Texas Ranch Journal | Winter 2022

ARTICLE: SUFFERING DESERT DWELLERS BY: SETH PATTERSON 27

ARTICLE: LIFESTYLE OF LUXURY BY: CAPITAL FARM CREDIT

ARTICLE: WHAT IS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT BY: BRITTANY WEGNER

FEATURED ARTIST: SETH PATTERSON

ARTICLE: WATER QUALITY CONCERNS SURROUNDING FERAL HOGS BY: AARON SUMRALL 55

RECIPE: PARMESAN CRUSTED VENISON MEDALLIONS BY: MATTI TACKETT 920 South Main Street Boerne, Texas 78006 texasranchjournal.com

FROM THE BROKER

Well, here we are, finding ourselves wrapping up another solid, albeit challenging year at TRS. Since our last update, we survived through the same pressures the rest of the country did. High interest rates, inflation, fuel prices and consumer sentiment, made the end of the 3rd quarter, beginning of the 4th a little calmer than the pace that we had been on for the 24 months prior.

We used this pause to catch our breath, educate ourselves about changes to our market environment, and prepare ourselves to help clients as we venture into a new period. We expect prices to continue to remain steady and perhaps increase some on the newer, high demand areas.

Consumer appetite is still aggressive; desire to own a piece of this great state has never been higher. But the quick jumps in interest rates and rising inflation, made some buyers go from being on the fence, to back on the sidelines.

We understand these concerns, but we see good things on the horizon for our fellow Texans and the Real Estate market in the coming year….. Inventory could remain a bit low and this will keep prices on the same track as they have been.

As we’ve been saying for the past 3 years, “if you don’t like the price per acre now, you’re really not going to like it in about 6 months!” That has proven to be true, and as we begin writing the script for 2023 our advice is to “Get in the game.”

All my best for a strong finish of 2022.

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

Sheldon Grothaus Broker & Owner

TRJ 2022 PHOTO CONTEST RESULTS

Thank you to each and every one of you who entered our first ever photo contest. We had so many incredible entries it was difficult to choose only three, but we are proud to announce the winners. We look forward to seeing more beautiful works in the future. Make sure you follow us on social media to keep up with the next contest!

STARGAZER

by Braden Echols of Dos Rios Photography

Seeing the night lights of Texas is one of the true wonders that hides in plain sight to most people. Only those bold enough to venture far from the city lights might find themselves staring in amazement up into the sky like we were this night. The 3 of us on our media team were exploring this beautiful ranch in the hills near Leaky Texas when the conditions turned perfect for an incredible night photo session that I will never forget. The time lapses that go with this photo are absolutely stunning. The 3 of us found ourselves in awe to what the heavens showed us that night, a sight that most people will never see and yet its always there. I felt truly blessed to be able to capture the moment that seems harder and harder to come by.

IG @dosriosphotography

THE PROTECTOR

by Tisha Babineaux

Taken at a ranch in Santo. Protecting what is yours doesn’t always come easy.

STUD

by Joseph Richards

A beautiful longhorn from a ranch in South Texas. I waited several hours for the herd to emerge from the mesquite woodland and had almost given up. That was when the sun dipped below the tree line and the longhorns made for the waterhole. This one individual crossed right through a red dustpan. The golden dust added such a rustic element to this image and was the highlight of my shoot.

Gavin Scott

ASSOCIATE 210.274.3118 Boerne, TX

Darby Gardner

ASSOCIATE 830.708.1464 Magnolia, TX

Caleb Barton ASSOCIATE 512.417.0913 Austin, TX

Zach Peoples ASSOCIATE 210.563.4749 San Marcos, TX

Justin Mellenbruch

ASSOCIATE 512.965.9228 Austin, TX

Carly Haack

ASSOCIATE 210.837.3266 Blanco/College Station, TX

Jensen Fry

ASSOCIATE 517.260.4018 Boerne, TX

Tyler Beach

ASSOCIATE 406.531.8441 San Antonio, TX

Cothern’s Trophy Oaks Ranch

144± Acres | Goliad County, Texas

Quad A Ranch on Brady Creek

SUFFERING FOR DESERT DWELLERS

“You’re invited back to the ranch, you in?” My best friend Andy texted. I hesitated.

