Astro's Carlos Lee donates to help ranchers hurt by Ike

Houston Chronicle:

As the ranching industry in Jefferson and Chambers counties deals with the devastation left by Hurricane Ike, Astros left fielder Carlos Lee has stepped up to donate hay and lend his name to shine a light on the struggles being faced by fellow cattlemen.

In Jefferson and Chambers counties, there are at least 20,000 cattle in need of hay, feed and water; they also need to be moved, so the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is working with the Texas Department of Agriculture on farm relief.

Lee, who has ranches in Boling and his native Panama, is donating hay and planning fundraisers for the affected cattlemen in Chambers and Jefferson counties.

"Right now hay's probably the main thing they need," said TSCRA president Dave Scott of Richmond. "Most of these cattle will have to leave this area. This area is devastated. The salt water has ruined over 85 percent of the range area, so it's ruined for at least a year."

Lee, currently on the disabled list with the Astros, learned of the relief effort while visiting his friends at the J.D. Hudgins Ranch in Hungerford on Thursday. He volunteered to donate hay when asked by Coleman Locke, the president of the ranch and a member of the cattle association's Board of Directors.

"Carlos is a good friend and a fellow cattleman," Locke said. "When we told Carlos of the problem, he was very sympathetic (to) the cattleman in that area. There's no grass there. It's all under salt water and there's no feed for them. In those two counties there are about 20,000 cattle that have been displaced.

"We need donations of hay and feed or money and there is a fund being put together to pay for hay and feed or trucking. A lot of people have donated hay. Other companies are donating their trucking to help get the cattle out of there."

Lee, a major player in the Brahman-breeding and show barn circuit, plans to ask the Astros to set up a booth at Minute Maid Park next week for silent auctions to raise awareness on ranch trouble in Jefferson and Chambers counties. Lee said hay, feed, supplies and troughs are needed.

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There is more. The loss of range due to the salt water tells you something about the magnitude of the surge tide that swept that part of Texas. Lee is a big time rancher as well as big league ball player. He also shows he has a generous heart. The Astro organization has donated $1 million to hurricane relief and the Houston Rockets helped to distribute 80,000 pounds of releif supplies.