Texas Study Tour Week 2

05 Dec Texas Study Tour Week 2

Day 9 – Monday 17th November – Tarleton State University

After arriving last night at Hi Point Ranch, we began week 2 visits with a trip to Tarleton State University. We were greeted by the Dean of the Agricultural College. Tarleton State was founded in 1899 as an agricultural university and though it has grown and diversified into other courses since, its roots are still firmly in agriculture.

We met with some of the team of professors and admin staff where we learned more about the university, its structure and recent growth. We were also given the opportunity to proudly share with them what SAYFC does as a whole, as well as our individual roles and passions within the industry and the organisation.
Following on from this we sat in with a class on communicating ag to the public and met with students from the university. After discussions with the students, it was evident that a lot of the challenges such as getting young people into ag and financial constraints which are present in Scotland, also exist here in Texas.
This was followed by a tour of the campus and its facilities which were very impressive.

Over lunch we heard from Dr Jean Loney About the development within the university of the new ‘Centre for Rural Resillience’. The overall principle of this is to provide tools to improve the holistic approach to healthcare (physical and mental) for medical professionals working in rural areas with farmers and ranchers. Currently they are developing mental well-being programmes and have used those from other countries as a basis including SAYFC’s ‘Are Ewe Okay’ Campaign.

A favourite quote of the day came from the discussions surrounding the underlying causes of mental health challenges in the rural communities with many farmers and ranchers feeling increased government pressure and limited interaction between farmers and policymakers – “Shoes on the carpet should never tell boots on the ground what to do’

An Overview of the System
We toured the University’s research farm after lunch. Much like back home, it is becoming less common for higher education institutes to have their own working farms due to the increasing costs of running and decreases in funding. Tarleton State University is in a fortunate position to still be able to provide students with hands-on experience and practical education.

The dairy at Tarleton State University is formed as part of a contract with a dairy farm who run around 8000 cows over multiple operations in Texas and California. They run a variety of breeds including cross breds, Holsteins and Jerseys as well as multiple others. Currently, they bring cows back to the barn at Tarleton around 35 days in milk and are kept at the facility until dry-off. All heifer rearing and dry cow management is done off-site. They are milking between 380-400 cows through a 24 point rotary parlour with ACR. At present, they are not recording daily yields and instead are milk recording yields fortnightly and milk quality parameters monthly by manual recording. This is an area the research team have highlighted for improvement and hope to have automated recording in the near future.

Diet and Performance Review
Cows at the facility are being fed 23kg DMI per cow per day. The TMR has a DM of 51% with corn silage making up 40% of the TMR. Interestingly they also use tortillas as a by product of the human food industry as part of the ration.
Yields and composition on this unit are comparable to average in the UK with average daily yields of around 50L and 4.2% butterfat and 3.7% protein.

Growth Hormones, Health and Welfare
We discussed the use of somatotropin (growth hormone) within the dairy industry. It is still widely used with protocols involving administering it every 2 weeks by intramuscular injection. This practice has been applied to heifers to achieve growth targets faster for being eligible to breed, with some starting to inseminate as early as 12 months. Currently they are not using this within the setup and we discussed the main drivers for reducing the use being both public perception and the negative impact on longevity. Cows are lasting on average 2.5-2.7 lactations where growth hormones have been used.

Lameness is a significant problem within the herd here, as well as nationally due to the common predisposing factors as well as the high energy content of the concentrates fed. Pregnancy rate varies significantly from 17-37% and is heavily impacted by heat stress. All mating is done through AI and Ov-Sync programmes are used relatively routinely. Control over the use of HP-CIAs appears to be less regulated in the US compared to the UK. Weekly vet visits are used mainly for fertility management as well as identified lame and sick cows for intervention.

Areas of Interest for Current and Future Research Gabriela Pérez-Hernández is the Assistant Professor & Director of the Southwest Regional Dairy Centre. Gabriela discussed her research interests with regards to heat stress and the impact on milk yields, fertility and overall health and performance. Gabriela’s future research is likely to based on blood flow and nutrient delivery to the mammary gland when cows are experiencing heat stress.

Overall there were many similarities and differences between the challenges faced within the Texan and UK dairy industries with some key take home messages for us all:
* The worldwide dairy industry is under pressure from the public and how they perceive management strategies
* Dairy farmers have very little influence on the price set for milk with the overall economic picture in terms of price per litre being similar in both countries at present.
* Lameness, fertility and mastitis are common denominators as the major challenges from a health perspective.
* Heat stress is a huge problem in Texas due to the high temperatures and humidity and whilst this is relatively less common in the UK, the rising temperatures we have experienced over the past few years make it something we are likely to see more and more of.