Most hunters wouldn’t think twice before saying yes. Hunting Texas quail and predators on a 180,000 acre private cattle ranch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most. It’s a place where they filmed “No Country for Old Men”, near the border of Mexico. You just drive 10 hours southwest of Dallas, Texas to the middle of nowhere, take a left on an unmarked gravel road and then go an hour further.

I had been once before. “Epic manventure” is an understatement. The issue at hand was that I’m a public–land-hunting snob. I grew up hunting public land in Oregon for big game and birds, where competition is fierce, game is wary and the phrase “hunting” is, and should be, synonymous with “suffering”. My dad and I have been hunting the backcountry for as long as I can remember, where survival planning is as essential as hunt planning. When I do hunt private land, its only after proper scouting and door-knocking to ask permission from the landowner. You see, there is an unwritten code: earn where you hunt, then what you hunt. Guided hunts, private land invite hunts, and public land road hunters all violate the code.

But, since this was Marfa, Texas, I threw my snobbery out the window and replied “HAIL YA BROTHER I’M IN”.

In 2014, Texas had one of the worst droughts in state history and the quail reports from Marfa were equally terrible. The next year record rains ended the drought dangerously fast and set the groundwork for fertile fauna production. The targeted species for this year’s hunt were quite simply “quail and predators”, which includes coyotes, bobcats, fox, javelina, feral hogs and, of course, suicidal jackrabbits…which commonly jump into the grill of the truck as you drive along. All, of course, in a vast desert setting that is reminiscent of old western films, where bad guys hide in the rimrock and good guys ride out in the open.

The chosen hunting method, on this cool February weekend, started with cruising primitive ranch roads in a farm truck. This is no ordinary hunting vehicle though, as it has bench seats welded to the bed, tricked out with long-gun holsters for quick access to rifles and shotguns. Who wants to walk 180k acres when you can drive it? Oregonians, I guess. Maybe it’s that Oregon Trail pioneer bloodline. Meriwether Lewis was my first cousin, 8x removed… true story.

Well I went with it. The old guys, Andy’s dad and father-in-law, rode inside the truck while Andy and I stood on the back with my bird dog Milo, who I flew down there against the will of my wife. Anything to create an epic experience, I reasoned. When we spotted quail from “the tower” we’d tap the hood of the truck vigorously, stop, load up and get after them. That’s when the fun began.

It was never a “get out and shoot” type of deal. The scaled quail, locally called “blue quail”, would usually covey up and bust when we stopped, flying 100-300 yards from the road. We’d mark their location and walk a line in anticipation. All sorts of nasty cactus dotted the landscape and required us to frequently look down as we kept our mark on a hurried stride. Covey sizes ranged from 20-80 and after the first shot, the birds would split up and we’d break off into pairs or go solo after them, sometimes staying on one covey for an hour. These quail preferred to run instead of flush, making us earn every single one in a panting pursuit. We chased quail across some incredible and varied terrain: flat gravel bars peppered in mesquite, boulder-covered hillsides and rimrock peaks – all of which were covered in cactus and within eyesight of the majestic Chisos Mountains and further south, Mexico. It was on this trip, actually, that I had the idea to upholster cow skulls with Pendleton fabric. I was photographing an old bull skull next to a Pendleton blanket, when the idea popped into my head and - ever since then, I’ve been making skull art with Pendleton fabric.

At the end of each day we built a mesquite wood campfire at the ranch house and replayed the day’s events. We also pulled cactus from the dog and our own sore bodies. One particular cactus needle penetrated Andy’s foot a full inch through a pair of non-Danner boots. We ate bacon-wrapped quail on jalapenos, some of which were secretly spiked with local habaneros. Talk about pain…oh man. When “Death, Taxes and Habaneros” gets published, don’t even read it. With that, hunting became synonymous with suffering. And I liked it.

