Working Ranch April/May 2025

stretching for as far as you could see. Other pastures showed some evidence of mesquite and wild plum bushes, now only blackened limbs. Cow car casses littered one hillside and our beautiful, registered bulls had no hair or eyes, yet they were still alive. We had no fences, but we began to find survivors. Red and Black Angus stood together, huddled on patches of good ground near windmills and dirt tanks. Almost immediately cattle buy ers contacted us with offers for our heavies, pregnant cows about to give birth. With no grass and numerous windmills down, the prices they offered were enticing. Our 26-year old foreman, who had not been on the job for even a year, had difficult deci sions to make. After consulting Dr. Scott Martin, DVM, with Hutchinson County Vet Clinic, Casey realized the odds were not good. About one-third of the ranch’s herd had already calved and the calves were too little to be driven long distances. We could wait to see if they developed pneumonia, or we could be proactive. After a family meeting to consider our options, Casey put a plan in motion with the help of local daywork cowboys. The idea was to take work ing pens to the survivors and doctor the pre-fire calves against pneumo nia. It would mean that we would have to pull this year’s crop from the all-natural program, but their odds

of survival would increase. The only concern left was how would the stress of a wildfire impact the cows that had

not given birth. TO THE RESCUE

Our surviving herd only went about two days without food. Neighbors, family, and cowboys came to our res cue as our headquarters became sup ply central. Semi-trucks and trailers of donations came in from across the nation. From livestock feed to shovels and gloves, contributions were then passed on to other farms and ranches coordinated by Casey. One of the first non-profits to arrive was Rancher Navy with loads of hay. As managing director Amy Giddis explained, “You would be surprised at how fast people can mobilize in the agricultural community.” Volunteer firefighters from across the state continued their work day and night surveying our pastures for hotspots. Another response team that made a huge impact in our area was the men and women of TBM-Texans On Mission. Not only do they provide much-needed items, but TBM also provides property cleanup, hot meals, and laundry services. The kindness and generosity of oth ers was overwhelming and real. The grit and perseverance of ag commu nities are inspiring to those on both sides of the fireline.

jumped Lake Meredith. Winds sud denly increased from 15-30 miles per hour the day before upwards to 60 miles per hour driving a 15-mile-wide wildfire across our entire acreage. There was not enough time for Chris or I to make it to headquarters before a 20-foot wall of black smoke almost trapped our son. Casey sensed the shift in the wind and was able to blade a fire break across one side of the headquarters. Despite the dense smoke, his pickup truck started and he sped south with flames passing him on both sides of the road. Using the fire break cut by Casey, the Fritch and Silverton fire departments were able to save our house and barns. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT Chris prepared us for the worst. He could not imagine that anything could have survived that blaze and blister ing winds. Driving through a maze of dirt roads to avoid the roadblocks on the main highway, we emerged onto the blackest ground I had ever seen. Parts of the Sanford Ranch had no sign of vegetation, with barren sand

A truck and trailer lead the way as cowboys ride drag on a group of cattle and calves being moved to good ground. Sanford Ranch, Texas Panhandle

58 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.