Tarleton State – Agrilife Extension

Overview of Peanut Production within the US There is currently around 250,000 acres of Texan land planted with peanuts and it is the only state in the US to grow all 4 types of peanuts.

In order for peanuts to grow, they require a sandy loan soil type with a pH from 6.0-7.0. Planting takes place between April and July and depending on the cultivar of peanut it takes between 120-130 and 140-150 days to mature. Throughout the growing season they require up to 8 fungicide applications but no fertiliser applications as they are a legume – leaving behind 45kg/ha of nitrogen for the following crop.

Peanuts are harvested whole and sold within the shell yielding between 3000-4000lb/ac. The sheller pays the producer on pod weight (around 50% of this is nut) and how they grade. As all peanuts require shelling, this part of the supply chain dictates markets and pricing.

Research Interests

We met with Dr Simpson who has been an industry leader for 64 years and is a world famous peanut breeder. One of Dr Simpson’s main accolades was the introduction of nematode resistant genetics after bringing in wild peanut species from Peru. This is of huge significance today as no more germinal organisms are allowed to be brought in, therefore they are maintaining the collection through cuttings and freezing of seed. The centres main focus is breeding hybrid varieties and genetic advancement. These types of research and development projects are key to enabling the peanut industry to be more resilient to ever-changing disease and pest challenges.

New varieties take a significant length of time to from the initial laboratory planning stages through to release and can take up to 20 years. The research centre here are working on an 8-10 years as an average length of time for first cross to release going through the stages of: breeder seed, to foundation seed, to registered seed.
We visited their trial plots and greenhouses to see first hand where they grow different varieties and harvest them to go for further lab analysis.

This was a very interesting visit as peanuts are not something that can be grown in Scotland’s current wetter and colder climate.

Ailsa Buchanan

 

 

Day 10- (Morning) Diversified Pecan Farm, San Saba, Texas 

As part of our study on agricultural diversification and value-added food production, we visited a pecan farm and processing business located in San Saba, Texas. San Saba is recognised as the Pecan Capital of the World due to its favourable growing climate and long history of pecan cultivation. The aim of the visit was to understand how traditional farms can enhance resilience by expanding into direct-to-consumer markets.

Farm Background

The farm has been family-operated since 1888, when the original owners emigrated from England and settled in Texas. Early generations were involved in pioneering research on pecan varieties, contributing several cultivars that have influenced the modern pecan industry. Today, the farm encompasses approximately 1,000 acres of pecan trees and remains under family ownership.

Production Practices

We were shown the full production cycle, beginning with the orchard itself. Key observations included:

• Harvesting: Pecans are collected from October onwards using a mechanical tree shaker followed by equipment that gathers nuts from the ground and grades them. Annual yield is typically 250,000–300,000 lbs.
• Management: The orchard uses drip irrigation and targeted nutrient application, especially nitrogen and zinc sulphate. Livestock integration plays a role: Angus cattle graze the orchard after harvest until August, helping manage ground vegetation.
• Environmental and wildlife pressures: Pests such as crows, feral pigs, and deer pose challenges, although fencing reduces damage. Early frosts can shorten the production season.
• Varieties: The farm grows both native and hybrid pecan varieties. Native trees require less management but produce lower yields, while hybrids offer higher productivity.

Diversification Into Value-Added Products

A key focus of the visit was how the business has diversified. In 2002, the family began producing pecan-based products for direct sale. What started as a small hobby operation has now expanded into a thriving enterprise employing around 20 staff in the bakery and processing area.

Products include fresh and frozen pecans, baked goods, and more recently chocolate-coated pecans, which the company began coating in-house last year. The coating uses a ratio of 3 parts chocolate to 1 part pecan, with chocolate sourced from within Texas. Fresh pecan products have a shelf life of around 4 months, while frozen products can be stored for up to 2 years.

To maintain supply for processing, the business also purchases high-quality pecans from other growers.

Marketing and Distribution

The company sells through a combination of:

• Wholesale
• Direct-to-consumer online sales
• Business-to-business supply

An external marketing company manages branding and customer outreach. Products are shipped nationwide, with delivery typically taking 2–5 days, including for chocolate products. A small proportion is exported internationally.