By: Seth Patterson | sethpatterson.com | @sethpatterson

Traditions endure

As a local cooperative, we share our profits with the Texans we serve. Since 2006, we’ve returned $2.2 billion in combined cash and allocated equities to our members through our cooperative returns program. So, when you’re ready to secure lending for your own rural playgound try a partnership that really pays. Together we’re better.

Lifestyle of

A Lifestyle of Legacy | Ag financing that runs deep

Even as the leaves begin to change and the year draws to a close, work still needs to be done. Crisp mornings of outdoor labor end near campfires, while soaking up accounts of the day’s events and the tasks still to be done tomorrow. Ranching. It’s the foundation of our story. It’s what makes us family.

At Capital Farm Credit, we finance the ranching lifestyle, but we also finance the memories you cultivate along the way. There isn’t a price tag for building legacy. Ranching is intertwined in our DNA as much as it is the Lone Star State. Capital Farm Credit is a team of experienced professionals who understand your story.

Wade Lowry owns WR Farm and Ranch in Bulverde, Texas. He and his wife Reagan, along with their children, raise grass-fed beef built on tradition and family legacy, reminding us that ranch roots run deep.

More than a brand “In 2015, we started raising grass-fed and grain-fed Japanese beef direct to consumer,” said Lowry. “We’re fifth generation ranchers, and we plan for our son and daughters to be the sixth generation.”

Long-term plans that pave a way for the next generation are what we prepare to accomplish with you. Capital Farm Credit provides consistent credit to full-and part-time ranchers, with separate programs for young or beginning operators. With a wide range of products and competitive rates, whether you are purchasing livestock or buying ranch property, your dreams are ours too.

We’ll leverage our knowledge and expertise to align with your success. Providing Texans with financial resources to succeed in agriculture goes beyond making loans, it is simply who we are.

Saddle up

We understand what it means to make memories and build dreams into the future. A ranch is not only the location of an

operation, but it also becomes a part of your family and the start of a legacy.

“Working with Capital Farm Credit from the beginning has been amazing. Their team really sees our end goal, but also our dream,” said Lowry.

Our experienced lenders understand the value behind your commitment, that is why we are committed to you.

“The reason I think they have our needs and our goals in mind, is because they understand the end game of most producers.”

If the boot fits

Capital Farm Credit is a family of trusted advisors equipped to finance your ranch dreams and help make the most of agriculture and property purchases. Our knowledge and expertise make us your lender of choice to create a lifestyle you can pass down for generations. With offices serving 192 of Texas’ 254 counties, we commit to serve rural communities yesterday, today and tomorrow.

If you’re interested in speaking with our advisory team, call 877.944.5500, or visit capitalfarmcredit.com.

Lone

Double Bayou Ranch

224± Acres | Chambers County, Texas

SETH PATTERSON featured artist

Seth Patterson is an Oregon native and first cousin of Meriwether Lewis. He grew up hunting and fishing his home state of Oregon as well as Texas, where he attended college at Abilene Christian University. A father of 4 and husband to Amy, he has a profound interest in giving people outdoor experiences that re-shape their perspective on life. Sounds heavy, but spending so much time in “God’s Country” has turbocharged his passion for all things outdoors. As the former Head of Digital Marketing at Pendleton Woolen Mills, Seth has blended his love of the outdoors, western culture, and modern design with his unique line of skull and fish art upholstered in Pendleton wool fabric.

sethpatterson.com | @sethpatterson

Almosta Ranch

What is a Conservation Easement?

By Brittany Wegner, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute

We had an opportunity to co-host the Texas Wildlife Association’s Wild at Work Stewardship Series with Amanda Gobeli and Kristin Parma to talk about Conservation Easements. Setting aside the natural anxiety that comes with speaking to large groups of people— or small groups for that matter—I’m particularly invested in teaching other landowners about conservation easements and the value they bring to families and partners as powerful tools to keep land in a condition that aligns with one’s values.

