In keeping with the long history of leadership and philanthropy of King Ranch—one of the birthplaces of the American ranching industry—the King Ranch family wished to give back to the ranching community in celebration of its 150^th Anniversary. The King Ranch^® Institute for Ranch Management was created and endowed in 2003 by King Ranch family and friends in collaboration with Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Learn more about the program and the dedicated professionals who fulfill KRIRM's mission below.

Sustaining our ranching heritage through education, innovation, and outreach.

Our program was created to educate the next generation of ranch managers, and we remain the only Master of Science in Ranch Management program in the world. The King Ranch^® Institute for Ranch Management teaches graduate students using a multi-disciplinary, systems approach to ranch management. Our alumni are progressive leaders and exceptional managers at some of the most diverse ranches in the country. We accept mature and experienced students with ranch management experience, and teach them the skills necessary to elevate their career and make a positive impact on the ranching industry.

We also provide the highest quality lectureships and symposia to stakeholders in the ranching industry. We serve the ranching industry by empowering graduate students and outreach attendees with skills that will enable them to strategically manage complex ranching operations and successfully lead our industry.

To support our education and outreach efforts, we conduct applied research to generate innovative solutions for the most challenging problems facing our industry.

The outreach component was part of the original KRIRM model with the annual Holt Cat^® Symposium on Excellence in Ranch Management as the showcase event of the year. As we worked toward our mission of educating ranching industry stakeholders the first few years of KRIRM, the idea of an endowed lectureship series came to fruition. We now offer 5-8 lectureships per year, each addressing current and dynamic issues facing the industry. Through these rancher learning opportunities, we equip event attendees with resources and skills to be successful ranchers and impactful leaders. A certificate option is also available through the Texas Farm Credit Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management for those who wish to complete multiple events.

Each year our lectureships and symposia provide opportunities for hands-on, applied learning covering a wide-range of topics. To provide the very best, comprehensive education, to attendees and our students, we partner with industry leaders of their respective fields to lead our outreach events.

Since the first class of ranch management students began the program in 2004, KRIRM has graduated 56 students. Collectively, KRIRM alumni manage 9 million acres of ranchland and wildlife habitat; 240,000 breeding cows; 1200 horses; and 850 employees.