Chad grew up in West Texas and has been in the farm and ranch real estate industry since 2000. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and a master’s degree in Land Economics and Real Estate while attending Texas A&M University, Chad began his career in farm and ranch property appraisal.
Over the years, he has specialized in valuations of various agricultural property types, emphasizing estate settlement and planning, undivided ownership interests, expert witness testimony, wildfire damages, ranch partitions, and other needs. For over 20 years, he was associated with Chas. S. Middleton and Son in Lubbock, Texas, where his practice diversified into the brokerage of farm and ranch property, with a trade area throughout Texas and New Mexico.
With vast experience and knowledge in all facets of farm and ranch real estate, Chad prides himself on the aggressive representation of buyers and sellers to maximize their return on investment. He has been blessed to have appraised and brokered several well-recognized and high-profile legacy-type ranch properties for well-known individuals and families and several of the Nation’s largest landowners.
Chad holds an Accredited Rural Appraiser Designation through the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, real estate broker’s licenses, and general appraisal certifications in Texas and New Mexico.
Chad and his wife, Kaci, reside near Lubbock, Texas.
The Lake Sumner Ranch is a unique 19,907± acre ranch property in DeBaca and Guadalupe Counties, New Mexico, offering both productive ranching and diverse recreational opportunities. Situated between Fort Sumner and Santa Rosa, the ranch features scenic landscapes with rolling hills, elevated benches, and river valley riparian ecology, particularly along the Pecos River and Lake Sumner. Notable water features include approximately 7± miles of Pecos River frontage, two large lakes, and multiple water wells, providing excellent livestock water and recreational opportunities. The ranch consists of well-maintained infrastructure, ranch headquarters, and livestock facilities. The Lake Sumner Ranch benefits from seasonal grazing on the Pecos River and Lake Sumner bottom, allowing for the crucial rest of the majority of the ranch during the growing season. The property is enrolled in GRP and CRP programs, generating generous supplemental income. With a combination of agricultural production, wildlife habitat, and recreational appeal, the Lake Sumner Ranch is a highly desirable investment.
· 19,907± total acres situated along the Pecos River and Sumner Lake in DeBaca and Guadalupe Counties
· 18,182± deeded acres, 819± state lease acres, 80± BLM lease acres, 826± BOR lease acres
· Excellent water features with approximately seven miles of Pecos River frontage, Lake Sumner frontage, 17± acre lake, and a 10± acre lake
· Six wells with numerous drinking troughs and water storage
· Diverse topography ranging from dramatic breaks, scenic creek bottoms, and rolling uplands
· Owner-rated carrying capacity of approximately 500 AUs
· 13 main pastures
· Livestock shipping and working pens
· Functional improvements consisting of the main house, bunk house, guest house, hand house and shop
· Excellent hunting and game habitat with a diverse collection of wildlife, including whitetail deer, mule deer, quail, waterfowl, turkey and varmints
· Fishing opportunities in two lakes on the ranch, as well as recreational opportunities on adjoining Lake Sumner
· Generous supplemental income provided by long-term GRP and CRP contracts
All owned mineral and alternative energy rights will be conveyed with the property
The Lake Sumner Ranch is an exceptional combination of a well-stewarded working cattle ranch and recreational property. The heart of the ranch rests upon scenic water features, as extensive Pecos River and Lake Sumner frontage rest in the riparian valleys and eastern boundary, with its colorful hardwoods and habitat-rich offering. This property is also a productive working ranch, with an owner-rated carrying capacity of approximately 500 animal units when fully stocked and a generous income stream from CRP and GRP contracts. Additionally, the ranch includes quality and diverse wildlife, featuring mule deer, white-tail deer, pronghorn antelope, ducks, geese, quail, and turkey. Two large ponds offer fishing opportunities that are extremely rare in this market. The Lake Sumner Ranch is the ideal mix of production and recreation that is hard to find at this price point.
The Lake Sumner Ranch has several advantages not found with competing properties in the area, such as the grazing allotment along the lake creating the ability to defer and stockpile forages, generous supplemental income streams, excellent wildlife resources, and the unique setting of the Pecos River Valley and Lake Sumner. Rugged beauty, productive ranching, and abundant water resources combine to make a truly scarce combination in this part of New Mexico and offer a rare opportunity to acquire a quality production and recreational ranch.
The Lake Sumner Ranch is located along the scenic banks of the Pecos River and Lake Sumner, approximately 15 miles north of Ft. Sumner and 30 miles southeast of Santa Rosa. The ranch benefits from a unique situation, offering maximum ease of access while experiencing minimal traffic. The ranch entrance is located on paved State Road 203 near the southeast corner, approximately 7 miles west of U.S. Highway 84. The continuation of SR 203 is an all-weather gravel county road, which bisects the ranch for approximately 8.25 miles, offering convenient yet low travel access to the ranch. A notable point of correction: some online map platforms show multiple "public roads" throughout the ranch. However, SR 203 (CR 3C) is the only public road through the ranch. For those who wish to travel by air, the Santa Rosa Route 66 Airport (KSXU) offers two paved runways, with Runway 1/19 being 5013x75 feet and Runway 8/26 being 4294x60 feet. The Portales Municipal Airport (KPRZ) is approximately 90 miles southeast of the ranch and offers an instrument approach on Runway 1/19 which is 5700x60 feet. Both general aviation airports are jet-capable and offer Jet A fuel. Albuquerque and the Albuquerque International Sunport are approximately 160 miles or 2.5 hours west-northwest of the ranch.