What is a conservation easement, exactly?

Typically, Texas landowners begin looking for information when they find themselves in a situation asking: How do we ensure that the land we own looks this way forever?

By “this way,” I mean as private farms, ranches and forests, often collectively called working lands or open space lands. I mean as land that can still support critical ecological functions that protect and enhance communities and is still in a condition to be able to contribute ecosystem services like clean air and water, flood control or space for healthy agricultural production. When I think of conserved land, I see native species, room to roam and lessons to learn.

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between you, the property owner, and a qualified conservation organization (often a “land trust” and known as the “holder”) or public agency. When entering into this kind of legal agreement, the owner voluntarily agrees to restrict the type and amount of development or certain uses that may take place on their property to protect its natural, productive or cultural features.

The keyword being voluntary.

Pulling the layers of legal jargon away, the most obvious question for a landowner then may be: What rights do I keep as the landowner if I choose a conservation easement, knowing that others have traveled down this path, especially over the last 10 years.

Good question. With a conservation easement, the landowner retains the title to the property and decides how the land will be used and, more importantly, how it won’t. As part of the arrangement, the landowner grants the holder of the conservation easement the right to periodically (typically annually) assess the condition of the property to ensure that it is maintained in accordance with terms defined by you and the holder.

Now that we have the basics covered, let’s back up and talk about perpetuity.

Making decisions that will last forever

There are very few things in life that we can decide today that will be guaranteed forever. We oftentimes depend on—and base decisions on—people and circumstances changing. It seems incomprehensible to make decisions that will live on beyond our lifetimes. How do we make stewardship commitments to the way land can and can’t be used for a future we won’t be a part of, for generations of people who we will never meet?

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIVATE LANDS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS BY COUNTY, 2018.

I remember when I was in high school, my grandfather called a family ranch meeting and described an opportunity for us that would remove a few lingering fears we’d battled over the last 165 years to keep our family ranch intact. He wanted to hear our questions and, most importantly, he wanted to convey this idea as a responsibility to us, the next generations to steward the ranch. He reminded me of this conversation last week as I prepared for the Wild at Work Series presentation. I asked him for the technical background that I just didn’t ask to be a part of back then as a 16-year-old with other obviously more pressing priorities (this is sarcasm). He thought my impression of that meeting and recollection of minimal investment was comical because he recalled that I was the one who spoke up first and gave a resounding yes.

The ranch was a constant in my life. Growing up, it was there and always would be because it always had been. It wasn’t until I was in college that I really understood the sacrifice I was largely shielded from to keep the ranch that had been in the family since 1854. Our land is rich with heritage, seeped with refuge and conflict alike.

“The ranch represents the hard work of men and women in my mother’s family who settled the land and kept it in the family for 165 years. Now, I get to see my grandchildren and great-grandsons develop a love for the ranch as well.” —my grandfather, Howard Hicks, talking about my two young sons.

“I had this real desire for it to continue to be a working ranch as long as possible because I felt that’s what my granddad would have wanted. We all wanted it to stay pretty much as it is.” —my grandfather’s first cousin, Bettie Green.

Working together, Howard and Bettie became stewards of the land where their grandfather, Pike Davis, dedicated his life.

Overall, as deeply challenging a decision can be, it was a necessity for our ranch to remain as it is in perpetuity. So, in 2010, our ranch became a cause that would serve a purpose larger than any of us and any future generation. We preserved heritage and a legacy that was no longer contingent on the hope that our stories would be passed down.

Because of our commitment to the land and the process we went through, I stumble across quotes by my grandfather and his cousin, Bettie, from time to time in conservation magazines. These always stick with me:

Why would you choose a conservation easement?

Climbing down off my sentimental box here, I realize that we have been fortunate to be able to make these decisions as a family. We are a diverse group, but we are still anchored by our love for the ranch. What are other reasons you might choose a conservation easement for land that may not come with a centennial celebration of family history when the open space land we still have today in Texas is so critically valuable in an ever-changing landscape?

