Radically Retired

Ranch Hand Weekend

Written by

Terry

in

,

Once every year, King Ranch – the biggest working ranch in the USA, hosts a breakfast for the public. All monies collected are donated to local charities. This is the only day all year that private vehicles are allowed on the ranch proper.

Hubs and I have attended the breakfast twice since 2019, once by ourselves, and once a couple of seasons ago, with friends from home who were ranchers at one time. This year, along with these same friends, we skipped the breakfast, but did the bus tour of the ranch.

The bus tour is open year round and is a great way to spend 1.5 hours learning about this 825,000 acre (in South Texas) massive ranching operation.

On the same weekend as the ranch hand breakfast, the city of Kingsville hosts a festival, complete with vendors, food and art demonstrations, rides for kids, entertainment, and lots of opportunities to get to know the locals. We decided to do the bus tour on the morning of the festival, so we could spend some time checking out the happenings in town, and then head out for the tour after lunch.

Unfortunately, just as the bus tour was about to begin, the rain started. We went anyways and, with the exception of not many photo ops through the bus windows, we didn’t regret it.

At the train museum in Kingsville, we met some young dancers preparing for their performance
All were very obliging to have their photos taken
I’ve always wanted to try on a Sampan hat. Who knew I’d be able to do that in cowboy country?
This was inside the King Ranch Saddle Shop in Kingsville. I think this guy liked Cindy
Me, doing my best Vanna White pose, showing this tree decorated with antlers!
Cindy and our bus driver/tour guide.
Cindy and I sat at the back of the bus
Photos through a drizzly, wet window aren’t the best. The King Ranch brand is everywhere
The King Ranch was instrumental in the development of the American quarter horse.
The turkey vultures were numerous and huge!
Originally named “The Santa Gertrudis Ranch” … The Santa Gertrudis name was given to the cattle that the ranch is famous for developing
A small portion of the beautiful King Mansion – still in use by descendants of the namesake who built it

After my post Steamroller Blues? , I promised some of my followers that I would explain the festival in greater detail.

Comments

11 responses to “Ranch Hand Weekend”

  1. Charla Avatar
    Charla

    I would have guessed the largest ranch would be in Montana. Glad to know where it is. How many cattle do they have? Do they raise them for meat? If so, do they have their own meat packing place? So interesting! I can’t wait to learn more from you. 🙂

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      I believe they said around 35 thousand head of cattle and 200 quarter horses in the Texas operation, Charla. Their cattle breeds are meat cattle. As far as their own meat packing place, I’m not sure. I’m sure professor Google (not ai assist) could answer your questions if you go to the ranch website:
      king-ranch.com Have a great evening!

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  2. explorenewness Avatar
    explorenewness

    Fun! It looks like an enjoyable activity…and for a good cause. I love the photo of you in the sampan hat. We’re heading to Southeast Asia soon and hope to try one on there. And like Lana, I never knew the name of them before this post. So thanks (again) for teaching me something NEW! :o)

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      How lucky for you to be having such a nice trip coming up. I wish you safe travels and lots of fun. There will definitely be many “new” things to see and experience, Lenore! No doubt, a Sampan hats will be one of those things. 😊

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  3. Lana Avatar
    Lana

    What a special charitable idea. I hope a shedload of £££ (or rather $$$) was raised. I enjoyed these photos a lot! I have a photo of me wearing a sampan hat too, but I never knew what it was called until your post. It was just lying around my old office, probably someone’s holiday souvenir.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      I don’t know the numbers for this year, Lana, but I know from previous years that they raise a LOT. Literally thousands of people attend. I’m happy you enjoyed the photos, and yes, Sampan hats are fun!

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      1. Lana Avatar
        Lana

        Fantastic!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    A visitor to LBJ told me all about this festival and the King family. There is some connection to LBJ. The visitor also recommended a book about the King family. Your post makes me want to research this more. If I recall correctly, the breakfast was supposed to be fabulous. Thanks for your post, Terry.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      The breakfast is excellent and well-organized for the massive amounts of customers served, Betty. It’s around 2 hours for us to get over there, so it’s a very early start for us to be there by 7am if we want to avoid the long vehicle line up. In addition to the breakfast, there are so many other things to see on the ranch on a that day. Because all of us had experienced the breakfast before, we opted to do a different take this time. I’d highly recommend the breakfast for a first timer though. I’m happy you liked this post, and enjoy the rest of your day, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Dwight Hyde Avatar
    Dwight Hyde

    Out and about having fun – no matter what! Love it😊❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      I love the “no matter what” part of it too, Dwight! Enjoy the rest of your day!

      Liked by 1 person

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