Dane Elliott – Pawnee, Texas
Dane owns Elliott Ranches, an operation with two primary segments. The first location is in Pawnee, a small town about 90 miles southwest of San Antonio. The ranch in Pawnee has been in the family since the 1930s, and this is the spot Dan calls home. The second location is in D’Hanis, about 50 miles west of San Antonio, and part of a land grant dating back to 1876.
Elliot Ranches follows a cow/calf model and approximately 120 “mama cows,” primarily Angus and a smaller Brahman herd, are run at any given time. His business also includes custom bale hay for local producers and hunting leases.
Growing up immersed in agriculture and ranching, Dan honed a wide range of practical skills that have served him well throughout his career in ranching
“I grew up in 4H and FFA, showing cattle. A was deeply involved in livestock judging and the Limousin Junior Association, where I served as state president and was a national junior director,” Dane shares. To date, he has also served as county president of Live Oak County Farm Bureau and as the District 13 Young Farmer & Rancher representative on the state Young Farmer & Rancher Committee. He’s also vice chairman of the Beef Cattle Committee at the San Antonio Livestock Show and is a director on the Texas Beef Council board.
“It’s very rewarding to see cattle in the pasture when I walk out of my house. But, the most satisfying part of my job is being able to raise my kids out in the country and help them understand the importance of agriculture,” explains Dane, a father of three school age children.
“My son, Kaleb (13), helps feed cows and runs the rakes in our hay operation. My oldest daughter, Paytin (9), is learning to be my chauffeur in the Polaris ATV as we check water and cattle, while my youngest daughter, Kynlee (9), helps check on the cattle and feed them,” said Elliott.
“The girls also raise commercial heifers to show at the local county fair and we are fortunate to use our own animals for their projects. My hope is for one or all of them to be involved as the sixth generation in our cattle operation, but I also wish for them to have successful careers outside of agriculture too!”
Long hours are a way of life for any rancher, with days that start before dawn and often stretch long past sunset. Dane knows this all too well. As a participant in “AgLead,” a leadership program hosted by the Texas Farm Bureau, he had the opportunity to tour agricultural operations across California, the Midwest, and Canada. Through this experience, he discovered that no matter where they are, people in agriculture face similar challenges, in different settings.
“For example, we work as late as we have to every single day to ensure our animals are cared for,” says Dane. “Time management is probably the hardest aspect of my operation. Between cattle, hay, regular and unplanned maintenance, and keeping up with the kiddos–it’s definitely a full schedule.”
But, when there is a rare opportunity for some downtime, Dane enjoys listening to live music and dancing, playing golf on occasion, and spectating football and baseball.
He also loves to grill and there is never a shortage of beef on the dinner table for family and friends to enjoy.
“Nothing beats a good steak and grilled vegetables,” exclaims Dane. “My favorite steak is a Ribeye, but Brisket and Fajitas are other beef cuts I am fond of. The kids love all these meals too, and sometimes we do smashburgers which are always a hit!
Speaking of burgers, if you’re ever in the area, Dane recommends both RJ’s Hamburgers in Kenedy, Texas or Sammy’s Burgers in Beeville, Texas.
