feature
Since 1912, the Wilder Family has cultivated the
land in the Brazos Valley of Texas. J.
Earl Porter started farming cotton
near Snook, Texas - outside of
College Station, Texas the home of
Texas A&M University - not knowing
his endeavor would continue
on for a hundred more years.
“But that relationship with the Peterson Family
really made all the difference. They have helped
“We still farm today,” Jay Wilder,
J. Earl Porter’s great-grandson
and owner of Wilder Family
Limousin said. “For about 65 years,
it was primarily just a cotton
farm. In the early 1970’s, we
transitioned into growing grain
and crops other than cotton,
and added some cattle as well.”
What started as a stocker
operation with a mix of breeds,
has transformed into a large
commercial cow-calf operation in conjunction with
a registered herd. Wilder Family Limousin, owned
by Jay and his wife Molly, runs approximately
100 head of purebred Limousin and Lim-Flex
cattle. The commercial cow-calf operation and
farming operation is under J&J Cattle Company,
which is co-owned by Jay and his father, Joe.
“We got started with the Limi’s when I was
showing in 4H and FFA in the early 1980’s,” Jay said.
“We got started with the Peterson Family out of
South Dakota, and it kind of took off from there.”
Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, the Brazos County extension
agent of the time, knew some cattle folks in
the South Dakota region. He took Jay, Joe and
another family up there to look for some show
cattle to get started with. They looked at Red
Angus, Maines and other breeds while up there.
But when the Wilder’s met the Peterson’s they
decided Limousin would be the breed for them.
“It would have been just as easy back then to
have gone with Red Angus or Angus,” Jay said.
us and guided us along the way. So, we just
stuck with that. Plus, it is a great breed.”
Over the years, Jay has worked to further refine
his own purebred herd and bring out the best of
the Limousin breed. He believes in developing
the breed to be a top-notch, desirable product
on the commercial side and in the show ring.
“It is crazy to look at pictures, from the mid-
80’s when I was showing cattle, and see
where we have gone today,” Jay said. “I like
the cattle that we have today, and have
worked hard at getting them there.”
Jay actively works to fight the old stigma
associated with the Limousin breed that the cattle
are fine-boned, have a round rump, no milking
and a bad disposition. The success of Wilder
Family Limousin easily counters that stigma.
“If I have a product that I can’t sale, then why
would I be raising it,” Jay deliberated. “I don’t
LIMOUSIN Today | 45