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FARMING ON THE HIGH PLAINS OF TEXAS • DECEMBER 2014 • ISSUE 2, VOLUME 1 HIGHPLAINSAG.COM
A WIN FOR CORN FIELD TO FORK RECIPE PEANUTTY NOVEMBER COTTON’S ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
A FA R M E R F R O M M O R TO N
Curtis Griffith is much more than just a banker; he maintains a commercial drivers license and you can find him driving a module truck and working around his gin, Southwest Gin, near Morton, Texas.
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INSIDE: HIGH PLAINS AG MAGAZINE Efficient.Effective.Proven
Cotton
Curtis Griffith
Sorghum
Peanuts
Corn
Grapes
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14
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Agriculture In Schools...................................... p16 Photos From The Field...................................... p16 Cattle....................................................................... p17 Harvesting............................................................. p17 Field To Fork.......................................................... p18 Extension Update............................................... p18 Out and About...................................................... p19
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High Plains Ag Magazine, based in Lubbock, Texas, is proud to feature local articles about farming and ranching on the High Plains of Texas. For more information, please contact one of the representatives below:
Rowdy Bolen - Publisher, 806-687-4814, rowdy@texasautoguide.com Anthony Maye - Sales, 806-687-4814, anthony@highplainsag.com Elaine Witherspoon - Sales, 806-687-4814, elaine@texasautoguide.com High Plains Ag Magazine Po Box 16381 Lubbock, Texas 79490 http://www.HighPlainsAg.com
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COTTON
Photo By Mary Jane Buerkle
With Cotton, the possibilities for both the fiber and the seed are endless. During fall and early winter, you can drive down just about any road on the Texas High Plains and see vast fields of cotton waiting for harvest. Producers in this region produce, on average, about 4 million bales of the fluffy, white fiber per year, which is usually about 25 to 30 percent of the nation’s crop.
75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen.
One clothing line that is relatively new for the cotton industry is Under Armour Charged Cotton. The Charged Cotton line was born because of technology created through research by Cotton Incorporated. After a campaign launched by Under Armour that touted cotton as “the enemy,” the company realized their consumers actually liked wearing cotton, but it didn’t perform well as athletic apparel, so they and Cotton Incorporated teamed up to create the world’s first true performance cotton athletic apparel. The 95% cotton and 5% elastane blend is woven with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers that dries up to five times faster than a regular cotton shirt. Area consumers can find Under Armour’s Charged Cotton line at several local retailers and also online.
After harvest, the cotton is packed into modules and transported to the gin, where the seed is separated from the lint. Most of the fiber is spun into yarn, which is then woven into fabric. The seed mostly is processed into oil, meal, and other useful products, or fed directly to livestock. With the Christmas shopping season upon us, whether you’re taking advantage of a sale to purchase something for yourself or satisfying a loved one’s Christmas wish list, consider something made from cotton. This could be a pair of trendy jeans, a set of soft cotton towels or sheets, something for your favorite foodie, or even cold, hard cash – money is made of
Another product, released just last year, is a new line of flavored cottonseed oils from Acala Farms. These oils are hearthealthy with zero cholesterol and zero
, d n a L Yo u r l e n d e r yo u r
All of these ideas simply are examples of how our area’s most prominent crop finds its way to our everyday lives, and every time you choose to buy a product that includes cotton, you are helping support your local cotton industry. ______________________________ Mary Jane Buerkle, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. 806-792-4904 - maryjane@plainscotton.org Lubbock, Texas
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trans fat, and have a high smoke point. They come in fun flavors including fried shallot, hot habanero, jalapeno lime, sweet guajillo pepper, toasted cumin, smoky chipotle, fresh roasted garlic, chili cumin, fresh cilantro and curry spice, in addition to plain, pure cottonseed oil. Some suggested uses include drizzling it on warm pasta, steamed vegetables, popcorn or salad, or using it in cooking various meats. While Lubbock-area retailers have yet to bring the oils to their store shelves, you can find them online at acala-farms.com.
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2014 / Page 7
GRAIN SORGHUM
Photo By United Sorghum Checkoff Program
Maximizing Water Efficiency Rain or Shine with Sorghum Over the last couple of years, Sorghum has been a leading crop producer come rain or shine. With the recent prolonged drought, sorghum has grown well with minimal rainfall and even better under irrigation. Sorghum, is among the most efficient crops in conversion of solar energy and use of water. It is also known as a high-energy, drought tolerant crop.
water and pending regulatory water use limitations.
5. Sorghum’s fibrous root system increases its ability to mine water.
On the High Plains, Sorghum has been adapted to our semi-arid region and has grown well with its drought tolerance compared with other major grain crops.
