Historical marker to be presented at Texas A&M AgriLife’s Sonora Station
Commemorative pavers available, proceeds benefit research
A State of Texas historical marker will be placed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Sonora Station in a ceremony scheduled Oct. 16.
The markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including events that changed the course of local and state history and organizations and individuals who made lasting contributions to the state.
“For over 100 years, the Texas A&M AgriLife Sonora Station, originally called Substation 14, has been an invaluable resource for rangeland and livestock research,” said Reid Redden, Ph.D., sheep and goat specialist and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center director, San Angelo. “We are honored to have a historical marker placed at the Sonora center.”
Pavers, which will surround the marker outside the Sonora Station, are available to be sponsored and may be engraved with a family, ranch name or in memoriam. In order to be engraved in advance of the ceremony, applications must be received by Sept. 16.
“The Sonora Endowment committee is leading a project to allow people to honor family members on a paver that hopefully will be around for the next 100 years,” Redden said. “Proceeds will go towards research conducted at the center.”
The committee, made up of Bonnie Lou Campbell, Kari Cloudt and Erika Campbell, has worked tirelessly together on this project, said Redden
Commemorative pavers are available in two sizes: 4×8 inches for $100 or 12×12 inches for $250. Order forms are available online. For additional information, contact Phyllis Benge, AgriLife Research senior administrative coordinator, San Angelo, at [email protected] or 325-657-7333.
Sonora’s rich history
The Sonora Station, now part of the Texas A&M AgriLife center at San Angelo, has a history that goes back more than 105 years.
Since its founding, it has been an integral part of success in the research, development and demonstration of agriculture on the Edwards Plateau, said the committee. It has been a central gathering place for area ranching families, as well as scientists and students from all over the world.
The idea of a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station was hatched during the inaugural convention of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association in Del Rio. The association then reached out for support from Texas A&M University and the Texas Legislature. The station was in use by 1916, financed in equal parts by the legislature and area ranchers.
Following the station’s 100 Year Anniversary Celebration held in April 2016, the endowment fund for the Sonora Research Station was established to raise funds to ensure another 100 years of continuing research.