Lake Sumner Ranch is situated in the scenic Pecos River valley, with the river and Lake Sumner forming much of the east boundary of the ranch. Lake Sumner is a key recreational and historical landmark in New Mexico, formed by the construction of its dam over the Pecos River between 1935 and 1939. The lake area was once a hideout of the infamous Billy the Kid before his death in nearby Ft. Sumner in 1881. With its diverse range of activities, such as boating and fishing, and rich cultural backdrop, it continues to be a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and those interested in the history of the American Southwest.
The area has a mild, dry climate, with an average annual rainfall of 14± inches. Temperatures range from an average low of 30° F in January to an average high of 92° in July. The average growing season lasts about 225 days.
Encompassing 19,907± total acres, the acreage consists of 18,182± deeded acres, complemented by 819± acres of New Mexico state lease, 80± BLM lease acres, and 826± BOR lease acres. The state lease and BOR lease acres are found in two contiguous blocks in the eastern portion of the ranch. The BLM acreage is two non-contiguous 40 acre inholding tracts, also in the east portion of the ranch.
The topography of the Lake Sumner Ranch is diverse, offering dramatic breaks, productive bottoms, and scenic rolling uplands. Elevations range from about 4,700 feet MSL on the western uplands, descending to 4,280 feet MSL in the Pecos River bottom along the eastern boundary. The uplands combine rolling hills and open plains with scatterings of juniper, mesquite, and cholla. The ranch has good quality turf and productive native grasses, consisting primarily of blue grama, black grama, side oats grama, galleta, tobosa, and other native species. The rolling upland plains descend dramatically to three major drainages. The side slopes of the breaks have scenic rock outcrops and lookouts, where one can find relics such as Indian grind holes and the enjoyment of arrowhead hunting. In the northwest portion of the ranch, Borica Draw bends through the boundary on its way to the Pecos River. Salado Creek meanders through the ranch for about 1.2 miles in the southern portion of the ranch. In the eastern portion of the ranch, several shallow drainages descend from the uplands to the Pecos River. Colorful hardwoods, such as cottonwoods, are found in varying concentrations in the bottoms.
The ranch headquarters is situated off County Road 3C. The ranch improvements are well-maintained, functional, and aesthetically fitting for an authentic New Mexico operating ranch. These structures are appropriate for a ranch of this size and include a quality 2,600± square feet main house with three bedrooms and three baths. Additional housing for ranch employees, guests, or hunters is found at the headquarters. This includes an 1,860± square feet, three-bedroom, two-bathroom hand house; 448± square feet, one-bedroom, one-bath bunkhouse; and a 1,200± square feet, two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house. Other notable structures and livestock improvements include a 2,700± square feet shop, 800± square feet shed, shipping/working pens, and livestock sheds.
The Lake Sumner Ranch boasts remarkable water features that set it apart from other ranch properties in this market. These include 7± miles of Pecos River frontage, Lake Sumner frontage, a 17± acre lake, a 10± acre lake, and two seasonal springs. Additionally, six water wells provide livestock water to 15± drinking troughs scattered throughout the ranch via a network of 11.5± miles of waterline. The wells range from a depth of approximately 70 feet, for those wells in the bottoms, to approximately 340 feet. Water quality is reported to be good.
All mineral and water rights held by seller, as well as all alternative energy rights will be conveyed to buyer.
All mineral and water rights held by seller, as well as all alternative energy rights will be conveyed to buyer.
$4,240 for the 2024 tax year
The natural habitat and water features of the Lake Sumner Ranch offer excellent recreation and hunting opportunities. Located in Game Management Unit 39, the ranch supports diverse wildlife such as white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, quail, waterfowl, turkey, and various varmints. The two lakes provide waterfowl hunting and fishing opportunities for bass and catfish. Nearby Lake Sumner offers additional recreational appeal with boating and numerous fish species, including bass, crappie, catfish, and walleye.
The banks of the Pecos River form the ranch's east boundary for approximately 7± miles. The Pecos River bottom creates an additional grazing advantage that is not typical of ranching in the area, allowing for seasonal deferment of the upland pastures. This bottom, as well as the land utilized when the waters of Lake Sumner recede, provide an incredibly unique grazing amenity. Typically, the cow herd on the ranch graze the bottom acreage each year during the growing season. This allows most of the ranch to rest during this vital time of year, enhancing the regrowth of the native grasses and the overall productivity of the ranch. In mid-November to late November, the herd is brought out of the bottom and onto the fresh and rested pastures for the winter and spring months. The ranch is well-blocked and easily operated, with 13 main pastures. Fences are typical barbed wire on steel and/or wood posts.
The ranch additionally benefits from a Grassland Reserve Program contract, two Conservation Reserve Program contracts, and a very generous grazing lease, all providing approximately $360,000 in revenue, depending on the stocking rate. The GRP and CRP programs provide $150,000 per year in supplemental income to the ranch. The current GRP contract expires in September 2033, and the CRP contracts expire in September 2037 and 2039. This guaranteed income stream for the next several years is an asset that most other ranches in the area cannot claim. Currently, the ranch is leased for grazing at a rate of $35.00 per AU per month. Based on the owner-rated carrying capacity, the grazing lease provides $210,000 annually when fully stocked. This above-mentioned lease rate is a testament to the grazing quality and overall strength of the ranch. This three-year grazing lease can be terminated with a 45-day written notice should the purchaser desire an owner-operated enterprise.
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