6. It only takes 6 inches of total water to produce the first bushel of grain sorghum, making it suitable for harsh climates.
Here are 9 facts about Sorghum:
Sorghum’s water use characteristics make it an excellent crop for a wide range of irrigation scenarios. Sorghum yields reliably under dryland conditions in many semi-arid environments (greater than 15 inches annual precipitation) can be managed to reach significant yield potential under full irrigation. Because of its water use versatility, it fits well into many cropping and irrigation patterns, a valuable trait considering current trends of declining ground-
1. Smaller leaf pores reduce sorghum’s water loss.
7. Sorghum has a long planting season and diverse hybrid portfolio, offering farmers a broad window to take advantage of moisture patterns.
8. In low water settings, sorghum can produce more grain per inch 2. Dormancy traits allow sorghum to than comparable grain crops. tolerate stressful conditions. 9. When incorporated into a crop3. Waxy leaves hold in moisture ping mix, sorghum stover (stalk) will during dry conditions. increase soil water holding capacity and reduce runoff. ______________________________ 4. The DNA composition of sorghum attributes to beneficial qualiSorghum Facts Provided By Sorghum Checkoff. ties such as stay green, drought and Rowdy Bolen, High Plains Ag Magazine heat tolerence.
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PEANUTS
Meteorologist Nikki Dee Ray of Lubbock’s KLBK News holds her National Peanut Butter Month Basket in a photo posted to Instagram.
A Nutty November for Texas Peanut Producers Why was November such a great month for the young and old alike? Because peanut butter lovers across the nation got to indulge in America’s favorite food while celebrating National Peanut Butter Lovers Month! National Peanut Butter Lovers Month began when the Southern Peanut Growers, representing southeastern peanut farmers, started the celebration as Peanut Butter Lovers Day on Nov. 4, 1990. Why did they pick that particular date? Nov. 4 marks the anniversary of the first patent for peanut butter, applied for by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg on Nov. 4, 1895. Peanut Butter Lovers Day grew to a month-long celebration in 1995 when peanut butter celebrated its 100th birthday.
years, we have developed relationships with many of our meteorologists who look forward to their baskets each year.” With the items included in the National Peanut Butter Lovers Month baskets, news stations were better equipped to help spread the word about the benefits of peanut butter to consumers via a variety of media including television, radio, blogs and social media posts.
“We believe our National Peanut Butter Lovers Month promotion gives meteorologists the tools they need to promote not only National Peanut Butter Lovers month, but also the peanut industry as a whole,” Nutt says. “In the past we’ve had everything from news coverage to blog posts and even social media mentions, all of which help get peanut butter in front of the public.”
In the spirit of the month, the Texas Peanut Producers Board continued its tradition of sending baskets filled with Not only do the baskets help promote peanut butter products to meteorologists TPPB and National Peanut Butter Lovers statewide. Month, Texas peanut products are also used in the baskets, which gives their “The National Peanut Butter Lovers makers media coverage as well. Through Month baskets are a great way for peanut this media coverage, TPPB hopes to farmers to get the word out about the encourage consumers to purchase more benefits of peanut butter,” Shelly Nutt, products made with Texas peanuts TPPB executive director, says. “Over the throughout the year, bettering the market
for Texas peanut growers. “This year was the first time that our baskets have been made up of entirely Texas-made products,” Nutt says. “We’re proud to be able to highlight growers through this promotion as well as the people who use our peanuts in their own businesses.” The baskets delivered to the stations included Goodart’s Texas-shaped peanut patties, TPPB peanut packets, cans of Lord Nut Levington peanut mix, bags of Picoso’s roasted in-shell peanuts, bags of Picoso’s hot chili mix peanuts, jars of Gaines Co. peanut butter and bags of Glueck jalapeño peanut brittle as well as a peanut butter factoid with the TPPB logo prominently displayed. Though National Peanut Butter Lovers Month may have come and gone, that is no reason to not enjoy the delicious and nutritious peanut butter! Visit TexasPeanutBoard.com for more wonderful ways to enjoy the always versatile peanut! ______________________________ Lynsey Meharg, Communications Clerk Texas Peanut Producers Board, Lubbock, Texas
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CORN
CPAT member Dee Vaughan, CPAT executive vice president David Gibson and Rep. Mike Conaway visited during CPAT congressional visits in Washington, D.C.
Election Results a Win for Texas Corn Producers
With agriculture seeming to be a polarizing issue in politics recently, it is necessary for those working as advocates for agriculture to be bipartisan. The Corn Producers Association of Texas strives to work with people from both sides of the aisle to promote support of policy issues affecting agriculturalists. However, with the recent election results, it looks like CPAT may have additional support.
