Gonzales’ Graham Land & Cattle is ‘BBQuest’ landing spot

Gonzales-based Graham Land & Cattle will be featured on a Season 3 episode of the popular TV series BBQuest this summer, the Texas Beef Council announced.

BBQuest host Kelsey Pribilski and co-host Jess Pryles, a live fire cook and author of Hardcore Carnivore, visited Graham Land & Cattle in March.

The business will be the featured ranch on Episode 2, whose theme is “Creativity & Innovation.” Also featured on that episode will be restaurants Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar (Austin, Dallas and Houston), Blood Bros. BBQ (Houston) and Curry Boys BBQ (San Antonio).

Pribilski and Pryles will delve even deeper into the world of Texas barbecue, discovering stories of dedicated pitmasters and ranchers who make the state’s favorite staple so special while enjoying some delicious meals along the way.

“Rather than organizing this season’s episodes around a particular geographical location, we’re focusing more on the storytelling component,” said Rachel Chou, TBC’s director of consumer marketing. “Each BBQuest episode will center around a different uniting theme, allowing the co-hosts to discover what really makes Texas barbecue so unique. Kelsey and Jess will still visit some of our state’s best barbecue joints, but they’ll also stop in at nearby cattle ranches to highlight the beef producers who make it all possible.”

TBC and its BBQuest production team chose the Texas barbecue restaurants that will be featured during Season 3 based on recent accolades and rankings. These restaurants represent a range of both old- and new-school preparation, smoking methods and flavor profiles.

The ranches that BBQuest will visit this season were selected based on their histories and backgrounds.

Graham Land & Cattle Co. started business in 1987 serving South Texas cattle feeders under the ownership of Dr. Charles W. Graham of Elgin, who bought the former Harrell Cattle Co. The feedyard now has the capacity to feed 30,000 head and background another 15,000 head. Graham Land & Cattle is a licensed feedyard for the Nolan Ryan Tender Aged Beef (NRTAB) program.

“This season’s ranches will include everything from a sixth-generation operation to one owned by a Black female rancher who is breaking down barriers and making a name for herself in what has been an historically male-dominated industry,” Chou said.

“We’re really pleased to introduce this level of diversity to BBQuest while also giving viewers a closer look at beef production practices and the hard work that Texas farmers and ranchers put into their operations each and every day.”

Episode 1 has a theme of “Legacy & Tradition” and will feature the Saunders Ranch (Weatherford) as well as restaurants Micklethwait Craft Meats BBQ (Austin), TRUTH BBQ (Houston) and Pinkerton’s Barbecue (Houston, San Antonio).

Episode 3’s theme is “Texas Trailblazers” and will feature the Caney Creek Ranch (Fairfield). Restaurants include Briscuits (Austin), Interstellar BBQ (Austin) and Goldee’s Barbecue (Fort Worth).

The final episode, Episode 4, is about “Family & Community” and will feature the J.D. Hudgins, Inc. ranch (Hungerford) and restaurants Smoke Shack, Smoke Shack Meat Market (San Antonio) and Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth).

To date, BBQuest has been viewed by fans more than 2.9 million times. BBQuest has received an Award of Excellence from the Communicator Awards, a Gold Hermes Creative Award and recognition as a SABRE Award finalist.

Learn more about BBQuest and watch Seasons 1 and 2 at BeefLovingTexans.com.