One of the best parts of the 1960's for me was spent 5 minutes from my fathers tractor shed hunting on Sam Countiss' Rancho Seco, which shared a fenceline with M. P. Wright's Ranch on the lower Nueces River.   Even though we were just on the other side of the fence, in all those years we hardly ever saw the Wright's Longhorns.   We rarely saw Longhorns anywhere in the 1950'S and 60'S.  Mythic as they were legendary,  it was with awe and amazement we witnessed them alive and doing their part in John Wayne's movie "The Alamo"(1960).  Growing up in rural south Texas, it's not surprising the subject of Texas Longhorns came up from time to time.  I can remember talk about them becoming registered and recognized an official breed and of course there were those who argued otherwise.

Although  I though it was goodbye to family farming and ranching before I graduated from college, by my mid 30's I found myself rediscovering  an appreciation for this rural upbringing.   Reflecting on my family background, a  sentiment developed toward this heritage which prompted my pouring over books like The Taming of the Nueces Strip, Pioneers on The Nueces, Tales of the Wild Horse Desert,  The King Ranch,  Life on The King Ranch, Great Roundup, A Texas Ranger and of course, J. Frank Dobie's books The Longhorns and A Vaquero of the Brush Country,  In this 'pouring over', I found a new appreciation for my own backyard, South Texas, its history, wildlife, ranching heritage and geography.  Dobie's accounts left a lasting impression; Texas Longhorns were not just majestic in appearance, but admirable with unique character and qualities that hold timeless value, shaped over centuries by rugged environments.  This animal like no other had not only been shaped, but had been a major player in shaping the history and character of the state of Texas and the cattle business. I had just experienced a delayed arrival to a well established reality.
 
John and Rose Mary Floyd befriended me while shopping their store, Old San Patricio Trading Company.  They had for 20 plus years raised Longhorns.  Being around their  Longhorn herd when visiting their ranch just added to the allure.  John knew Leonard Stiles of the King Ranch.   Stiles' mentor and close friend had been Graves Peeler.   So, through the years I've been given a strong dose of Peeler from John.    After years, I gave up a hunting lease, ended up with a place of my own, around Old San Pat.    I could not pass up 'raising' Registered Texas Longhorns and I count myself blessed when working and being around them, realizing I am in good company when I am with them and  with those who also have this admiration for the Texas Longhorn.


"They asked him where he'd like to be and his dear ol' voice did Ring...
I'd like to be in Texas,  for the roundup in the Spring"
FROM THE OLD SONG : 
 "THE ROUNDUP IN THE SPRING"

BEN LISKA

MY MOTHER AND FATHER

We are blessed to have these cattle around today!  Texas Longhorns are living history, resourceful survivalist whose awesome beauty was shaped by the often harsh conditions mother nature dealt out from the 16th through the 19th century, throughout much of what came to be Texas.   Once wild cattle, today most are easily approachable,   non threating  with good dispositions, many can be hand fed and a few have even been  trained to  be sadled up for a ride.  Unique from all other breeds, they will always symbolize the time and struggles on the frontier  American West.    

They are still practical cattle in their unique ability to be resourceful foragers, birth and raise a calf on their own, live and produce longer, efficient and all in all, the most 'take care of themselves'  and adaptable cattle in bovine creation.  Currently, it has come to light that as a beef animal,  grass feed longhorn beef is also unique,  very lean with LESS FAT THAN A SKINLESS BREAST OF CHICKEN and 30 TO 50% LESS CALORIES than beef found in grocery stores today,  with none of the steroids. hormones, antibiotics or other chemicals.  Grass fed Longhorn beef is attainable, mostly through  individual breeders.
  

    
BEN LISKA
MEMBER: TLBAA, ITLA, TLMA, & Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assoc.
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