West Texas ranchers preserve legacy while conserving land

Story and photos compiled by Wade Day, Public Affairs Specialist, San Angelo, Texas

West Texas ranchers preserve legacy while conserving land. (ArcGIS Story Map)

The care and maintenance for 20,000 acres of ranchland is no easy task, but two West Texas ranchers have embraced it as a labor of love. 

Tim and Lou Edwards, who own and operate Bar O Land & Cattle Company in Van Horn, Texas, are keeping the land they are passionate about viable one day at a time. 

Whether in the kitchen graciously taking time out of their busy schedule to serve up brisket and beans for hungry guests or outside battling the elements to check on water and livestock, they work tirelessly to keep things running smoothly.

“We love it,” said Lou, “It’s a particular way of life not suitable for everyone, but I can’t picture myself living in a town or city working a 9 to 5 job.”

Tim and Lou, who have been married for 33 years, run their livestock and hunting operations with conservation in mind. 

The Edwardses are accomplishing their goals through working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas and are finding ways to improve the land. 

A Ranch Rich in History

The ranch, which is small in comparison to other properties in southwestern Culberson County that reach up to 80,000 acres, is the epicenter and lifeblood for the Edwards. They described the ranch as being located in the middle of nowhere, with the nearest grocery store more than an hour away and the nearest neighbor eight miles away.

“It’s pretty and it’s interesting and it’s very diverse," Lou said. "The geology here—we go anywhere from this granite mountain down to limestone hills, and when we get to the northside we have some sandstone bluffs.”

The ranch has a rich history that Lou and Tim treasure and hope to preserve. 

“My great grandparents homesteaded in 1884,” Lou said, pointing to the far western end of the property. 

Lou’s grandparents eventually purchased the land in 1930, built a new home and started their journey.

“We’ve been out here a long time, but this ranch is what we’ve always called home,” said Lou. 

Lou's father inherited the ranch after her grandfather passed away. She and Tim took ownership of the ranch when both of her parents passed away in the early 2000s.

Lou said she’s always loved working the ranch -- a love she shared with her father.  

Tim grew up in El Paso where he also went to college. Working in the construction and oil industry, Tim recalls wanting something different. 

At some point he remembered thinking, “Lord get me out of here and I promise I’ll never come back.”  It was around that time Lou’s dad offered him a job on the ranch. 

Tim is happy to be part of the ranch's heritage and legacy. 

“It’s just always been a dream of mine to live here, spend my life here (and make) a living here -- that’s what I’ve been able to do,” said Lou. “I feel very, very fortunate to have been able to do that.”

Improving and Protecting the Land and Animals

Maintaining and changing a landscape takes time to see what works and patience to learn from what doesn’t. To make things manageable the Edwards share the responsibilities.

They have partnered with NRCS in an effort to improve the ranch's infrastructure and management. The relationship was established by Lou’s dad and has continued with Tim and Lou. 

Although some of the practices and methods have changed with the times, the mission and the determination remain the same.

“We got a good game plan together,” said Balmorhea District Conservationist William Fuentes, who is currently working with the Edwardses at Bar O Land & Cattle Company. “They’re good about having us out here anytime we need to and working together. They’ve been a good partner with NRCS and being a landowner on the ground.”

The Edwardses had multiple active contracts in place through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). They also started utilizing the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which enables landowners to build on existing conservation efforts already in place.

“We’ve improved some of their livestock watering systems; we’ve replaced old pipeline that had been here for many, many years and generations before; we’ve supplied water facilities out here for the cattle and the wildlife as well,” said Fuentes about the conservation work at the Bar O Land & Cattle Company. 

In addition to replacing old systems, the Edwardes are also adding new facilities to provide water for cattle where it previously wasn’t available. They check and monitor the water daily, especially in the hotter summer months. The water can diminish quickly -- up to 2 inches per day -- between the dry climate and the livestock's needs.

They’ve also worked together with NCRS to redo interior fencing and implement brush management.  

“Of course everything’s focused on livestock, but anything helping your livestock is going to help your wildlife," Fuentes said. "It all kind of ties together.” 

Despite the best efforts and planning of everyone involved, the Edwardses realized they must remain flexible and are committed to the NRCS guidance they have received.

“Whenever we’re going to start a project, we bring them in right from the beginning,” said Tim. “Otherwise, you’re not going to see the results you’re looking for.”

Lou also appreciates the assistance from NRCS.

“I always have something to learn,” she said. “A lot of the practices that we’ve done, I don’t think we would’ve been able to do if we hadn’t had EQIP as a cost-share on those projects.”

Education Through Hunting—It’s a Passion

Along with the cattle, the Edwardses run a hunting operation, consisting of mainly mule deer. Hunting is important to the local area as it’s part of what helps ranchers and farmers stay profitable. It contributes to the health of the wildlife populations as well, helping to keep things in balance.

Something the Edwardses are quite proud to be part of is the annual Bar O L&C Mule Deer Hunt that was established to ensure the future of hunting and conservation of the outdoors. The event is organized with the help of the Texas Youth Hunting Program in association with the Texas Wildlife Association and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 

The Edwardes relish the opportunity to open their land to city and suburban youth who may otherwise never have an opportunity to see wildlife or learn about the importance of hunting.  

Community Minded

While most of their time is spent working on the ranch, both Lou and Tim are active members in their community. 

Lou is serving her eighth year on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee as an elected representative for Brewster, Presidio, and Jeff Davis counties. She is very passionate about her role as a representative for her counties. She has made it a goal to continue partnering with the USDA to ensure programs work effectively for producers. 

Tim serves on the Toyah-Limpia Soil and Water Conservation District Board, the Trans-Pecos Grazing Lands Coalition committee and is the local fire chief for the Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

“We’ve got things to do,” he said.

Looking Ahead

“We have done so many practices through NRCS that have already made huge improvements and made things a lot easier for us on a day-to-day basis,” Lou said, crediting the agency’s programs for helping to facilitate that.

“It’s an ongoing thing, but there are no two days the same," said Lou. "You wake up the next day and something new has happened. There’s something different going on."

Ranching, she explains, is not a job to her and Tim, but rather who they are and what they do.

“The long-term goals of this ranch, I think, are for us to be able to leave it better than we found it,” said Lou.

The Edwardses are a shining example of conservation and stewardship, and they look forward to continuing their legacy.