by Sue Hancock Jones   Located in northern Texas in the wide-open spaces south of Vernon, the 171-year-old Waggoner Ranch is touted to be as large as New York and Los Angeles combined. Most people accept that statement as a fact rather than calculate the acreage. Why? Because one thing is sure: The Waggoner Ranch is big. The Texas ranch is the legitimate owner of amazing facts such as being the fourth-largest ranch in the nation and the second-largest in Texas behind the King Ranch, which is the largest in the nation. Considering that America has more than an estimated 700,000 ranches, th ..read more

Charles Weldon “Tooter” Cannon in his saddle shop. Born in Dickens County in 1915 and raised on a working West Texas ranch, Charles Weldon Cannon would go on to make a name for himself not as Charles but as “Tooter”—the childhood nickname his father gave him, which followed him all of his days. Ranching alongside his older brothers, Tooter was immersed in cowboying crafts and thereby learned how saddles were supposed to fit, as well as the modifications necessary to ensure a proper fit. These early experiences broadened his knowledge of saddle making and served as the firm foundation for his ..read more

Young wildlife biologists gathered in the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center on Saturday, April 6, 2024, to learn about Northern Bobwhite Quail from Texas Tech Quail and how researchers are helping this rangeland species through various conservation practices. Young biologists learned about quail nesting, brooding, foraging, loafing, roosting, predators and food chain through hands-on activities and experiences. “For many ranchers, the Northern Bobwhite Quail is a treasured rangeland inhabitant. Unfortunately, bobwhite populations are declining throughout their historic range in Texas ..read more

Celebrating its milestone 10th anniversary, the Summer Stampede Western Art & Gear Show presented by Capital Farm Credit promises an unforgettable evening of art, entertainment, and camaraderie on Saturday, June 1, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, TX. “Summer Stampede has become a favorite way to kick off summer,” said the show’s art curator, Dr. Robert Tidwell, who serves as the Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Collections, Exhibits and Research at the National Ranching Heritage Center. “This year’s event promises to be no exception, offering gu ..read more

2023 National Golden Spur recipient, Craig Haythorn of Aruthur, Nebraska. Haythorn is the fourth generation of Haythorns to own and operate Haythorn Land and Cattle Co. Nominations are now open for the National Golden Spur Award and the Ranching Heritage Association (RHA) Working Cowboy Award. Nominations can be submitted at goldenspurhonors.com or paper forms can be downloaded from the site and mailed. Nominations for 2024 recipients will be open through May 1. “The National Golden Spur Award is the most prestigious national honor given to one person by the ranching and l ..read more

Last updated: Feb. 29, 2024 at 5 p.m. The Smokehouse Creek Fire has surged to more than 1 million acres with 3% containment at the time of this posting. This marks it as the largest wildfire in Texas history and second largest wildfire in U.S. history. This is significantly impacting ranchlands, livestock, and livelihoods. As widespread wildfires continue to burn across the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma, let us come together to help our neighbors through donations and supplies. For those seeking to support wildfire victims, here are reputable crisis relief resources actively working to ..read more

Canadian musician Corb Lund has always marched to the beat of his own drummer—but in so doing, he has become an irreplaceable piece of 21st century cowboy culture.  By Bob Welch and Ginger Elliott   You never know what kind of hat Corb Lund might wear. No, literally he might show up in a ball cap, a sharp-creased black felt, a beat-up chore hat from his boys steer riding days, ear flaps, or heck, he might not even wear a hat at all (but no pompadour, either). Artists, it has been observed, are inwardly tortured. Forces move so strongly in these kinds of people, they must release what ..read more

We couldn’t have asked for a better 45th Annual Candlelight at the Ranch! Almost 8,000 community members experienced the magic of Candlelight Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9. We extend a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who joined us for Christmas on the outfit and celebrated the holiday on the frontier. Thank you so much for coming, and we hope to see you again next year. More than 200 volunteers brought historic holiday traditions to life in 15 historic structures, helped direct traffic, and served refreshments. We want to express our gratitude to all of the staff, volunteers, co ..read more

Harold Holden Preeminent Western artist Harold “H” Holden passed away Dec. 6, 2023, at the age of 83. The emeritus member of the Cowboy Artists of America was the sculptor behind “The Rancher” bronze statue that greets visitors to the National Ranching Heritage Center. “The Rancher” is also presented to the National Golden Spur recipient each year. Harold Holden grew up in Enid, Oklahoma, in a creative family that counted inventors, engineers and horsemen among its members. As the first fine artist in his family, Holden’s subject matter has always been the West, but he is particularly known ..read more

LUBBOCK, TEXAS — The National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) on the Texas Tech University campus invites the public to step back in time and celebrate a frontier Christmas during the 45th Annual Candlelight at the Ranch. The event takes place from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9.  Candlelight at the Ranch is free to the public with a suggested $5 donation per family. Visitors can expect to be immersed in a nostalgic Christmas experience of holiday traditions and celebrations. More than 5,000 luminaries will light the paths of the 19-acre park, and holiday scenes set in ..read more