Economic Importance of Diversification

Farm management emphasised that relying solely on raw pecan sales would make the business financially vulnerable due to price fluctuations and high production costs. Value-added processing allows the business to capture more of the profit margin, providing stability and enabling continued reinvestment. This approach has been essential for the long-term sustainability of the farm.

Conclusion

The field visit provided valuable insights into how a traditional agricultural enterprise can adapt to modern challenges through diversification and direct marketing. Diversification is something we have not seen a lot of so far during our time in Texas. The combination of established orchard production, value-added processing, and national distribution has allowed the family business to future-proof itself while continuing a legacy that began over a century ago. The visit illustrated the importance of innovation, product development, and market expansion in sustaining rural agricultural businesses today

Ewan Lambie

Day 10- (Afternoon) GKB Cattle

In the afternoon our visit to GKB cattle began at their sale barn. Gary and Kathy Bucholz talked us through their cattle breeding business, which farms 6000 momma cows across 5 different ranches across the state. They breed Hereford predominantly, but combine this with Angus and Brahman. These breeds are crossed to make hybrid “Tiger Stripes” (Hereford/Brahman), “Brangus” (Brahman Angus) and “Super Baldies” (Brangus Hereford). They host an on farm sale, selling 300 bulls through the ring with additional private sales of semen, embryos, show calves, females and bulls throughout the year.

The sale barn itself was a seriously impressive building, with a custom made sale ring, back pens and cattle fitting set up. Gary talked us through the decisions he’s made around designing the system, focusing on improving the experience for buyers, reducing stress on bulls, and improving the flow, pace and safety of each sale.

We moved back to the bus and drove round their outlying land, viewing holding pens, synchronised AI centre capable of handling 700 heifers, and eventually to their machinery yard. As with everything else, it was a proper job, with a full line up of tidy kit including tillage, sowing, hay making and harvesting equipment. Much of this equipment was put to use clearing trees and improving their grassland, something we have seen very little of in Texas.

The highlight at this yard though was undoubtedly their fire station. Due to the low rainfall and vast areas of scrubland they live with a very high risk of fires. To combat this GKB have invested heavily in a fire station at each of their ranches- with a full complement of tankers, trucks and a fire engine capable of flattening wire fences at speed. The entire workforce was trained up in operation of this gear, and are prepared to respond quickly to any fires in the community. Oxygen masks were fitted to all trucks, and are deployed in teams of two for safety.

The whole enterprise was built with a no expense spared mentality, and Gary made clear he believed that a job was best done right the first time. Their attention to detail with all infrastructure was second to none, built off the back of a lifetimes experience ranching.

As much as the ranch was very special, Gary and Kathy themselves were the most impressive part of the visit. They had a fantastic drive for success, an eye for perfection and a genuine care for their staff. At 75 years old they were still hungry for progress, with a new show barn in construction and 1600 acres of native grassland being improved.

Before we left GKB and headed back to our fantastic accommodation at Hi Point Ranch, Gary left us with some words of wisdom. Simply to believe in ourselves.

James Hamilton

 

 

Day 11- (Morning) F-Troop Feeders

The day kicked off with our final morning at the HI-Point Ranch which has been our base for the past few days. This began our longest day of travel on the bus with a 6 hour journey towards the Panhandle area of Texas. We stopped for lunch at River Smiths chicken and Catfish.

We then headed for a Visit with F-Troop feeders who are a family owned and operated farm and feedlot operation, farming roughly 7000 acres and feeding on average 30,000 cattle per day. We first arrived at one of their feed storage facility’s where we were met by Landon Friemel, whose family own the operation. Landon is in charge of the feed storage and farming side of the operation. The facility was bought in 2018 and can hold over 9000t of feed when full. The operation is growing sorghum for silage production and purchasing corn from over 64 local producers within a 50 miles radius. The facility will be filled twice a year and with all loads weighed in and moisture tested before going into storage. Because they are the end user of the product they can pay slightly better than what farmers are being offered and so have built good relationships with producers which also helps the feedlot side of the business and control costs.

