For over 100 years the Vanecek’s have worked the combined 3600 acres here at Wormy’s Ranch just North of Trinity, TX. They are one of the oldest families in the area. The Vanecek’s came from South Dakota on horse back with several other families during the cattle boom of the 1800’s on news of cheap land for sale in Texas. Unfortunately most of the families, including the Vanecek’s, became victims of a popular land scam at the time. The salesman unwittingly showed the start up Cow Boys land in South Texas. The massive fields of grass were plentiful and suited for cattle, however, they sold them land in East Texas thick with coniferous forests and displaced Indian Tribes. The land had to be cleared for raising cattle and crops. Most of the families struggled, eventually leaving the unsettled Yellow Pine Woods for Houston and Austin.
The Vanecek’s stayed and decided to tough it out. Hunting Game and rounding up Wild Hogs and cows. They cut timber and grew crops. By the time the great depression came around the Vaneceks were well suited for it. The knowledge of the forests even helped them trap Wild Hogs to sale at auction in Dallas during the hard times, providing much needed meat. Johnny Vanecek would round up the Feral Hogs on horse back and use dogs to run them into portable pens deep in the woods. Sometimes the local ranchers would catch the wild sows marking theirs ears with identifying slices so they could release them only to catch them again when their fat and good for eating. Without a doubt the Vanecek’s were one of the first families in Texas to start the hog hunting craze that exists today over 100 years ago.
