Get every new episode, plus what's happening in Midland, every Tuesday morning.
Free. One email a week.
Episode Summary
John Scharbauer comes from one of the families most woven into the story of Midland. In this episode, Ryan and Terra sit down with John to trace a ranching legacy that runs back to the 1880s (from early sheep farming to the Wagyu bulls in the herd today) and to talk about what it means to keep building in a place your family helped build. The conversation moves from the realities of the cattle industry to the family’s newest ventures in town, including the butcher shop and restaurant Midland Meat Co and a multi-sport facility for local kids.
About the Guest
John Scharbauer is a member of the Scharbauer family, whose name has been tied to Midland since the late nineteenth century. The family’s roots are in cattle ranching, but their fingerprints are all over the city’s development: a radio station, a hotel, and decades of investment in the community. More recently, John has been part of opening Midland Meat Co, a butcher shop and restaurant, and helping launch the Midland Athletic Syndicate, a youth sports project aimed at the next generation of Midlanders.
Key Takeaways
- A ranching legacy that adapts. The Scharbauer family’s cattle history stretches back to the 1880s, beginning with sheep before moving into cattle. Bringing Wagyu bulls into the herd is the latest chapter in a long pattern of adapting rather than standing still.
- The family helped build Midland, not just ranch near it. Beyond the ranch, the Scharbauers have been behind infrastructure that shaped the city, from starting a radio station to building a hotel, a reminder that Midland’s growth has often been driven by local families reinvesting at home.
- Midland Meat Co brought the ranch to the table. Opening a butcher shop and restaurant let the family carry their cattle story all the way to the plate. John is candid about how hard running a restaurant actually is, even with the supply side in the family.
- The cattle industry is more complicated than it looks. From herd genetics to market forces, John walks through why raising beef well is a long game with a lot of moving parts most people never see.
- Investing in Midland’s youth. The Midland Athletic Syndicate, a multi-sport facility for kids, reflects the family’s habit of building things meant to outlast them, this time aimed squarely at the next generation.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Midland Meat Co: the family’s butcher shop and restaurant
- Midland Athletic Syndicate: a youth multi-sport facility in development
- The Scharbauer family ranching operations: cattle and Wagyu
Liked this conversation? New episodes land in the Tuesday email first.
Join locals who read Best of Midland every Tuesday.
Visit Midland Meat Company: hours, directions and what's coming up, in our directory.