Keeping open space open

Eighty-two percent of lands in Texas are classified as privately-owned working lands. Rummaging through some layers of paperwork and nuance of landownership and parcels, that means roughly 250K people in Texas are responsible for our state’s valuable resources that come from about 141 million acres of farms, ranches and forests.

To add to this compounded situation, recent landownership may have come about without the intent to keep the land in the family, or without interest from younger generations, who have many other opportunities outside of the land to build a life removed from the land.

A conservation easement in this case becomes a tool for the future as it is tied to the land, regardless of who owns it.

Tax and financial benefits

Leading to my next point, as explained by the Texas Land Conservancy, conservation easements are a tool to help families and individuals with their long-term planning goals. Under a voluntary, negotiated agreement, the owners retain the right to build houses, within reason, and conduct other activities such as agriculture and hunting, protecting the property from land fragmentation, and largescale or intensive development. The landowner can pass it down to heirs or sell it.

Increased population growth and development places an evermounting pressure on these working lands, leading to fragmentation into smaller parcels or conversion to other land uses like converting a farm to residential development. Land-use conversion alone accounted for the loss of approximately 1.1M acres of working lands in Texas between 1997 and 2012.

The easement is perpetual and so runs with the title of the land and the tax benefits are one of the main takeaways. By donating development rights to the land holder through a conservation easement, owners can take a tax deduction of that value. Typically, the taxable value of the property is diminished by anywhere from 30 to 50 percent. Not only is the taxable value decreased, but this may be a tool for consideration as we prepare for estate tax liability.

The equation for land loss, fragmentation and conversion is typically summed up as this: as an area experiences economic growth, population growth follows where then a higher demand on the land occurs. As the demand grows, the values increase, and the incentive increases for landowners—who are already struggling with limited resources—to subdivide or sell altogether.

Conservation easements as a catalyst for stewardship

As other landowners who have worked through this process may know, the reality of implementing a conservation easement is not something that can be captured in this brief account. The process is deliberate and comprehensive, but I do want to emphasize the shift that occurred on our property after the conservation easement was in place for the younger generations, me specifically.

Although I wasn’t at the table navigating the paper trail to implement a conservation easement on our ~1,600 acres of land in the hill country, the idea that we would steward this ranch in perpetuity sparked an ember in me that altered the trajectory of my life. When I realized that before we decided to preserve the ranch, it could have been taken out from under us in a swift series of unfortunate events that happen every day for landowners, I carried that weight in my belly for years.

Resources

The Texas Land Trust Council (TLTC) developed a Conservation Easement Guidebook that features 15 ranches, the Pike Davis Ranch included. The technical background and considerations are clearly outlined to help support landowners who are sitting at the decision table. My advice here would be to grab some snacks and invite the young people in your family to pull up a chair, too.

The Guidebook can be found here: https://bit.ly/CEguidebook

To find local conservation-focused organizations who can help you navigate a conservation easement, the TLTC is a nonprofit organization that builds and supports a strong, active coalition of more than 30 organizations working to conserve the lands and waters of Texas: (https://texaslandtrustcouncil.org/)

I attended a land stewardship presentation by Steve Nelle a few years ago and will never forget the phrase he used to describe this fire that moves you to do better for the dirt under your boots. He said there’s an ecological conviction that drives a land steward. It’s a choice you make again and again even, and especially, when it would be easier to let it go. To quote Aldo Leopold, “Conservation will ultimately boil down to rewarding the private landowner who conserves the public interest.”

Supported by the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) and the TLTC, NRI wrote Conservation Easement in Texas, a data-centric report that describes the state’s current participation and growing need for land conservation easements. It’s informative and interesting...if you’re interested in knowing what’s happening to the land in Texas and what’s being done to preserve it for the betterment of everyone.

