Farm & Ranch
LARGEST ONE-OF-A-KIND RANCH IN NORTH AMERICA GAINS STRONG INTERNATIONAL INTEREST WHILE YET TO “OFFICIALLY” HIT MARKETPLACE
Listing brokers report early international interest in the 800-square mile
Texas ranch and oil estate of famed oil & cattle baron legend W.T. Waggoner
VERNON, TEXAS, OCTOBER 7, 2014 – It’s a Texas-sized story that Hollywood could never write, yet this story is destined for the history books. The iconic Waggoner Ranch will be sold.
The seller’s brokers, who will likely “officially” go to the open market in the next 30 to 45 days, report an early surge of interest from potential buyers and brokers worldwide seeking to register interest in the ranch.
“The initial momentum of interest in the Waggoner Ranch has even surpassed my expectations,” said Robbie Briggs, President and CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. “So of course, the response is only a reflection of the magnitude the Waggoner property truly represents.”
“The news of our assignment was picked up by the Associated Press and went viral,” said Bernard Uechtritz of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty in Dallas, one of the two exclusive agents representing the sale of the W.T. Waggoner Ranch. “The resulting interest and inquiries from a broad spectrum of qualified buyers has been extremely strong, even overwhelming, as we have tried to focus on the tasks of preparing the property, data, and documentation to actually get on the market.”
Founded in 1849, the legendary W.T. Waggoner Ranch was approved to be liquidated August 6, 2014, by Texas 46th District Court Judge Dan Mike Bird.
This iconic property consists of 510,000 contiguous acres encompassing an historic empire of vast, rich oil fields, open ranges, fertile farming and endless miles of grazing land, along with herds of thousands of cattle as well as enormous lakes, hundreds of foundation-bred, award-winning American quarter horses — all spread across six counties of west Texas prairie and sweeping rangeland. For the first time in its expansive history, the W.T. Waggoner Ranch will be offered to the open market for sale internationally.
The receiver for the W.T. Waggoner Estate, Michael Baskerville, approved the shareholder plan presented to the court. Key to this plan was the appointment of Uechtritz of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty and co-broker Sam Middleton of Chas. S. Middleton & Son in Lubbock, Texas as the exclusive agents representing the sale of the ranch and estate assets, offering the ranch to state, national and international interest.
“Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to provide the strategic marketing, and regional, national and international reach to take the W.T. Waggoner Estate across Texas and to the four corners of the world,” said Briggs.
The W.T. Waggoner Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States whose operations exist ‘under one fence.’ There is no other property available on the market anywhere that rivals the Waggoner Ranch’s prestige, its family’s place in history, or its infrastructure. Most likely, an opportunity like this will never be seen again in our lifetime.
Given the most recent interest in the property, Baskerville has set a guideline price for the Waggoner Ranch at $725 million. “The market will soon tell us if we are $3 million too high or $300 million too low,” said Uechtritz. “Right now, the level of response is telling us that this will not be a drawn-out process.”
The listing announcement by Baskerville was supported by a consensus of the shareholders, heirs and families of the estate.
Since this property has never before been sold, no title report or even a complete survey existed for the Waggoner Ranch until this year in anticipation of the sale.
One of the primary assets of the ranch are the mineral rights. Currently, 1,200 wells produce an approximate monthly gross of 41,000 barrels a month for the entire estate. The sale of the Waggoner Ranch will include approximately 42% of these rights, along with a multitude of other assets. Incredibly, some 400,000 acres of the ranch remains unexplored and undeveloped with regard to oil exploration.
“To a buyer,” said Middleton, “there are potentially significant tax benefits in addition to land appreciation and development. Given the opportunities for further oil exploration, green energy, prime farming and grazing land, existing cattle and horse operations, and with an already established infrastructure that includes dams and thousands of miles of fencing and roads, the buyer will potentially get an incredible tax write-off through accelerated depreciation of the vast assets included with the land.”
The Waggoner Ranch is also home to a wide variety of wildlife. “This ranch has not been commercially hunted in 165 years of its ownership. There are outstanding Boone and Crockett quality bucks on the ranch that have never heard a rifle shot,” said Middleton.
