If you asked Harold Bowers, what is his creed?
One would venture to say that it is Faith, Family, & Farming...in that order.
Along with his wife of 50 years, Cheryl Bowers, they have farmed grain, farmed seafood, and have raised up to 800 head of cattle on 3,000 acres of land.
Born and raised in the Palacios area, Harold Bowers was one of 13 children born into a farming family.
After graduating from Palacios High School in 1958, he cultivated rice with his father & uncle. Meanwhile, in the Hill Country of Stonewall, Texas, Cheryl grew up on her family’s dairy farm.
In 1989, Harold transferred the skill and integrity of the Bowers family farming traditions to aquaculture.
A man of innovation, the business was so successful that it expanded exponentially and internationally.
Not one to rest on his laurels, in 2008, Harold returned to one of his first loves, raising cattle full time.
For most of his adult life, raising cattle was a side venture.
However, with more time on his hands, Harold and Cheryl took H&C Cattle to the next level.
For the past 18 years, at the age of 85, Harold continues to manage the ranch.
With no signs of slowing down and with Cheryl by his side, they take care of the cattle daily by maintaining the health of the herds, rotating the cattle, irrigating their pastures, and bailing hay.
His oldest son, Brian, also runs the ranch along with their two hardworking ranch hands, Leo and Augustine.
H&C Cattle mainly consists of a cow-calf operation.
Every year, H&C Cattle feed out their steers and heifers to sell.
To date, their large family consists of nine children, 29 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Harold and Cheryl have shared their passion for farming and ranching with their family.
All of their children raised show animals at the county fair. Some own cattle and livestock of their own.
You can see the joy on their grandchildren’s faces when it’s time to “check the cows” with Grandpa and Grandma.
Their charity knows no bounds.
In the early 1990s, they decided to foster children.
Harold and Cheryl Bowers also contribute graciously to the youth in their community and to the beef industry by buying steers and “pens of three” at the Matagorda County Fair and livestock show.
They attend clinics and beef trade shows while supporting local cowboys, co-ops, and businesses in the area.
Harold served on the Palacios school board, appraisal board, and served as interim county commissioner.
Their most recent charitable donation occurred just this past year.
Harold and Cheryl Bowers deeded property for the creation of a youth sports facility in Palacios.
As 1 Peter 4:10 states, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Harold and Cheryl give all the glory to the grace of God.
They hope to pass on the values of faith, family, and farming to future generations.
