Texas ranch sells for $300-million

Nov 03, 2021

In a sale valued at US$240-million (~CDN $300-million), a Texas ranch was sold, including land and industrial assets, featuring 31,000 acres in Milam and Lee counties.

Known as the Sandow Lakes Ranch, the property included the site of the former Rockdale smelter, permanently closed in 2018.

Completed on October 29, 2021, the transaction included improved pasture lands, ag properties and industrial assets, purchased by SLR Property I, LP, an affiliate of a Texas real estate enterprise.

The property was owned and sold by Alcoa Corporation who since purchasing the land, have worked with tenants to create economic development opportunities.

Alcoa received US$230-million in cash, noting that it had taken six years to get to this point after performing significant agricultural land improvements, adding water development and solar components, as well as intermodal, tech and other industrial capabilities that apparently SLR found most agreeable.

Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.