The Report can be found here: https://bit.ly/ConservationEasementsinTexas

Here’s to the next 160 years of open land. Here’s to hoping that my sons will live as fervently for our land as we do.

Pebble River Ranch

Hunt, TX

½± mile of South Fork Guadalupe River

1.5± miles of year-round Cherry Creek

1± mile year-round White Oak Creek Two solar wells

WATER QUALITY CONCERNS SURROUNDING FERAL HOGS

By: Aaron Sumrall, PhD | Field Engine Wildlife Research | Pig Brig Trap Systems

It is no secret that Texas is in the firm grip of a significant drought that is expected to persist into the last quarter of 2022. Anyone can travel the highways and byways of this great State and conduct their own windshield survey and quickly see the many black patches along the ditches and the large expanses of chard landscape consumed by fire. Ponds intended for water sources for livestock have dried to the point that the fish have ticks! Hay trailers did not have much of a spring reprieve before hauling hay again to feed livestock. Our wildlife managers can quickly teach students the importance of understanding carrying capacity across our wild landscapes to keep those populations healthy.

Evaluating the varying components of our landscape in this current situation is taxing and leads to a lot of head scratching. When we assess landscapes, we must always begin at the foundation – Water. We must answer the questions of quantity and quality to better understand the building block needs of landscape health. The question of water quantity in Texas is very easy to answer – there is not enough. The second pertaining to quality, then, becomes a much more serious question to answer correctly. In agriculture, water quality concerns can be addressed in many instances by managing access to water by livestock through fencing and/or rotation of the herd. The lion’s share of our native wildlife species poses little concern to water quality by loafing in the water to cool like cattle. Sure, we see some quality complications from avian rookeries but nothing like the water quality complications stemming from the ever-present feral hog (Sus scrofa).

we come back to the elephant in the room of water quality. Let’s take a minute to ponder the quality implications posed by feral hogs with regard to dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform units, erosion, disease, and the aftermath of when the rains come again.

Dissolved oxygen is the concentration of oxygen incorporated into the water with four primary factors affecting said level. Water temperature (most important), atmospheric pressure, salinity, and water turbulence drive the bus when discussing dissolved oxygen. Oxygen enters the water column through atmospheric pressure and turbulence influenced by temperature and salinity. Warm water holds less oxygen than cool water, and water with less turbidity hold more water than does turbid water. This simply means that warm, colored, stained, murky, or muddy water holds less than cool, clean water.

Feral hogs may not have an influence on temperature, atmospheric pressure, or salinity but they can heavily influence turbidity seeing smaller water sources more significantly impacted. Turbidity can be summed up by the particle load suspended in the water column. Direct turbidity from feral hogs comes from the rooting, wallowing, and loafing within the impoundment not allowing particles to settle and water clear. Other water turbidity injections originate from the riparian zones surrounding the water body. When feral hogs leave the water for short daytime excursions, they typically stay within the shady confines of those riparian zones. Such zones typically see an elevated level of bare ground, loss of vegetative cover, and higher erosion potential.

The skills of feral hogs are seldom referred to with positive adjectives and especially in concerns surrounding water quality. With the inability of the species to sweat to regulate body temperature, we typically find daytime loafing in water sources in increasing frequency as the mercury rises. When thinking about what this means to a decreasing water quantity,

When I think of fecal coliform units (FCU) in the water body, I can’t help but wrinkle my face with concern. Feral hogs do not have a mom to instruct them to get out of the water to answer the call of nature in order to preserve water quality. Yep- They go right there! FCU is measured in 100mL increments by determining bacterial levels. Coliform bacteria originate in the intestines of all warm-blooded animals and are excreted through the feces. The FCU assay is utilized as an indicator of fecal contamination leading to possible pathogens that are possible in the feces. Feral hogs are listed in virtually every watershed management plan in Texas as a major contributor of FCUs in given watersheds. This opens a completely different can of worms when we start to consider disease transmission possibilities to people, livestock, food crops, and other wildlife.

