and participate in family-friendly activities.
In 2023, more than $1 million in revenue was generated across nearly 67,000 products sold. Businesses with products produced or processed in Texas are invited to apply to join the program, and can visit http:// www.gotexan.org/JOIN to apply.
When visiting the State Fair of Texas, make sure to visit the GO TEXAN pavilion to support businesses driving agricultural commerce and explore Texas agricultural commodities outside of North Texas.
The State Fair of Texas is held each year in the fall, and is considered to be the first of the “majors” shows for many students involved in showing livestock. Cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and even llamas all have a class to enter at the fair.
For those not showing livestock, over a hundred creative arts classes are available to enter. Canned goods, photography, quilts, paintings, and butter sculptures are all displayed throughout the fair’s duration. Another contest judges a variety of antique collections and keeps them on display throughout the duration of the fair.
It’s not the State Fair of Texas without world-renowned food. The Big Tex Choice Awards contest has solidified the State Fair of Texas as the top Fair for great food creations. Each year, State Fair concessionaires fry up tasty and unique foods for a chance to become a finalist in the annual Big Tex Choice Awards competition.
The 2024 Finalists in the Savory category are: Dominican Fritura Dog (by Justin Martinez), The Drowning Taquitos (by Tony & Terry Bednar), Hippie Chips (by Rose and Tom Deschenes), Hot Chick-In- Pancake Poppers (by Palmer and Amanda Fortune), Texas Fried Burnt End Bombs (by Nick and Vera Burt).
In the Sweet category, the 2024 Finalists are: Nevins Nutty Bar- Laska (by Tami Nevins Mayes & Josie Mayes), Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon On A Stick (by Isaac Rousso), Strawberry Pop-Tarts Beignettfle (by Justin Martinez), Texas Sugar Rush Pickles (by Heather Perkins), and Tropical Two-Step Punch (by Binh Tran).
Livestock & contests schedule of events is available in the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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