Betty Jo Gigot, Editor and Publisher

Will Snead learned early in his career that outside forces can have a drastic effect on the outcome of cattle ventures. Snead attributes his survival the first time around to a good banker. “I bought my first cattle in 1984 and then the dairy buyout came along,” Snead said. He survived the wreck and lived to tell about it. Today, even after recent adventures with 9-11 and BSE, Snead is proud of his complex ranching, cattle-feeding venture that stretches across part of two states.

Part of history
A native of Dalhart, Texas, Snead returned home after graduating from Texas Christian University, including the TCU Ranch Manager’s program. The Snead family had leased and owned ranches for years, and in 1987, they joined two partners in buying what had once been Winrock Farms, a massive farming operation north of Dalhart. The farm consisted of 80 center pivots tapped into the Ogallala Aquifer. Tom Hills, entomologist for Winrock, was one of the partners and continued to partner with Snead until recently. Together they restored the old Carrizo Feeders feedyard near Texline.

“In 1999 we could tell it was time to sell the property,” Snead said. “We kept 32 circles south of the feedyard.” The company raises corn for silage, along with wheat for pasture on the 32 circles left. Meanwhile, Snead leases and owns ranches in that area, as well as large parcels of property across the state line in New Mexico.

“In 1993 we bought the Alamo Ranch and recently the Jaritas Ranch, near Springer, N.Mex.,” Snead said. With those properties and others leased for grazing, Snead will have 15,000 to 20,000 head of grass cattle out at any one time. Buying 400- to 600-pound cattle, Snead and his man straighten them out on wheat pasture, send them to grass and then take them back to the feedyard for finishing.

Dalhart is best known for the old XIT Ranch and its rich Texas history. Snead has used that theme for his refurbished office located on Dalhart’s main street.

Basic philosophy
Snead has a simple management style. He surrounds himself with good people he can trust and allows them to do their job. His right-hand men are feedyard manager Leo Vermedal, who is part-owner of the 25,000-head capacity feedyard, and Gonzalo Gonzales, who runs the outside cattle.

“When we upgraded Carrizo Feeders in 1996, I knew we needed someone of Leo’s caliber,” Snead said. Vermedahl has provided the management Snead needed.

Vermedahl is very proud of the commercial feedyard. “We do a great job feeding cattle here at Carrizo and also will buy cattle and offer financing to our customers,” Vermedahl said.

Gonzales, according to Snead, is the best. “I have told Gonzalo that when he goes, I go,” Snead said. “He insists that we have outside lights at the working areas so that he can get new calves vaccinated whatever time it is.”

Snead cattle come from across the immediate area as well as south Texas, where he purchases cattle from Capital Land when, “the price is right.”

“I prefer local cattle,” Snead said. “We buy a lot of cattle from Texas and New Mexico and a few from Kansas and Oklahoma.” Unless they are full at Carrizo Feeders, all cattle are fed there.”

Snead is optimistic about the cattle industry. He feels that cattle numbers are still tight and is anxious to get the Asian export market back.

A member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Board of Directors, Snead is proud of the association and their accomplishments and his part in an industry he loves.