| IN LOVING MEMORY OF LYNN WALTER STORM |
 Lynn and grandson Josh Storm
Just north of our village
There’s a man called Storm
It is known far and wide
That he has many charms.
His spread is real pretty
And we know not to ask
Just how many acres
Do you have in this patch?
The cattle are beauties
With polled horns and faces
They are lucky to be
In this finest of places
Go gather we round
For a big celebration
To wish Happy Birthday
To a man of great stature
He’s been rancher and banker and
Grandpa and dad
And community pillar
And holder of land
Since we’re all here together
Let’s give him a hand
We all need some rain
In this dry neighborhood
But in lieu of that rain
A Storm’s always good
Happy Birthday, Lynn
November 29, 1999 - By Frank Austin, for Lynn Storm
The Texas Hill Country has long been a region plagued by human struggle. Early Native Americans and the European settlers that followed were continually challenged by the harsh, unpredictable conditions in this area, but the majestic beauty of these hills, trees, springs, and streams have always been an irresistible draw to the Hill Country.
 In the best years, rainfall has been abundant, rewarding those who worked the land with a proliferation of forage, crops, and cool, clean water for drinking and respite from the heat. In the worst of years, the surreal beauty of the Hill Country turns upside down and bites back. Grasses and wildflowers brown and wither, sometimes barely making an appearance for years on end. Springs, creeks, and wells dry up, leaving little water for swimming, drinking, wildlife, or agriculture. These struggles have driven many out of the Hill Country, but those who remain are familiar with struggle, and they know that the fight is worthwhile.
Lynn Storm was the ultimate embodiment of this struggle. After traveling all over the nation with his family in his younger years and studying at The University of Texas at Austin, he eventually settled in Hays County in 1950 with his wife Maxine, their daughters Lynette and Anne, and their son Scott, and he began his dream of ranching and caring for the land. As his Polled Hereford herd grew, so did the size of his holdings and his love for the land. His intelligence and drive soon yielded awards and recognition for notable achievements in livestock management and pasture design. In the 1960s, Lynn Storm served as president of the Texas Polled Hereford Association and was a delegate for the American Polled Hereford Association.
“You fall in love with the damn place. It grows on you, and you grow into it, I guess. ” - Lynn Storm, 2002
Click here to read the rest of the article.
For a link to Lynn Storm’s obituary, please click here
|
|
HCC SPECIAL OUTING |
Storm Ranch Family Volunteer Day & Campout October 27th
On Saturday, October 27th, the Storm family and Hill Country Conservancy will host a volunteer day at Storm Ranch in Hays County near Dripping Springs. Orientation and work will commence in the afternoon, with drinks and BBQ to follow. Vegetarian friendly food will also be served. Finally, we’ll camp out and rest up after a great day! This will be a family friendly event, so feel free to bring the kiddos.
Space will be limited for this very special event. Save the date now and RSVP to reserve your space!
|
|
SAVE THE DATE! |
|
It’s only natural to celebrate an event that will have a positive effect in the Austin area for generations to come. Families and kids are welcome!
The Place: Historic Ragsdale Ranch
The Date: Saturday, October 20th, 2007
The Time: 11:00 am-3:00 pm
The Food:
Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Soft Drinks and more.
(Feel free to bring your own cooler or picnic.)
The Fun:
Music performances by Woode Wood and Bill Oliver • Falconer Exhibit/Performance • GPS Scavenger Hunt • Natural Art Exhibit created during the event • Face Painting and Bouncy Castle for the kids • Hay Ride Tours
Because of the concerted conservation efforts of several groups, 500 acres of pristine Texas Hill Country is being preserved intact. Located on famous Onion Creek, this land will continue to provide a thriving habitat for native wildlife and plant life.
What better way to commemorate protecting this untamed terrain than with an entire day of good ol’ family fun. Hosted by Hill Country Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy of Texas, and the City of Austin.
No tickets required. For an up-to-date listing of activities, parking and direction information, log onto landwatersky.com/ranchparty.
|
| CONSERVATION CALENDAR |
We have updated our website with numerous upcoming conservation events in and around Austin so be sure to check it out!
Click here!
 Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo 2007: October 6-7th, 2007
Begun in 1992 as a tribute to hunting, fishing and the Great Outdoors, Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo celebrates its sixteenth anniversary this year. Texas Parks and Wildlife headquarters in Austin will be transformed into the site of the largest event of its kind in the nation. Last year over 35,000 visitors enjoyed Expo! For information about the 2007 Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo, contact Director, Ernie Gammage at 512-389-4472.
 Austin Green City Festival: October 13th, 2007 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Austin City Hall. Twelve City departments and 35 partnering non-profit organizations will provide a one-stop bonanza of earth-wise information wrapped in fun, music and interesting activities for the entire family.
 Austin Cave Festival: October 27, 2007 from 9am to 4pm (admission is FREE). Each year, The Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and the Texas Cave Management Association hold an event at the Village of Western Oaks Karst Preserve to educate visitors about the importance and sensitivity of the aquifer and its recharge features. The day’s events feature informational booths from local organizations, activities for children, and short adventures into the Preserve’s Live Oak Cave and Get Down Caves. The Karst Preserve is located at La Cresada and Davis Lane just west of Mopac.
|
| ABOUT US |
Hill Country Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust committed to preserving the natural beauty and open spaces of the Texas Hill Country forever. But more importantly, we are a group of unexpected partners united in a common goal. We are members of the business, real estate and environmental communities working together to protect our land and our economy. Through the contributions of our Strategic Partners, HCC is working to preserve open space for all Central Texans to enjoy. For more information about HCC, visit our website.
|
|
| Greetings From the President |
 |
|
We are back to you with this Newsletter after a brief summer hiatus, and you can expect quarterly installments as we move forward.
These are exciting times at HCC as we make great progress with Walk-For-A-Day, the prospective 33 mile trail from the Barton Springs pool to FM 150 in Hays County, as well as many other acquisition projects.
The main topic for this Newsletter was an obvious one. We honor Mr. Lynn Storm and his family for all that they have done for HCC and land conservation in Central Texas. It was my great privilege to tour the Storm Ranch in 2006 with Mr. Storm, his son, Scott, and Robin Rather. Mr. Storm was a true gentleman, a lively conversationalist and a great steward of the land. He will be sorely missed. His legacy lives on through his family and the land that he loved and preserved.
Warm Regards
Steve Drenner
President
Hill Country Conservancy
|
|
