National Ranching Heritage Center – Lubbock, Texas

Project Overview:

The Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center is an indoor–outdoor museum environment that immerses visitors in the daily life, work, and ecology of a modern ranch. Prairie Workshop worked closely with the National Ranching Heritage Center’s director and education team to intentionally shape the design, ensuring that every outdoor element supported the exhibit’s learning goals. The firm provided early concept sketches to assist with fundraising and continues to support the site as both consultant and volunteer.

Design Intent:

The project was inspired by Hank the Cowdog—the beloved literary character created by John R. Erickson—and built around the idea of bringing Hank’s ranch to life as an interactive environment where visitors can explore the question, “What is a ranch?”
Erickson and the National Ranching Heritage Center partnered to develop the Ranch Life Learning program, an educational initiative that helps elementary students build agricultural literacy through storytelling.

Prairie Workshop collaborated with a multidisciplinary design team—including museum exhibit designers, graphic artists, architects, and engineers—to translate that educational vision into real spaces. The resulting landscape weaves pastures, corrals, windmills, and water features into an authentic West Texas setting that honors both ranching heritage and Hank’s humor and heart.

Key Sustainability Features:

watershed education, use of native plant materials / water-wise landscape, permeable paving materials