Pioneer in Agriculture
The Gillespie Soil and Water Conservation District #220 is proud to recognize Harvey Ellebracht as their 2025 Pioneer in Agriculture award winner.
Harvey and Vernell married April 14,1956 with 1 daughter, Violet and her husband Richard Kruse, grandchildren Gideon, Caleb and Hannah.
Together, they have shared life-long experiences through many aspects of production agriculture and devoted themselves to conservation.
To assist them in this effort they have been cooperators with the Gillespie Co. SWCD since 1970.
Harvey Inherited 365 acres in Llano County around the Prairie Mountain area from Harvey’s parents. Harvey’s grandparents bought the land in the early 1900’s. Harvey and Vernell bought 89 acres out Hwy 290 in the 60’s. Harvey also leased several fields out Hwy 16 South where the current Mr. Gattis, baseball, and soccer fields are located. He also leased fields out Middle Creek Road.
He was the 3rd generation to carry on the ranching traditions.
Currently, Harvey’s grandchildren are also helping with the ranch so now there are 5 generations working on the land.
Harvey takes the time to teach his grandchildren the importance of wildlife and the management of this resource. He has fond memories of taking his grandchildren hunting whenever he has the chance. Harvey loves to teach Violet, her husband Richard, and the grandkids farming and the ranching traditions that he learned from his father. He enjoys taking his grandchildren out to feed the cattle. Spending time with them in the quiet countryside always means so much to Harvey as well as his them. He would never say no to taking them out to the country. He wants them to love the land as much as he did, which they do because of him.
Harvey raised cattle and was part of the Southwest Cattleman’s Association. He participates in rotational grazing throughout the year to prevent overgrazing. He also raised sheep on some of his places, planting coastal, wheat, milo, and Klein grass for improved grazing.
In the 50’s the hay production in Gillespie County was very low. Harvey having the first goose neck trailer in the county made the trip to San Saba for a load of hay for the many ranchers in need.
He wants to keep the conservation going, he keeps the grandchildren involved to learn all there is about farming and ranching.
Harvey was very active in the Farm Bureau and has been a board member for many years. He has volunteered at the Wild Game Dinner to promote funding for the youth of Gillespie County. All proceeds from the event go towards supporting agriculture, youth education, and promoting the values of rural living in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
He has volunteered at the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association since the 1950’s. He has worked in the bar, parked cars, helped in the grandstands, and checked in agriculture produce at the fair.
Harvey is a member of Holy Ghost Lutheran Church. He served on the Church Council and has served as President. He has been active in Lutheran Brotherhood, Men in Mission, Mixed and Men’s Choir, Adult Sunday School Class. He has volunteered many hours throughout the years helping with various projects, such as the yearly Fall Festival to raise funds for Camp Chrysalis and Camp Ebert. With these funds they are able to donate food to the Food Pantry and pass out turkeys to families in the community at Thanksgiving.
Harvey worked for Stein Lumber Company, Krauskopf Brothers and finally John Deere for 40+ years as a parts manager.
Harvey believed very much in conservation and protecting the land that provided for him and his family for so many years. He always had a plan in his head of what would support the best use of the land and how he wanted to achieve those goals. He completed brush removal and improved grazing in the 90’s. He used mechanical methods to remove mesquite, cactus and cleared the land. He planted a mixture of Klein grass, Indian Switch, and Bluestem.
Water Conservation is very important to Harvey and his family. He has worked diligently to prevent erosion by rebuilding terraces on many fields. With out these terraces many fields would erode, and grazing would be lost.
Terraces prevent erosion by shortening the long slope into a series of shorter, more level steps. These level steps allow heavy rains to soak into the soil rather than run off and cause erosion.
One of the many practices that Harvey did was plant sugar cane. Harvey and his family would wake up early in the morning to cut the sugar cane. These days were very long and hot. Violet remembers these days very well; they were VERY HOT! After the cane was cut, they would haul it to be processed. This involved pressing, boiling the cane and then canning it. They would sell the molasses throughout the community. Harvey’s molasses was one of the most sought out, it did not last very long before it was all gone until the next year.
Harvey enjoys fishing with his friends at Three Rivers, LBJ Lake, and Mathis. He remembers these time very well. Spending time on the water setting out lines and checking them the next morning, you never knew what you might pull up. A good fishing trip always meant a good fish fry with family and friends.
One of Harvey talents is playing the Washtub Base. Harvey has always enjoyed music and entertaining.
The Gillespie County Soil and Water Conservation District would like to thank Harvey for his conservation practices and are honored to present you with the Pioneer in Agriculture Award.