Country Lifestyles
Construction Begins on The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center
The Groundbreaking ceremony signifies the beginning of construction for this project.
The vision is coming to life! The groundbreaking ceremony for the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center featuring Hank the Cowdog took place Friday morning (Oct. 14) at the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Envisioned as an indoor and outdoor comprehensive learning experience for the public, The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center will provide all ages an immersive ranching experience, guided by the famous character of Hank the Cowdog.
“Hank the Cowdog author John R. Erickson has captured the complexities of the ranching industry in a format that is so natural for children to enjoy while learning through the character of Hank,” said Julie Hodges, NRHC Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Education. “Hank’s influence has touched audiences across the country and beyond. With Hank as the guide, The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center is expected to be an incredible local and national-level attraction.”
The overall experience will artfully meld the latest in high-tech exhibit technology–such as holograms, video projection, and simulation tables–with authentic, hands-on ranching exploration including activities with cowboy gear, water resources, and livestock feeds.
Indoor exhibits will cover many aspects of modern ranching. Visitors will walk away with a greater knowledge of the ranching industry and its impact on their daily lives. Each exhibit will emphasize the science, technology, values, and grit it takes to be a modern-day rancher.
Outdoor exhibits will bring Hank’s fictional ranch to life. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a half-acre of exhibits and natural areas focused on natural resources, wildlife, range nutrition, grassland, horses, cowboys, ranch equipment and roles of a ranch family.
“We want to continue telling our story of heritage and history, but how do we tell our story to a public that is largely detached from agriculture?” said Jim Bret Campbell, NRHC Executive Director. “History may not be the only story we need to tell when so many people today do not grow up around horses, livestock, and land.”
In 2016, the NRHC worked with Hank the Cowdog author, John R. Erickson, to publish a series of books and establish a classroom curriculum called Ranch Life Learning. The books and educator
resources help students learn science and social studies through Hank the Cowdog and his ranch. The Ranch Life Learning series has become a classroom staple due to its relatability and real-world application. Now, The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center will bring those lessons to life in a hands-on way for NRHC patrons of all ages.
The groundbreaking signifies the beginning of the construction phase of The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center. Construction is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2023.
While construction has started, there is still an opportunity to reach a fundraising goal to support this transformative facility for years to come. For more information on The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center and how to contribute to the project, visit ranchingheritage.org.
By: Martha Crump
Most cattle producers can tell you quite a lot about balancing cattle diets for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals based on the specific needs for their herd and type of operation.
A key factor, and one that is often overlooked, is that how your animals perform is also directly affected by their water intake.
Now many of you may already be thinking “well of course water is necessary, anybody knows that!”
In many years, as September marches into October, we are beginning to experience some return of rainfall. But as many of us know, that is not always the case. Often we are still experiencing hot and dry weather, and water supplies are dwindling.
When we find ourselves experiencing those types of fall conditions, it is critical to not only understand the daily water requirements for cattle, but also the impact that the quality of water can have on herd health and development.
To read more, 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: Annette Bridges
A friend and I were recently talking about our husbands. She made a comment that I felt also perfectly described me and my hubby.
“He slows me and I hurry him. I’m sure that is why we do well together,” she said.
“Precisely!” I thought. Why?
Because when two different worlds collide, it can be magical.
No matter what those two different worlds are- a man and a woman with very different personalities, beliefs, or backgrounds, two partners with contrasting passions, strengths, or talents, or when a country boy marries a city girl.
To read more, 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.
Watauga, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, is known for its rich history as a railroad stop, but over the course of the last year, one teen girl has put it on the map for agriculture as well. Emma Harvey has lived in Tarrant County her entire life. Despite being highly involved in her local 4-H chapter, she still felt there was more she could do. In the spring of 2023, she stepped up to the plate to take over the title of Tarrant County Teen Miss Agriculture USA.
“It all started when I put in an application for the teen title here in Tarrant County,” explained Harvey.
The Miss Agriculture USA program is a national non-profit, age-inclusive pageant program that offers both competition and non-competition titles to women dedicated to the promotion of agriculture.
Read more in the October issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available online and in print. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive NTFR in your inbox each week.
Photo by Hannah Claxton.
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