Farm & Ranch
Rejuvenating a county’s tradition: Wichita County Mounted Patrol Arena
By staff writer Jessica Bartel
The smell of dirt and livestock, the bright lights of an arena and sound of a large crowd on a Saturday night resonates with so many rodeo competitors and rodeo fans. The Wichita County Mounted Patrol Arena was the stage for many large performances such as the Red River PRCA rodeo and the Ranch Round-Up. Present Wichita County Mounted Patrol President Mike Kephart said, “I remember the day when this place was it! It was a big deal! Cars would be everywhere. People would park all the way to the Wichita River bridge.”
The arena was organized and built by a committee in 1957. Its top contributors were Cletus Shank and Dr. Ted Alexander. Alexander and a group of 15 horse lovers met in the Wichita County Courthouse and organized a riding club named the Wichita County Sheriff’s Patrol. Later, in 1967, the Sheriff’s Patrol changed their name to Wichita County Mounted Patrol.
On March 23, 1958, the first charter was written and the Patrol was incorporated as a non-profit and charitable organization. The committee combined to preserve the western heritage and bring top competitors and rodeo athletes to Wichita County. To read more pick up the April 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
By Heather Welper
Husband and wife duo, Heather and Calvin Welper, are the Co-Owners and Operators or Two C Livestock, located in Valley View, Texas.
The pair’s operation has a show cattle focus where they raise and sell purebred heifers of all breeds and club calf Hereford steers.
When it comes to show cattle, the Welpers know a thing or two including how to prepare for the cold winter months and the Texas major show season run.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Hannah Claxton, Editor
As the sun rises each day, so do the dozens of mouths that Meghan McGovern is responsible for getting fed. Rather than the sounds of a rooster crowing, McGovern hears the bellows and bleats of a variety of exotic deer, the chortle of kangaroos, the grunts of water buffaloes, and the chirps of a lemur.
Nestled against the banks of the Red River, the Double M Ranch and Rescue, with its high game fences and deer sprinkling the landscape,s its in stark contrast to the surrounding ranches.
“Having deer is kind of like eating potato chips- you can never actually have just one,” said McGovern with a laugh.
McGovern has several herds to take care of- fallow deer, axis deer, water buffalo, goats, and bison. In smaller numbers, there’s also a few kangaroos, a lemur, a potbelly pig, a pair of zebras, a watusi, and a few horses.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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