What stands as perhaps the most critical component of this sale for the brokers is finding the perfect buyer for the Waggoner Ranch. “This is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to own such a Texas treasure. The Waggoner Ranch has such significant value, but it’s more than just a large piece of property. The ranch serves so many purposes: multiple integrated businesses, the community, the people… it’s a part of not only Texas history, but an integral part of the history of the cowboy and the American West,” said Uechtritz. “The perfect buyer, we believe, and the family believes, is someone who understands the big picture of the Waggoner Ranch, and that its preservation is critical to its continued prosperity, legacy and value to society. For either an individual or a corporate entity, the acquisition of the ranch offers profitability, diversity and development with the added opportunity to be a civic giant who will benefit from immeasurable culture and community alliance by preserving an icon.”
“I am very pleased with the selection of Bernie Uechtritz and Sam Middleton – to be on the front lines of this herculean assignment,” added Baskerville. “I am confident that Bernie and Sam will find the ranch its perfect buyer.”
For Uechtritz, the W.T. Waggoner Ranch is a symbol of America’s past whose preservation is vital to this country’s future. “Speaking personally,” said Uechtritz, “I am certainly hoping we engage a true patriot or entity who cares less about ‘what price,’ and who will step forward to protect, preserve and enhance this American icon and the cowboy way of life for another 200 years. If someone is willing to pay $2 billion for a basketball team, what does this make half a million prime Texas acres worth? From a brand perspective, no other ranch will ever be the Waggoner. There will only ever be one Waggoner. A ranch that is producing food, energy, is home to some of the best cattle and best bloodlines of horseflesh in the world, and whose generations of employees are the finest example of the backbone of our society. People whose fortitude, values and ethos exemplify what great nations were built on.”
About the W.T. Waggoner Ranch
Founded by Dan Waggoner in 1849, his son, famed cattle baron W.T. Waggoner, continued expanding the ranch to the 510,000 acres that will soon be offered to the international marketplace. Owned exclusively by the Waggoner family, this is the first time the 800-square mile estate has ever been listed for sale. The W.T. Waggoner Ranch is the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, and along with King Ranch and the 6666 (Four Sixes) Ranch, is known throughout the world and revered in Texas as one of the “Big Three.” Nearly the size of Rhode Island, the ranch encompasses six North Texas counties, offering two main compounds, dozens of additional homes, 20 cowboy camps, enormous lakes, hundreds of award-winning quarter horses, thousands of heads of cattle, 1,200 oil wells, and 30,000 acres of cultivated farm land.
About Michael Baskerville
Michael (Mike) S. Baskerville is a Vernon, Texas attorney and Vernon native. He was appointed as Receiver by District Judge Dan Mike Bird in 2011.
About Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty is the oldest privately held real estate boutique in Dallas. With six offices in Dallas, Lakewood, Uptown, Ranch and Land, The Ballpark and Southlake, and more than 250 associates, the firm specializes in significant properties, from historic to contemporary, ranch to waterfront. The company’s deep-rooted connections, cutting-edge marketing and global strategies bring the extraordinary to all clients. President and CEO Robbie Briggs independently owns and operates Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. For more information, visit http://www.briggsfreeman.com.
About Bernard (Bernie) Uechtritz
International Real Estate Adviser Bernard Uechtritz has a 20-year proven track record of selling and advising on complex, unique and luxury real estate as well as iconic ranches throughout the United States. Since 1995, he has managed and sold real estate for a broad range of clients, institutions, and private wealth management entities. Born in Papua, New Guinea to a pioneering ranch family, Mr. Uechtritz has the ‘cowboy tradition’ in his blood. In a career made on the impossible, Mr. Uechtritz pursued his passion for real estate and ranches stateside, consulting as an international marketing expert and strategic real estate specialist for some of the world’s biggest and most unique properties. Mr. Uechtritz is a father, cattle rancher and competitive horseman.
About Chas. S. Middleton and Son
Sam Middleton is the owner of the renowned West Texas real estate and appraisal firm, Chas. S. Middleton and Son, established by his grandfather in 1920. The business consists of farm and ranch appraisals and farm and ranch sales. Sam holds Real Estate Broker licenses in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. Mr. Middleton holds the designation of ARA (Accredited Rural Appraiser) through the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and is a certified appraiser for the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. He has sold numerous expansive ranches throughout the western states of Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Kansas over the course of several decades. Mr. Middleton lives near Lubbock, Texas and is also a cattle rancher. For more information, visit http://www.chassmiddleton.com.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.
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Future Farmers of America was founded by a group of farmers in 1928 with the mission of preparing the next generation of agriculture. It has done just that during its 95-year history, as the organization works to give back to others by following its motto, “learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve.”
