Meet the Winners
2022 Texas Ranch Roundup Champions – Burns Ranch, Henrietta, Texas
Arena Team Members: Graham Johnson (captain), Colten Mayo, Jayson Castle, Scott Hand and Macawley Morrow
In 1890, Aldolphus W. Raht of German descent bought a large portion of the Red River Cattle Company in northern Texas. His headquarters was the original Block Bar Ranch located in southern Clay County. He raised high quality ranch horses and Hereford cattle.
Aldolphus and Ella Mae raised one son on the ranch, Carlyle Graham. Carlyle later in life became an author. One of his books titled “Old Buck and I” is a collection of first-hand stories on the ranch during a time of Indian raids and fence wars.
In 1928, blizzards, droughts and disease finally forced the Rahts to deed the ranch to banker Carl Worsham of Henrietta. In 1934, Lillian and L.T. Burns of Wichita Falls purchased the ranch from the Worsham Estate. The sales price was $9.70 per acre. Lillian’s grandfather, C.L. “Kit” Carter was a prominent cattleman near Palo Pinto. Kit served as the first president of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in 1877. The TSCRA continues to play a vital role in the cattle industry and ranching traditions.
Becky Burns Johnson, granddaughter of Lillian and L.T., grew up in Wichita Falls. She spent summers on the ranch with her grandparents and three brothers. In the 1980s, she acquired sole ownership of the ranch. She continues adding acreage to the ranch in Clay and Jack counties.
Today, Becky lives in and preserves the original Raht Ranch house built in the early 1890s. Her son, Graham and his family, live on the ranch and he serves as ranch manager. They run a commercial Black Angus cow/calf operation, background yearlings and raise a small registered Angus herd.
Each generation continues to take great pride in improving the land and livestock while preserving the ranching heritage on the Burns Ranch