N/S 382 , Wetumka, OK 74883(Hughes County)

The early homesteaders of Oklahoma had a great eye for land, and it can still be seen today on ranches like this one. They had to clear trees with axes and handsaws, and, as such, they paid close attention to the soils to make sure that the land they cleared was worth the effort. Home Place Ranch has a mixture of fields, pastures and wooded draws that run along the four drainages of the property. A quick review of the soil map shows that the areas that were left in timber were better suited to provide cattle with cover in the winter, shade in the summer and to create ponds to capture their drinking water. Interestingly, the draws run east to west which is ideal for protecting cattle from cold north winds during the winter. In addition, those interested in deer hunting will appreciate that the northernmost wooded draw on the property runs roughly 1500 feet to the Wewoka Creek travel corridor. In contrast, the open areas are the more fertile Class 2 and 3 soils that are ideal for agricultural production. In other words, the highest and best use of each natural setting, whether it be for cover, water, wildlife, grazing or farming, was determined and enhanced over the years.

The ranch has roughly 220 acres of class 2 and 3 sandy loam soils that have worked hard over the years producing crops such as corn, peanuts, wheat and cattle. Consequently, this property offers a lot of bang for the buck given that it is 80 percent open and only 20 percent wooded. In recent years the owners have primarily focused on creating a ranch that can support cattle year-round with a mix of native, improved and conventional grazing areas that offer cattle a forage choice for every season. The tillable areas of the ranch offer opportunities to diversify winter cover crops to reduce the need for large winter stores of hay. With improved interior cross fencing, a producer could set this ranch up for intensive, rotational grazing.

The largest pond on the property is about 1.5 acres and was built with a steel pipe and valve that could potentially be used to access the water from the pond for irrigation. On the north end of the property there is a pond that can cover almost an acre when full and there are three other small ponds that could be improved to hold more water. The old hand dug well has been partially filled in, but today, potable water is supplied to the ranch via connection to the rural water system.

The ranch has 1.5 miles of road frontage making it easy to reach any part of the ranch from county-maintained roads in addition to the internal paths that connect pastures. With rural water and electricity running along the frontage, this ranch offers the next owner an opportunity to subdivide and sell off portions of the ranch over time, if they so desired and that’s not a bad option to have. Alternatively, it would also make a great ranch for a multiple household, extended family to spread out on with building sites along each road frontage.

Home Place Ranch offers a unique opportunity to steward a smartly developed framework back into a powerhouse ranch. If you are looking for a property with a high percentage of productive soils that could benefit from some investment in fencing and ponds, then this would make an excellent place to continue a legacy of smart farming and ranching that began decades ago. If you would like more information or want to set up a showing, please contact Chrissy Banks at 765 220 2489 .