Scharbauer Cattle Company - 2022

Ranchers

Induction Year: 2022

Founded: 1887 Midland, Texas

Primary Discipline: Ranching

Profession / Role: Multi-Generational Ranching Operation

Primary Skills: Cattle Breeding, Land Stewardship, Genetic Improvement

Known For: Building one of the largest ranching operations in Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Developing high-quality Hereford and Angus cattle and pioneering a ranch-to-retail beef model through Midland Meat Company.

Early Life and Background

The Scharbauer family arrived in Texas in 1883 and began raising sheep and cattle during the formative years of West Texas ranching. In 1887, brothers John and Christian Scharbauer formally established Scharbauer Brothers Corporation, which later became known as Scharbauer Cattle Company.

Operating in Texas and Southeast New Mexico, the family steadily expanded its land and livestock holdings. Their ranching operations grew to encompass nearly 500,000 acres at their peak, running as many as 20,000 head of Hereford cattle. The ranches became known for producing livestock recognized for quality and long-term value.

As Midland developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Scharbauers were among the pioneering ranching families who contributed to the economic foundation of the region. Their landholdings would later prove significant in the oil-producing Permian Basin, further shaping the economic landscape of West Texas.

Professional Career and Rise

Clarence Scharbauer joined his uncles in the family enterprise and later assumed leadership responsibilities. After his death in 1942, his son, Clarence Scharbauer Jr., became owner and manager at the age of seventeen. Under his direction, the ranching operations continued to expand and modernize.

In 1952, Clarence Jr. acquired the Alamocitos Ranch in Oldham County in the Texas Panhandle. The property had previously been owned by the Matador Land and Cattle Company and was originally part of the historic XIT Ranch. This acquisition strengthened the family’s presence across multiple Texas regions.

Over successive generations, the Scharbauers emphasized genetic improvement within their herds. Originally known for Hereford cattle, the operation introduced Angus genetics in the early 1990s to strengthen carcass quality and commercial performance. By selectively purchasing and developing superior Hereford and Angus bloodlines, the family built a commercial cow herd recognized for consistency and market value.

The family also made contributions to the equine industry. Clarence Scharbauer Jr. served as president of the American Quarter Horse Association. In 1987, the family-owned Thoroughbred Alysheba won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, and in 1988 won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was named Horse of the Year.

In 2015, fifth-generation rancher John Scharbauer, along with his wife Amy, founded Midland Meat Company in Midland, Texas. This venture established a vertically integrated ranch-to-retail model, marketing beef directly from Scharbauer Ranches to consumers. The program features Wagyu-Angus-Hereford crossbred cattle and reflects a strategic departure from the traditional commodity beef supply chain.

Legacy and Impact

For more than a century, Scharbauer Cattle Company has played a defining role in West Texas ranching. The family’s early expansion into Southeast New Mexico helped establish cattle ranching in that region during the early twentieth century. Their large-scale land stewardship and breeding programs contributed to the development of commercial cattle production in the Southwest.

The introduction of Angus genetics into a historically Hereford-based herd demonstrated a willingness to adapt to evolving market demands while maintaining breed quality. Through Midland Meat Company, the fifth generation further extended the ranch’s influence by creating a direct-to-consumer beef enterprise, providing traceability and strengthening the connection between producer and customer.

Philanthropy and civic leadership remain integral to the family legacy. The Scharbauer Foundation, established in Midland in 2010, continues a longstanding tradition of charitable giving and regional investment.

Across five generations, the Scharbauer family has maintained continuous involvement in ranching, livestock improvement, and community development, securing its place among the historic ranching families of Texas.

Later Years and Death

Following the leadership of Clarence Scharbauer Jr., ownership passed to subsequent generations. Today, Chris Scharbauer and his son, John Scharbauer, continue to oversee Scharbauer Cattle Company and its affiliated enterprises. Operations remain active in West Texas and the Texas Panhandle, with continued emphasis on cattle genetics, land stewardship, and direct beef marketing.

Honors and Recognition

• Alysheba won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, 1987 Alysheba won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and named Horse of the Year, 1988

• Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, 2022

Links and References

• Midland Meat Company – https://midlandmeatco.com/about-us-1

• Texas Monthly – “Scharbauer Cattle Company Creates a Model for Ranch-to-Retail Beef” https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/scharbauer-cattle-company-ranch-to-retail-beef/