The Ranching History Most Texans Never Hear | Mike East

In this episode of The Texas Campfire Podcast, Mark Hubbard sits down with Mr. Mike East at the historic Santa Fe Ranch in Linn, Texas, for a conversation filled with South Texas ranching history, family legacy, and stories from a way of life that is slowly disappearing.Mike shares what it was like growing up in one of South Texas’ most historic ranching families, with memories tied to the Santa Fe Ranch, San Antonio Viejo, Los Muertos, Buena Vista, and the old cattle country around Hebbronville, Bruni, and deep South Texas.From pear burning and lead steers to horseback roundups, trail drives, cattle shipping by rail, screw worms, helicopters, portable pens, wild cattle, King Ranch history, family land divisions, and the realities of keeping big ranches together, this conversation gives a rare look into the ranching world that built South Texas.Mark and Mike also talk about the East family’s connection to the King Ranch, the history of the Santa Fe Ranch, the shift from traditional cowboy work to modern ranch operations, and the challenges that come with passing large ranches from one generation to the next.This episode is more than a ranch story. It is a living piece of Texas history told by someone who lived it.Pull up a chair and join us for a conversation about cattle, cowboys, family, land, and the old South Texas ranching world.Life is always better when there’s dirt under your feet.