Riparian zones are hugely important in the overall health of landscapelevel ecology. Many species, both plant and animal, depend on riparian zones to survive and thrive. Some species exclusively depend on microclimates to exist. Feral hogs running amuck in riparian zones frequently destroy plant communities, life cycles within microclimates, nutrient cycling, and erosion potential. Oftentimes easy food such as large seeds from species like oaks and pecan is wiped out and completely eliminated over time. Combine this with the loss of native grasses and forbs and bare ground, the stage is set for the intrusion of invasive species establishment on the ground that does not erode off into the water.

Conditions spanning Texas cause feral hogs to change travel patterns with waterways as travel thoroughfares in pursuit of nutrition to stay alive until the rain falls. I often speak to land and wildlife managers that did not have feral hogs in a given area until following a drought. This makes perfect sense. The species will travel vast distances along said waterways in search of nutrition, and when the landscape recovers following a drought, feral hogs will leave the immediate confines of the watery corridors onto a new landscape of nutrition. We observed this years back when fragmented private land ownership increased on the western side of the State, and newly drilled water sources allowed feral hogs to inject themselves into harsher climates.

Texas land is in excess of 95% privately owned. The beauty of land ownership is the ability to manage the land, with wide parameters, as the owner sees fit. We need to keep in mind that every action (or the lack thereof) has a reaction. Life has value. Landscapes are intended to be productive when well managed. Some things are expected on a landscape, and others are not. Natives are just that- native. Feral hogs are not native! I was asked what is the carrying capacity of feral hogs on the landscape. The answer is simple – None! They are a proven scourge on the landscape, so as we watch the resending levels of water in our impoundments, what can we do to preserve the quality?

Oak

PARMESAN CRUSTED VENISON MEDALLIONS

Some of the best parts of winter stem from hunting camp… Sitting around a campfire, making memories with family, and if you’re lucky enough, stocking the freezer full of delicious venison. Venison is a delicacy- both for rednecks and the most “uppity” city slicers. With that being said, there aren’t a plethora of unique easy recipes for it. I can’t tell you how many friends reach out asking for venison recipes because “after a couple of months, we get tired of having fried backstrap or wrapping the medallions in bacon.” This recipe is simple and decadent, and can be used with virtually any cut of venison.

Ingredients

• Venison Medallions

Backstrap or tenderloins are the best cut; however, if you’ve got some venison steaks, those will work. Simply lay plastic wrap on the counter, place your steaks on top, and then place another layer of wrap on top. Pound them until they are about a ¼” thick. No matter what cut of meat you are using, make sure to tenderize with a fork.

• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese

• 2 cups of shredded parmesan cheese

Note – it’s extremely important to follow the steps and have the two different types of cheese to ensure the medallions crust correctly.

• ½ cup of all purpose flour

• 4 egg whites

• Chopped chives

• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic

• ½ teaspoon of crushed red peppers

• ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning

• ½ teaspoon of cracked black pepper

• ¼ cup of olive oil

Directions

1. Prepare your meat and cut into medallions. Pat dry and allow the meat to get to room temperature.

2. Mix ½ cup of grated Parmesan with the flour in one bowl.

3. In the next bowl, whisk the egg whites and chopped chives until they are foamy consistency.

4. In the third bowl, mix the remaining ½ cup of grated Parmesan with all of the shredded Parmesan cheese and spices.

5. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. You want just enough oil in the pan to coat the bottom. Once it’s hot, drop a piece of cheese in it to make sure it bubbles right away.

6. Coat the medallions in the flour mixture, shake excess. Then dunk each medallion into the egg whites and allow excess to drip off. Then, place the medallions in the spicy Parmesan mixture. Completely cover both sides and press into the mixture, making sure that that the coating sticks.

7. Place the medallions in the hot oil and fry over mediumhigh heat for 1.5-2 minutes. Once the cheese crust has started to turn golden brown, flip over and cook another 1.5-2 minutes.

