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Falfurrias: Ed C. Lasater and the Development of South Texas

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"Fallfurias" is a biography of Ed. Lasater by his grandson Dale Lasater.Both men are ranchers.Ed pioneered crossbreeding Brahmans,Herfords and Shorthorns. His son Tom created and established and registered the breed "Beefmasters" from Ed's crossbreeds. Tom's son Dale, the author of "Fallfurias", is the current owner and manager of the Beefmaster foundation herd.
According to "The Texas Handbook of History" Brooks County Texas has never been the same since Ed Lasater's arrival there in 1890.Prior to his arrival, this county in the north Rio Grand plains was sparsely settled by Hispanic people, who owned large tracts of land. Ed Lasater was recognized as a competent entrpreneur by the banks, who financed him.He established a 350,000 acre ranch with thousands of beef cattle, established the country's largest Jersey herd, created a creamery and a butter making business, developed a community of small farms, founded the town of Fallfurias with banks, a general store,a school, etc. He was nationally recognized as a major livestck producer and during WWI he was called to Washington by Herbert Hoover to be chief of the department of Livestock and Food Production in The US Food Administration.
"Fallfurias" is scholarly history related by a good story teller.It is a very enjoyable and educational read of significant Texas ranching, agricultural and rural development history.It is the winner of the Kate Brooks Bates Award presented annually by the Texas State Historical Association for the most significant reseach on the history of Texas or Texans prior to 1900.