We then travelled a short distance along the road to the feedlot which is one of two that they own, where there is currently 13,000 head on feed at the yard. We then met with Landon’s dad who manages the feedlot operations, who began by explaining that they work on a B&B cattle system. They were invoicing on yardage and water per day, and per pound of feed per day basis on top of this. They also offer loans towards cattle to support cattle buyers and will occasionally go into partnership as-well. He then showed us the feeding system, feeding three times a day with wagons. The finishing ration is roughly 80% grain by weight and the sorghum is steamed at 200 degrees in a boiler up to 22% before being added to the ration. Compared to UK systems, the biggest difference in the management of the cattle comes in the form of hormone implants as soon as the cattle arrive along with a full vaccination program to cover respiratory diseases, BVD and IBR. The hormones take the form of an anabolic steroid which is used to increase growth rates. They are also using feed additives, such as monensin, which is used to control coccidiosis, and tylosin to tackle foot rot. The use of feed additives are common practice in US feedlots, which is very different to what we are used to in the UK, where we are under tighter regulations regarding use of antimicrobials, and  prophylactic use is not allowed. They also use an additive from Elanco called Experior 10 (ludabegron Type A medicated articale) which is a drug approved in the US to reduce ammonia gas emissions in their waste, and although not its primary reason for use, it may improve growth rates and feed efficiency. Although these management practices would not be common in the UK, the Panhandle of Texas has the highest beef production of anywhere in the world, and to be successful and to remain competitive, your business must be able to scale.

Demand for beef is currently extremely high in the states and the need to feed the growing population means these feedlot systems play an important role in food security for the nation.

Jack McKinna

Day 11- (Afternoon) Richardson Seeds

As the sun was beginning to set on our first day in the Texas Panhandle we met up with Richardsons Seeds Plant Manager David. He was accompanied by Jarrod and Kyle who all took some time and showed us around their sorghum seed facility. Richardsons, who are now owned by Nufarm since 2009, have been based at Vega for 70 years and with 80% of the world seed sorghum being produced in the Texas Panhandle, their business is perfectly located to find growers to supply them with 5-7000t of grain every year.

The business is solely researching and producing hybrid sorghum seed – grain sorghum, forage sorghum and Sudan grass. Their research work includes a plant nursery and hybrid trials on site to develop new varieties with higher yield, earlier maturity, disease, insect and fungicide tolerance. In order to replicate and maximise trial work in other countries Richardsons run a contra season nursery in Argentina, allowing them to carry out trial work all year round to find more resilient varieties. To produce these different hybrid species, male and female plants are grown separately in the field at regular intervals – grain sorghum for example requires 75% of the field to be female plants and 25% to be male plants. These male plants are sowed in strips for pollination and will then be harvested separately if the strips are wide enough, or they will be mulched into the ground.

As the grain is harvested, their 40 main growers deliver the seed to Richardsons for overwinter storage in their 109 grain bins which totals up at 55 million lb (25,000t). The grain must be under 14% and cool for long term storage as the team will process all throughout the winter period.

When we arrived at the site we firstly seen their original cleaning plant which is still in use cleaning, treating, bagging and palletising seed into a variety of bag sizes depending on destination. Countries who use the metric system will receive seed by the kg and those still on an imperial system will get bags weighed in lbs.

David then took us into their new shed to show us their brand new $8m cleaning and bagging plant complete with cleaner, gravity table and optical colour sorter, all with a completely automated bagging unit. This new plant has five times the capacity of the original one and adds a new level of precision and attention to detail to the whole process, while reducing the labour requirement significantly – a key factor in building a more resilient business as labour availability is increasingly difficult.

The investment in a new plant has enabled Richardsons to create higher quality seed with minimal varietal impurities and a zero tolerance to weed seeds. Their standards are a minimum of 98% purity with a minimum germination of 85% with representative samples from each batch being send to Texas A&M for certification. Crops are also walked twice during the flowering period and regular auditing of the business to enable phytosanitary certification for all seed being exported across the globe to countries such as Pakistan and China.

Once we had finished the tour of the facilities we were invited in for some more Texas hospitality, namely in the form of some barbecued Jalapeño Poppers, Tortilla Chips and Queso. With some music on in the background we even taught some traditional Scottish dancing with a rendition of the Orcadian Strip the Willow!

James Kennedy

 

 

Day 12- (Morning) Texas A&M University

We visited West Texas A&M University. Based in the Panhandle it was great to get to visit a University where food production was at the heart of everything they were doing. We were told how the focus was on beef production as Texas harvests 6 million cattle per year, so ensuring the industry is well supported is very important to them. Offering 8 Undergraduate Agriculture Degrees, 4 postgrads and a PHD in systems agriculture, the University currently has 1200 students enrolled in Agriculture.