8. Transfer meat to a rack and let rest 2 minutes.

9. Plate, top with chives, and serve!!!

RAWHIDE RANCH

44± ACRES

ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Elkhart, TX

Gated entrance

2,800± sq/ft log cabin

1,400± sq/ft horse barn & shop with attached living area

Low fenced with cross fencing Pond with pier

Mature pine trees & hardwoods

Ag/timber exempt

SIXTY RANCH

60± ACRES

ARANSAS COUNTY, TEXAS

Taft, TX

Low fenced

Electricity & water available

Cleared, raw pastureland

Stocking ratio of 1-10 per acre

Abundant wildlife

100% minerals convey

PEAR CACTUS RANCH

36± ACRES

ATASCOSA & BEXAR COUNTIES, TEXAS

Von Ormy, TX

Frontage on SH-16

3BR/2BA house

Barn & storage shed

Low fenced with cross fencing

1 well & 2 storage tanks

2 stock tanks

Large oak & mesquite trees

DANIEL

RANCHETTE

15± ACRES

BEE COUNTY, TEXAS

Corpus Christi, TX

Low fenced

1 well, not currently in operation

Electric lines in place

100% raw pastureland

Abundant wildlife

OAKS RANCH

GROTHUES RANCH

RINGTAIL RANCH

26 ACRES GILLESPIE COUNTY, TEXAS

TWISTED OAK RANCH

SANTA GERTUDIS HEIGHTS

25± ACRES GUADALUPE COUNTY, TEXAS

Marion, TX

HONDO NORTH RANCH

30± ACRES

MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Hondo, TX

Partially high fenced

1,500± feet of Hondo Creek

Large oak trees

Rolling terrain with excellent brush coverage

Electricity available at frontage

SILVER

SPUR RANCH

24± ACRES

MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Natalia, TX

2,900± sq/ft house

In-ground pool with fountain 10-stall horse barn

Round pen & riding arena

Irrigated pastures Stocked ¾± acre pond

SAN GERONIMO RANCH

110± ACRES

MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Rio Medina, TX

1± mile of San Geronimo Creek 30% cultivated farmland 1 pond 2 low fenced pastures

Mature tree coverage Great hunting opportunities

BAR E RANCH NORTH

420± ACRES

MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Hondo, TX

Beautiful elevated views

High fenced

1 Pond & almost a mile of wet-weather creek Electricity in place Edwards water well

COWPER RANCH

1,524± ACRES

RED RIVER COUNTY, TEXAS

Detroit, TX

Over a mile of Red River frontage Rich fertile land for crops or pasture 55-60” average yearly rainfall

Superb waterfowl hunting Great river and bow fishing

RED RIVER CATFISH FARM

298± ACRES

RED RIVER COUNTY, TEXAS

Clarksville, TX

Seven catfish ponds

Almost a mile of Snell Creek

Low fenced

Covered in dense hardwoods Various migratory birds Tremendous commercial & recreational opportunities

410 SOUTH RANCH

3,075± ACRES

RED RIVER COUNTY, TEXAS

Detroit, TX

20 ponds ranging in size

Set of covered cattle working pens 2 sets of open cattle working pens Grain bins

Fertile sandy loam soil

Abundant wildlife

RED RIVER FARM

4,163± ACRES

RED RIVER COUNTY, TEXAS

Detroit, TX

Foreman’s house and cabin

Equipment storage barns

3± miles of Red River frontage

Average yearly rainfall of 55” 2 sloughs

PECOS RIVER RETREAT

35± ACRES VAL VERDE COUNTY, TEXAS

Pandale, TX

AQUAPLUS EQUINE CENTER

105± ACRES VICTORIA COUNTY, TEXAS

REISER CREEK RANCH

700± ACRES WEBB COUNTY, TEXAS

Aguilares, TX

SEGURA RANCH

500± ACRES ZAPATA COUNTY, TEXAS

Zapata, TX

Excellent hunting opportunities

Over a mile of road frontage

Low fenced

Single-phase electricity 5,000± gallon storage tank 1± acre pond