Just north of Bonham, Texas, sits LD&W Ranch, named after and owned by Wilda ’80 and Dan Wahrenbrock. The retired couple manages cattle, horses and donkeys year-round.

It’s not unusual to see Dan and Wilda sitting by a fire, looking at the stars and watching the wildlife that roams their land. The Wahrenbrock ranch is special to them—the open spaces and quiet nights provide a stark contrast to the neighboring Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Dan and Wilda’s love for LD&W Ranch motivated them to think about future generations of ranchers. “It feels like civilization is closing in, and we’re losing our Texas ranching heritage,” Wilda said. “Together with my mother, Grace, we discussed giving options that would encourage students to pursue careers in the agribusiness industry.”

To honor Texas’ agricultural history, the three created a planned gift to support the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. The gift will provide scholarships for undergraduate animal science students and fellowships for graduate students. It will further support transformational education, one of the three pillars in the Lead by Example campaign, by bolstering high-impact learning opportunities to enhance the animal science curriculum. Funds will help cover study abroad costs for students and support activities of the department’s animal judging teams.

Dan, Wilda and Grace chose a bequest because it suits their needs. By naming the Foundation as beneficiary of their estates, they can retain their assets during their lifetimes.

“Texas A&M provides so many opportunities for students to build on their academic foundations through hands-on, applicable experiences and extracurricular activities,” Dan said. “The three of us want to support young people and education, and that’s what inspired us to give back. It was a perfect match—our resources, Texas A&M’s resources and the needs of future students.”

Grace’s late husband, Jordan Wolf ’41, started the family’s Aggie legacy. After Jordan met Grace in 1945, the two embarked on a journey across the world, occasionally taking temporary residence in a new country. Grace quickly developed a passion for history, architecture and archeology. Her time spent traveling abroad solidified her decision to give back.
 

Interested in learning more about how to create a gift in your will like the Wahrenbrocks?