Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2024-25 ProFILE class had the pleasure of visiting Young Farmer Chase Brooke on his family’s ranch during their recent bus trip to Texas. We shared a wonderful lunch prepared by Chase’s uncle Bill and gained some valuable knowledge about Texas agriculture.
A seventh-generation Texan, Brooke is passionate about ranching, the environment and educating others about agriculture, both as an Extension agent and a Young Farmer leader with the Texas Farm Bureau.
Purchased by his father and siblings in 2001, Brooke Ranch consists of 500 acres in Texas’ hill country. Much of it was originally overgrown with juniper trees, or cedar as they’re also known.
The whole family has spent the last 20+ years restoring the natural ecosystem of native grasslands, which now accounts for almost half the total acreage. More grassland has allowed them to add more cattle; it takes an estimated 17 acres of grassland to support each head.
The ranch has one thing in common with all of Texas agriculture: Water is a key issue and major factor in decision-making. They’ve been allowed to dam a creek, forming a 25-acre pond for use as a water reserve.
Chase explained that the farther west you travel across Texas, the scarcer water becomes, with some areas getting less than 10 inches of rainfall annually. The state’s booming urban population has made water an even scarcer commodity for its farms and ranches, posing a constant challenge for the water districts that manage lake levels and water resources.
Because of a large fencing project underway at the time, Brooke Ranch was actually cattle-free when we visited. Chase and his cousin Bill explained the work involves various methods commonplace in Texas, including prescribed burns and the manual removal of trees.
Altogether our ProFILE class found good food, great views and informative insights on Texas farming and ranching on this visit.
Andrew Woelmer is a member of the Monroe County Farm Bureau.
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Rebecca Gulliver
