Legend of the Longhorns

by Troy Miller

Longhorn Cattle became the foundation of the American cattle industry by claiming its first rights in the untamed, newly discovered Americas more than 500 years ago.  In 1690, the first cattle drive headed north from Mexico to land that would eventually become Texas.  By the Civil War, millions of Longhorns ranged between the mesquite-dotted sandy banks of the Rio Bravo to the sand beds of the Sabine.  Most of the cattle were unbranded. They were survivors of raids, weather, and other uncertainties facing the times.  Many had escaped from missions or were abandoned after ranch failures.

Around 40 years later, the Longhorn was closer to extinction than the North American Buffalo.  In 1927, the federal government stepped in to help preserve the Texas Longhorn and establish the breed as part of our American heritage.  Congress assigned forest service rangers, Will C. Barnes and John H. Hatton, to the task and these two men put the first heard together for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.  Gradually, more breeders started raising private stock, recognizing the value of Texas Longhorns.  Many breeders keep these cattle and value them for their many uses and hardiness as a breed. Longhorns are known for their resilience against disease and their meat is some of the leanest beef available on the market today.  Raul Garcia of Longhorn Structures LLC says that for him raising cattle has been something he really enjoys, and that the breed is so special to him that it inspired the name of his company.