The main focus of our tour here was the University on site meat lab. None of us were really sure what to expect when we were told we were visiting a meat lab but it was definitely not what any of us expected. A fully functioning slaughter house, production lines, butchery and a shop is what greeted us. The onsite facility has been designed to let students fully understand the full meat process whilst also allowing research to be carried out on animals before and after harvest.

The slaughter house has the capacity to handle 35 cows per day but they run it at 10-20 cows, one day every other week. Averaging 120 cows per year. The main focus is cattle and beef but they have the capability to process sheep and pigs if needed. They employ students to work in the slaughterhouse but it’s not compulsory for them to work as part of their degrees. The facility is more about allowing students to better understand the process to aid learning. It was a fairly simple set up with about 30 staff needed on a working day as not much is automated but it’s still an amazing facility and unlike anything we have at home. As its a research facility as well, all the stages allow for samples to be collected. They also carry out private customer kills for a cost as the facility has to run at a profit and isn’t just for research. Most of the meat that is processed is butchered and sold in the on campus shop or sold through the University canteen.

Students get hands on with the carcasses with all the rooms being set up to allow group access. We visited a lecture theatre with a hook and rail system inbuilt that allowed for carcasses to be taken out of storage directly to a lecture to benefit learning. The butchery and industrial kitchen could be used by students to experiment with different ways of adding value to beef and a sensory deprivation room allowed taste tests to be carried out without food bias. They also had a lot of research equipment including CT scanners allowing a lot of in depth research projects to be completed. Current projects include research into liver abscess and investigating salmonella in cattle as these are current issues faced by local producers.  Overall this facility was incredible and made a lot of us jealous that we have nothing like this back home.

We then got a quick tour of the vet school next door. The VERO (veterinary education, research and outreach) programme was started in 2009 with the facility we visited opening in 2021. A relatively small vet school (36 students per year) with a focus on large animal veterinary. This was a state of the art facility with clinics and labs kitted out so that all research could be completed in house without sending away samples. Students could bring in their own pets to study as well as local wildlife groups and farms bringing in animals to work on. They also provided labs for local vet practices showing how community led this University is. It was great to visit a vet school that focused on the large animals as the shortage of large animal vets we see in Scotland is the same in Texas.

Euan Bremner

Day 12- (Afternoon) Cotton & Sorghum Growers

As we neared the end of our tour around Texas, we visited Arthur Farms, a large-scale cotton operation near Lubbock in the Texas Panhandle. The farm is owned and operated by Lloyd and Angela Arthur, fifth-generation cotton producers. On arrival, we watched bales of cotton being collected onto specialised trucks ready to be transported to the gin— the cotton processing facility.

Lloyd welcomed us into a shed filled with family memorabilia before delivering his presentation. He is heavily involved in several national cotton boards, especially Cotton Incorporated. He spoke to us about the challenges facing the cotton industry as cheaper synthetic materials gain ground, reducing global demand for cotton. Cotton Incorporated’s mission statement, “The Fabric of Our Lives,” remains central to their efforts. Lloyd’s passion for the industry was clear, and he stands out as a strong advocate for promoting and educating people about cotton.

Arthur Farms covers 2,500 acres: 2,000 acres are planted in cotton and the remaining 500 in grain sorghum. The two crops complement one another, improving weed control and contributing nutrients back into the soil. Wheat is also used as a break crop between harvest and planting to reduce soil erosion and improve soil structure.

All cotton on the farm is irrigated, either through centre pivots—each covering 120 acres—or via subsurface drip irrigation across 500 acres. Although subsurface drip minimises losses from sun evaporation and is more efficient, it comes with a much higher installation cost. With the farm receiving only around 18 inches of rain per year, irrigation is essential. To help manage water use, the Arthurs employ modern technology such as variable-rate water application and in-ground moisture sensors. Rising water-pumping costs also make efficient irrigation crucial.

Planting begins in mid-May when soil temperatures rise above 65°F. All cotton must be planted by June 5th for the farm to qualify for crop insurance. The Arthurs use no-till or strip-till drilling practices. Throughout the season, the crop is fertilised and treated using a combination of mechanical and chemical weed control.

Harvest runs from October through late November. Yields vary each year depending on weather and water availability. The 2025 crop was significantly reduced after hail destroyed 1,250 acres, leaving only 750 acres of cotton to harvest. Even so, the remaining crop yielded an average of two bales per acre—roughly 1,000 lbs per acre—totalling 1,500 bales, which is considered a strong result. At the time of our visit, only 65 acres remained unharvested due to wet weather delays.

