Special Recognition

Wesley Ratcliff Earns State Recognition

The Texas Chapter of the National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees (NOPBNRCSE) honored Mr. Wesley Ratcliff of Freestone County (Butler Community) as their Outstanding Conservationist for 2005. The presentation was made by George Martin, agricultural committee chairperson, during the organization’s Ninth Annual Training Conference on the campus of Prairie View A&M University on November 1, 2005. The Texas Chapter’s agricultural committee recognizes an individual each year with a “Distinguished Service Award” for “exceptional community leadership and outstanding accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water and related resources.”

Being absent from Texas for several years, Mr. Ratcliff is no stranger to East Texas. He was born in Polk County where he developed his love for the rural lifestyle. He and his wife, Marie, moved back to East Texas to seek their true love… working with nature and raising cattle. He purchased a 1,000 acre ranch in Freestone County. He immediately began working with the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Fairfield to develop a conservation plan for his ranch. During that period, he was assisted by the local office staff led by Kristy Oates, District Conservationist. Additional assistance was received from Keith Hardwick, Soil Conservationist at Fairfield and David Henderson, Soil Conservationist at Palestine.

Mr. Ratcliff later entered into an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) cost share contract with NRCS to carry out additional improvements on his ranch. His pastures rank among the best hybrid Bermuda grass selections in East Texas. His ranch, with over 700 head of Charbray cattle, is recognized among the largest herd of this breed.

Mr. Ratcliff is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University with a major in Mathematics and Physics. He served as an officer in the Vietnam War. His career with IBM afforded him the opportunity to travel around the world. However, he decided to make a career change. He became Founder and CEO of Advanced Technological Solutions, initially established in Brooklyn, New York, now located in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Ratcliff is very much involved in community affairs. He is a member of the Freestone County Extension Service Beef and Forage Committee and serves as a member of the Executive Council. He also holds memberships with the Landowners Association of Texas and serves as chairperson for the Dallas, Texas Black Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he spends much of his time encouraging minorities’ involvement in agriculture. He hosted tours and demonstrations on his ranch to show inner city youth the importance of the role that agriculture plays in their lives. Mr. Ratcliff donated 4 heifer calves to the 4-H club over the past two years to be shown at the county fair.

The Texas Chapter organization and agricultural committee takes this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Wesley Ratcliff as award recipient for the year 2005. Committee members are NRCS personnel: George Martin, Program Liaison, Nacogdoches; Troy Mumphrey, Limited Resource Specialist, Tyler; David Henderson, Soil Conservationist, Palestine; and Joseph Castille, Soil Scientist, Huntsville.

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