Welcome to the Ranch!

A view of land in Izoro, Texas

Cross Creek Cattle Company is family-owned and operated.  Currently we are raising the next generation of ranchers with our children.  Ranching is in our blood.

Since 1852, the Holliday family has been ranching in Texas.  They settled first in the Texas Hill Country in Lometa and Coryell Counties.

I have heard stories passed down from my great-grandfather through my father of our family’s past.  They fascinate me.  To think that my great-grandparents rode horses to school and in the same lifetime the men landed on the moon.  Times sure do change.

The Holliday family eventually left the Hill Country and settled in Harris county where they still ranched and farmed.  This was long before Houston spread in every direction developing all the farmland.

Later my grandfather looking for a ranch out in the country and away from Houston purchased land in Grimes County, which is now the original part of Cross Creek Cattle Company.  He raised Herefords.

As he grew older, my father bought the ranch from my grandfather.  He began increasing its size by purchasing surrounding and adjoining land as it became available.  In 1994, my parents founded Cross Creek Cattle Company.

Knowing all of this, I jumped on the opportunity to visit the site of the old Holliday ranch in Izoro, Texas.  My family visited a ranch in Llano, Texas for the New Year holiday.  My husband and I decided to take extend our return trip home by one hour to try and find the place.

It was worth every minute.  My dad had given me superb verbal directions to the place.  I was honestly impressed with his memory.   When we arrived, I immediately began taking photographs.  The area was gorgeous even in the dead of winter.  I don’t think that the photos do the landscape justice; the view was spectacular.

Seeing where my family first ranched in Texas was a great experience.  They had a beautiful piece of land.  I could easily envision cattle grazing the pastures.  Cowboys riding on horseback over the hills.  How nice it would be to own it again.

Posse in Last Year's Parade.

Cross Creek Cattle Company is a proud sponsor of the Grimes County Mounted Posse.  Lane DeHaven, the ranch manager, is the assistant drill master.  Three of our children are members of the Posse.

The Grimes County Mounted Posse is a great youth organization sponsored and supported by Sheriff Don Sowell.  The members represent the county in many events throughout the year.  The Posse is an ambassador of the Go-Texan Committee.  The members of the Posse also perform routines before our county’s rodeos and special events.  Recently the ranch hosted their annual trail ride. 

It is great to see such a variety of ages, interests, and personalities in the organization.  The one thing everyone has in common is their love of horses.  One of the main goals of the Posse is to learn to work as a team and develop other good character traits.

The Posse is in demand this month as the county gears up to celebrate Christmas.  Tonight they will be riding in Navasota, Texas in the city’s annual Christmas parade.  It begins at 6:30 p.m.  Then on Saturday morning, they will ride in the Plantersville Christmas Parade.  It begins at 9:00 a.m.  December the 18th the Posse will also ride in the Bedias Christmas Parade at 10:00 a.m.

Each town has a different feel in the way in which they organize their parades.  Navasota, the largest city in Grimes County, holds their parade in the evening.  Therefore, their floats are all about lights.  This parade has the most floats compared to the other towns.  Even in the dark, the Posse riding on horseback is a hit especially with the youth.

Plantersville’s parade is not as organized as Navasota’s.  They invite whoever wants to be a part of it to come and participate.  Families ride their horses, drive classic cars, and the Volunteer Fire Department plays a big role.  The Posse won best animal float last year.  This parade allows candy to be given out.  The Posse members have candy bags hanging from their saddle horns.  When I leave the parade with my two little boys, it looks like we have gone trick-or-treating.  Needless to say, they love this parade.

The best thing about Plantersville’s parade is that you get to see it twice.  The floats reach a certain point and turn around.  You get to see them coming and going.

Bedias has just recently begun hosting Christmas parades.  Their parade is most like the Plantersville one.  Both encourage the community to participate and not just formal organizations, clubs, and businesses.  It is also a fun parade to watch.  Last year, Santa Claus drove a pink Cadillac.  You will leave there with a lot of candy, too.

These parades are a little piece of Americana.  If you are in the mood for some down home entertainment, come out and support all the different towns in Grimes County as they put together their different parades.  Each parade takes place on the main streets of each town.  Just park alongside the road or stand on the side of the road. 

Make sure to look for the Posse riding on horseback.  They will have Santa hats on top of their cowboy hats.  Horses will be wearing sleigh bells.  After they pass by, you will be ready for Christmas.

The other evening the Grimes County Jr. Deputy Sheriff’s Mounted Posse threw its annual end of the year banquet.  A catering company served hamburgers and all the fixin’s, beans, and peach cobbler.  A guest speaker from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo informed us about the opportunities offered by the organization.  She also made us laugh by listing off the ten most important things she had learned from her horse.

Jake, Kyla, and Clayton with their medals and belt buckles.

We said goodbye to one member who is beginning the next phase of her life at Texas A&M University.  Other members were recognized and given awards for their service.  Clayton, Kyla, and Jake all received a medal for completing their first year as members.  Kyla and Jake were both recognized for being top-sellers at a plant sale fundraiser in Navasota.  Additionally, all three were awarded fancy belt buckles for perfect attendance at all Posse events.

The belt buckles are huge!  They are nice, too.  Even each child’s name is on his/her buckle.  Kyla is going to need a wider belt to hold the buckle properly.  When Jake wears his new belt buckle, he receives a lot of attention.  People remark on its size.  So, can you grow into a belt buckle?  I think, they can.

Until then, all the kids are proud of them and are looking forward to another year of Posse events.  In fact, Cross Creek Cattle Company is hosting a trail ride for the Posse in October.  We all have some work to do before the ride.  Trails need to be cleaned up.  It is going to be fun and we are all looking forward to it.