Once harvested, cotton is transported to the gin, where fibres are separated from the seeds. Cottonseed has considerable value thanks to its high oil content and is used both in animal feed and in the production of cooking oil. The cotton lint goes on to be used for textiles, while the seed contributes protein, fat, and fibre to livestock rations.

Overall, it was an informative visit, offering an in-depth look at the family farm and the complexities of cotton production. Unfortunately, due to poor weather, we were unable to tour the fields or see standing crops and machinery at work.

Our next stop, an hour down the road, was the Heinrich Brothers Farm, another large cotton-producing operation.

We were welcomed into their machinery shed, where they explained the workings of their John Deere cotton harvester. This machine is fitted with an aftermarket water-suppression system due to the high operating temperatures and the flammability of cotton, which makes harvesting a fire risk. The harvester can strip and bale cotton in one pass and operates with John Deere GreenStar GPS using full RTK accuracy of 2.5 cm. It was an impressive piece of equipment to see up close.

The Heinrichs farm 10,000 acres: 5,000 in cotton and the remaining 5,000 split between corn, grain sorghum, and cattle. Their crops follow a rotation system, which helps maintain soil structure and organic matter. Of their cotton acreage, 4,000 acres are irrigated with drip irrigation—the most efficient method—while 1,500 acres use centre pivots. However, the pivots are aging and increasingly inefficient due to evaporation losses and high running costs.

In a typical 500-lb bale of cotton, only about 33% is usable lint; the remainder consists of seed and plant debris.

We also discussed global competition, especially from Brazil. Thanks to major infrastructure investment from China, Brazilian cotton producers have improved their systems significantly. They are able to achieve similar yields to Texas growers but without irrigation, resulting in a much lower cost of production.

This visit gave us valuable insight into the harvesting side of cotton production and the realities of the global market. The Heinrich family were extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer all our questions.

As our trip draws to a close, it has been an incredible experience—both educational and full of meaningful connections.

Craig Marshall

 

 

Day 13- National Ranching Heritage Museum & the Fort Worth Rodeo

 

After breakfast in our Lubbock hotel we headed to Cavendars for some last minute cowboy and cowgirl attire, in preparation of the final stop of the tour at Fort Worth.

But before we hit the highway for the 4 hour journey south we stopped in at the National Ranching Heritage Museum.

On entering the impressive foyer area we were greeted by some very friendly and knowledgeable staff who gave us a brief overview of the museum, its purpose and aims.

The centre sits on ground belonging to Texas Tech University but runs totally independently to it. The unique partnership formed in 1976 and has grown and adapted to form the centre that we visited today. 

In order to create an authentic experience of what ranching life was like between the mid 1700s until the 1900s the site comprises a mixture of ranch buildings, information boards and even a train! All but 5 of the 55 structures on the 22 acre site are original ranch buildings that have been dismantled and carefully rebuilt at the centre to create the truest feeling of the evolution of ranch life in Texas.

Alongside the 22 acre heritage park outside there is an impressive 44,000 square foot indoor museum which is home to 7 galleries which showcase permanent and temporary art exhibitions, photography and historical artefacts all about western life.

In the evening we arrived in Fort Worth for our final evening meal together. Once sufficiently full we headed along to the Cowtown Coliseum to watch the Friday night rodeo and bull riding. Unfortunately due to an outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 there were no horses allowed at the rodeo so only the bull riding championships were being held that evening.

There was a great atmosphere in the arena as we watched the bull riding championships. Afterwards we were able to get down onto the sand and enjoy the after show entertainment by the live music band Austin English. The group had a great final night together exploring Fort Worth and the Cowtown area, seeing some of the sights and sounds such as the John Wayne Museum and the country line dancing bars.

 

Day 14- Fort Worth Stockyards

Lastly, on our final morning before heading 3 hours south again to Austin Airport, the group headed back into Forth Worth town explore the historic Stockyards and to see the longhorn cattle. 

The Fort Worth Cattle Drive is a twice-daily event in the Stockyards where real Texas cowboys lead a herd of Longhorns down East Exchange Avenue at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. It is the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive. Unfortunately due to the outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus this was also on hold. 

Nevertheless, we got a good understanding as to the traditions in the town and the chance to see the cattle in their pens. 

Andrew McMillan