Country Lifestyles
Burns Ranch: A Legacy of the Past, Present and Future
By Dani Blackburn
In 1890, Aldolphus W. Raht purchased a portion of the Red River Cattle Company with headquarters at the original Block Bar Ranch in Clay County.
During his time as a rancher, Aldolphus focused on raising high quality ranch horses and Hereford cattle while he and his wife, Ella Mae, raised one son on the ranch, Carlyle Graham, who became an author. He penned a collection of firsthand stories on the cattle ranch, “Old Buck and I,” during a time of Indian raids and fence wars.
In 1928, blizzards, drought and disease forced the Rahts to deed the ranch to banker Carl Worsham of Henrietta. In 1934, Lillian and L.T. Burns, of Wichita Falls, purchased the ranch from the Worsham Estate at $9.70 per acre.
Lillian’s grandfather, Kit Carter, was a prominent cattleman near Palo Pinto and served as the first president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in 1877. The TSCRA continues to play a vital role in the cattle industry, just as the Burns’ love of agriculture has continued to be passed through six generations of the family as Becky Burns Johnson and her son, Graham, strive to continue their strong ranching legacy for future generations.
Becky, the granddaughter of L.T. and Lillian, spent her childhood summers on the ranch as an only girl with three brothers. Her grandparents lived in Wichita Falls but visited the ranch often during the year and for one month every summer. At the time, the Burns raised registered Hereford cattle.
“I came out and we always went with the cowboy crew branding. I am sure we thought we were helping. I thought I was Annie Oakley and could do anything, but I wanted to prove to my brothers I was as tough as they were,” Becky said. “I grew up with this land in my family.”
To read more pick up a copy of NTFR magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Dal Houston
I am terribly saddened by all the argumentative discourse that seems to be going on in today’s world. It seems as though it is no longer enough just to disagree on certain issues. We are expected to classify someone as an enemy if they do not always agree with us on all issues, lest we be considered weak.
To make things even worse, because those who disagree with you are now considered enemies, the sentiment seems to be that it is only fair and proper to destroy them, because they are the enemy, again with the fear of ridicule for being weak if we do not fight.
With all that said, and seemingly unrelated, I am a big John Wayne fan. From watching him dive into his role as a cowboy, to marveling at his time portraying a soldier or appreciating his acting gig as a sailor, there is seldom a week that goes by without me watching at least one
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Martha Crump
That old adage, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.,” may have some basis in truth when applied to minor situations. However, when what you don’t know is presented in the form of a “Trojan Horse” and is what amounts to an incredible attempt to fleece American property rights, it becomes a different story altogether.
To put this unbelievable tale together, we need to step back to Joe Biden’s 2021 Executive Order which pledged commitment to help restore balance on public lands and waters, to create jobs, and to provide a path to align the management of America’s public lands and waters with our nation’s climate, conservation, and clean energy goals.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Lacey Vilhauer
Ingredients:
1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
¼ cup water
Directions:
Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl. Puree the strawberries in a food processor and add to the lemon mixture along with juice of one lemon and water. Taste and add more juice as desired.
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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