FFA is an organization made up of state associations, and at the helm of the Texas FFA is a team of 12 officers representing their respective areas within the Lone Star State. These individuals dedicate a year of their lives as they serve members, provide leadership, and work together with the state staff and board of directors to develop policy and lead the organization of over 177,000 members.
North Texas is represented by Area IV and Area IV, stretching from Wilbarger County to Bell County and from Runnels County to Grayson County. This year, those chosen to lead this great area are State President Isaac Hawkins Jr., Area IV, and State Vice President Weston Parr, Area V.
Parr is from the Sam Rayburn FFA chapter and the Area V Association, but the leader who now serves more than 19,100 members of Area V entered the FFA organization as a shy teenager who sat in the back of the room.
“I didn’t talk to a whole lot of people. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life or where I could see myself, so I wasn’t involved on my high school campus,” Parr recalled.
“Then I started FFA and slowly but surely, my ag teachers worked me into attending more contests, meeting new people, and speaking. I remember the first time I gave an officer speech to my chapter. I can still remember how embarrassing it was. To see the progression from that moment to speaking on stage at the state convention in front of thousands of people. Now I feel like I can enter the industry I want and be successful all because of what FFA afforded me for five years.”
There is not much Parr did not do during his time in high school. His contest participation included chapter conducting, wool judging, cotton judging, wildlife, and job interview, but his favorite was extemporaneous speaking, which he did not start until his senior year of high school.
“I wish I could go back to my freshman, sophomore, and junior years and start that sooner. I think if I had more time, I would have been more successful than I already was, but that was something I didn’t realize I liked at the time. I’m not naturally somebody who likes to speak in public, but it was actually my favorite,” Parr said.
Parr won several awards during his time competing. In 2023 alone, Parr earned the Texas FFA Service-Learning Proficiency title, was a National FFA Service-Learning Proficiency finalist, and a Texas FFA Extemporaneous Speaking finalist. In addition to his CDE and LDE events during high school, he showed commercial steers at Houston, and boilers at most major shows, participated in the county show with projects in ag mechanics, showed goats from time to time, and showed heifers until graduation.
“FFA provides invaluable resources and knowledge to be successful once you leave high school and you are out of the blue jacket for the first time. I have been a part of a lot of great organizations over the years, and they are all great in their own way, but in my opinion, FFA is the most successful at producing members of society who want to go and do something with themselves,” Parr said.
He was halfway through his time as Area V Association President and attending the national convention when he began to ponder the idea of running for state office.
“This is around the time when you usually figure out if you want to go through and be a state officer or you decide that area officer is your last run. I was unsure of where I wanted to go, but I knew I didn’t want to be done with FFA. I decided maybe it would be a good opportunity not only for me to make more friendships and connections, but also to give back to the program that allowed me to be able to do what I can do today,” Parr explained.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
FFA is an organization made up of state associations, and at the helm of the Texas FFA is a team of 12 officers representing their respective areas within the Lone Star State. These individuals dedicate a year of their lives as they serve members, provide leadership, and work together with the state staff and board of directors to develop policy and lead the organization of over 177,000 members.
North Texas is represented by Area IV and Area IV, stretching from Wilbarger County to Bell County and from Runnels County to Grayson County. This year, those chosen to lead this great area are State President Isaac Hawkins Jr., Area IV, and State Vice President Weston Parr, Area V.
These young leaders share a drive to give back to the organization that has given to them as they work to support FFA members while preparing for a future in the agricultural industry.
From the 12 selected representatives, delegates elect a president and first vice president, with the remaining 10 serving as vice presidents from their respective area associations. The selection process consists of a popular vote by delegates at the state convention, which accounts for 40 percent of the decision, and a committee process that includes a written knowledge exam, worth 10 percent, and an interview, accounting for 50 percent. This year, after all was said and done, Hawkins was named this year’s Texas FFA President.
Hawkins grew up as part of a large, blended family with five sisters and three brothers. While he says he did not grow up in agriculture, his youth was spent outside fishing and doing all things outdoors with his father, whom he calls his best friend. As he entered Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, Hawkins knew he wanted to be a vet but was unsure of what courses to take to set himself on that path.
“I signed up for ag principals just because they had animals in the description. The first day of class we talked about churning butter, and I went to my school counselor that same day and told her to change my schedule immediately, but she refused. She made me stay there,” Hawkins laughed. “Luckily, I had an incredible ag teacher, and she really helped me to fall in love with the program.”
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.
Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.
The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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