Generations of Cattle Ranching

The simplest things can have the most profound impact, and that was certainly the case for a young boy on the west end of Galveston Island. A farmer and rancher’s grandson, Scott Rice grew up on Lazy R Ranch, a place that was humble and home, where his family raised commercial cattle, chickens, pigs and horses. Rice always wanted to help around the ranch and tend to the animals, and he spent a lot of time learning from his grandfather “Fatty Roach.” They had a special unspoken bond and one that would leave a lasting impression.

MEET SCOTT RICE
To Rice, his Grandfather’s small farm on the Gulf Coast felt like the world’s biggest ranch. Though Rice’s Grandfather, Charles “Fatty” Roach, passed away when Rice was 16, it was there that he discovered a deep appreciation for animals and agriculture

Rice went on to study petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University and became a proud member of the Corps of Cadets, Company E-2. At the onset of his career, he worked as a reservoir engineer for Pioneer Natural Resources, eventually transitioning into investor relations. In 2008, Rice joined Riverbend Oil & Gas, an upstream production company with assets in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, Williston Basin and Fayetteville Shale.

It all came full circle in 2018 when he and expert rancher and cowboy Chris Schaper founded Campeche Cattle, realizing a mutual lifelong dream of cattle ranching. For Rice, it felt natural; it felt like home. As a child, the family farm was just as much about the animals as it was the people, and this principle continues on through Campeche Cattle. Rice hopes he’s making his grandfather proud, carrying on his legacy for generations to come.

MEET CHRIS SCHAPER
As a young boy growing up in southeast Texas, Chris Schaper recalls one of his earliest childhood memories: daydreaming out of the car window, admiring cattle in complete awe and fascination. For as long as he can remember, cattle have been his passion.

In fact, it’s in his blood. After emigrating from Germany in the mid-1800s, his family began ranching on Galveston Island in 1871. Fast forward to 1997 and Schaper bought his first cow at just 12 years old, making him the sixth generation to run cattle on the island.

In the years that followed, Schaper made cattle more than just a hobby. He fitted show cattle for several years, went on to show cattle in 26 states and judged several shows in multiple states as well. Schaper then pursued this path in college, graduating in 2010 from one of the most prestigious ranch management programs in the country at Texas Christian University.

After managing a ranch in south Texas, he joined Collier Farms Beefmasters where he fell in love with the Beefmaster breed. From daily cattle care and calf development to bull gain tests, pedigree analysis and more, Schaper studied all aspects of the Beefmaster breed and instantly knew they were special.

In 2018, Schaper joined forces with fellow Galveston native Scott Rice, cofounding Campeche Cattle. Together, they are raising the best cattle they can, focusing not only on the Beefmaster breed but also on a herd of northern genetic Red Angus cows that they breed with Beefmaster bulls to raise great E6 cattle.

Schaper brings an unparalleled level of generational insight, institutional knowledge and first-hand experience to Campeche Cattle. Not many people get to say that they fulfilled their childhood daydream, but Schaper sure has.