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Established in 2020, the Bonham Foundation’s mission is to create generational land enhancement through education, conservation, and advocacy. We realize the majority of the population will never be ranchers as their primary occupation; however, we hope to inspire a working knowledge of thoughtful stewardship that inspires a love for the land and the desire to conserve it.
We do this through focusing on six pillars: land, water, wildlife, livestock/ agriculture, education, and advocacy. The Bonham Ranch serves as the Foundation’s backdrop and provides an ideal natural classroom. Bordered by the Colorado River and Harvey Creek, the ranch’s diversity in terrain and ecosystems provides access to a multitude of learning opportunities seldom found on a single tract of land in this part of the state.
Organizations such as Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Grazing Land Coalition, local wildlife management associations, 4-H and FFA chapters among others are encouraged to host programs, provide demonstrations, and conduct research with the ranch as a backdrop.
Long before the Foundation’s inception, the Bonham Ranch property (known locally as Bonham Farms) was purchased by the Bonham Family in the 1970’s to serve as a family gathering place for city dwellers. Nancy Bonham Holt, a former “city girl,” was given the task of finding a property with live water, beautiful views, and “off the beaten path” privacy.
To her surprise she found the perfect ranch in just one day. She managed to convince her father that no matter how long she looked, she would not find a more special place. Nancy, founder of the Bonham Foundation, developed a deep love for the land that instilled in her a desire to share it with others in hopes they would also want to preserve and protect open spaces just as she does.
In 1989 Nancy married E.M. Holt, a long-time Angus cattle breeder. Bonham Ranch originally raised F-1 Braford calves out of a commercial Brahman cow herd. E.M. and Nancy liquidated the Brahman herd in 1998 and relocated from Navasota to Colorado County along with their registered Angus herd.
The ranch continues to produce registered Angus seedstock uniquely adapted to the tough conditions of South Texas through more than 70 years of intentional breeding. Fertility tested, breeding aged bulls are offered for sale by private treaty each spring along with a limited number of females at various times throughout the year.
During the summer of 2018, Nancy and E.M. were thinking about the future of the ranch and how they might be able to conserve it in productive rangelands forever. Shortly thereafter, Nancy made arrangements to change her will so that the ranch would belong to Bonham Foundation upon her passing.
In the years following, a board of directors was chosen who shared the Holt’s vision for the future of the ranch and had experience in critical areas to help guide the ranch into the future. Nancy Bonham Holt, ranch owner and founder, holds the position of President of the Board. Marv Ulbricht, former president of the Colorado County Farm Bureau, was chosen as the Vice President. Brian Emmel, President of the Harvey Creek Wildlife Management Association, was chosen to fill the role of Secretary.
Wade Seidel, co-founder Seidel Schroeder CPA/ Business Advisors, serves as the Treasurer. Stephen Janak, an Extension Program Specialist with the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences and former agricultural Extension agent for Colorado County, serves as the Project Manager. In the fall of 2022, Chance Muehlstein was hired to serve as the Ranch Manager and primary contact for Bonham Foundation programs.
In addition to serving as a backdrop for educational events, the Bonham Foundation offers scholarships to high school graduating seniors who are interested in pursuing an education in agricultural, mechanical, or trade schools. Applications can be found at the Colorado County Wildlife Management Association and the Colorado County Farm Bureau.
The Foundation also funds an endowed scholarship to Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The scholarship is available to upper classmen enrolled at Texas A&M who have chosen to pursue a career with agriculture and conservation at the forefront.
Check us out on Facebook or at our website www. bonhamfoundation. com to see how we can work together to spread the word about conservation of our precious natural resources.