“We are very pleased with this election because a lot of our good friends who helped us with the farm bill were re-elected,” Dee Vaughan, a Dumas farmer and CPAT director, says. “These guys understand agriculture, they’re our friends and we have developed close relationships with them. It is very positive for agriculturalists that they will be serving in their elected positions during the coming term.” One political success for agriculture comes with the re-election of Rep. Mike
Conaway who will serve in the coming term as the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
“We’re very excited that Rep. Conaway was re-elected and will assume the role as Chairman of the House Ag Committee when they begin session in January,” Vaughan says. “We have a long history of good friends to agriculture chairing the House Ag Committee and serving as ranking members in the committee as well. Rep. Conaway has already named a number of his key staff members and we are well acquainted with many of them.” One of the things that will be very positive coming out of this election is that with the Senate under Republican control, agriculture will definitely have help with both helpful and harmful regulatory issues. “The House has passed repeatedly over the last several years a bill that would
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rein in the Environmental Protection Agency’s overreach, but, because of the nature of government, the Senate never took those bills up,” Vaughan says. “The Senate, under Republican control, has already made it clear that one of their goals will be to strive to keep the EPA from overreaching, which is very good news for agriculturalists.” “Working together, across party lines, to better agriculture as a whole is something everyone in agriculture can agree is an important issue.” Vaughan says. “Regardless of the challenges and opportunities in each Congress, it is vital that we continue to work with our friends to advance the issues that are important to both Texas farmers and American agriculture.” ______________________________
Lynsey Meharg, Communications Clerk Texas Corn Producers Board Corn Producers Association of Texas Lubbock, Texas
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WINE GRAPES
From Grape to Glass – A Growers Perspective It’s a bit of the norm for the High Plains, a largely row crop driven region, for a farmer to finalize his season by delivering his goods to an industrial drop off point. Similarly a High Plains wine grape grower usually ends his season with the delivering of fruit to a winery. Area High Plains growers are also similar to row crop farmers in the fact that as cotton growers look to deliver quality fibre characteristics, wine growers must produce grapes with characteristics defined by the winery.
crop farmer, Andy Timmons. Andy has completed the grape to glass operation with his notable property Lost Draw Vineyards and Lost Draw Cellars Winery.
It is a rarity for someone in the agriculture industry to be able to merge both the growth of a commodity and delivery of a product.
Andy has been a leader on the High Plains for wine grapes and grape growers by introducing frost technology via wind machines to help stave off the ever threatening spring freezes. Also now an advantageous partnership with commercial farmer,
But one has emerged on the High Plains, a Brownfield native and row
We visited with Andy about this brave venture and the new ability he has to control a products quality from vine to glass. His fruit has long since carried the reputation of quality among many statewide Texas wineries and it seems apparent that he will continue that quality now to the bottle.
Matt Adams, planting 400 acres of new vines in 2014. A vineyard planting of this historic size will establish a bulk juice market never before available with Texas fruit. In this two part series we’ll visit with Andy regarding this large new planting, quality of High Plains wine grapes and his perspective of wine grower turned retailer. Investigate on your own at lostdrawcellars.com & facebook.com/LostDrawVineyards ______________________________ Katy Jane Seaton of Farmhouse Vineyards is a transplant from the Hill Country Wine region after eloping with a West Texas grape grower. More often than not, she has much to say on social media platforms. Facebook.com/SeatonFarmandVine
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FEATURE FARMER
CURTIS
Photos By: Belinda Maye
GRIFFITH JUST A FARMER FROM MORTON
There is no doubt Curtis Griffith is kept busy with the continued growth of City Bank, with 36 banking and mortgage lending locations in Texas and New Mexico, but do not let the suit and tie fool you. Griffith is much more than just a banker; he maintains a commercial drivers license and you can find him driving a module truck and working around his gin, Southwest Gin, near Morton, Texas. Born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised near Morton, Griffith grew up farming in a generational farming family. He distinctly remembers a conversation with a high school counselor saying the one thing he did not want to do was attend Texas Tech and major in agriculture economics. Page 14 \ December
2014 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
Now a Texas Tech alumnus with degrees in agriculture economics and law, Griffith is actively involved in multiple businesses including City Bank, Southwest Gin, his family farm and Module Truck Systems. When asked about time management, he will humbly admit that he sometimes does that poorly, but “ I am very blessed to have a great management group around me.” While the bulk of his time was spent on the farm immediately after college, Griffith’s transition into banking was something he did not envision. As time passed, however, he found himself utilizing his knowledge from farming to aid in his banking career. “Too often, I think, in non-agriculture business, we fall into the trap of trying to
judge our financial success on a quarter by quarter basis. Farming has certainly ingrained in me that that’s not the right way to look at it.” He said when talking about the impact of farming on his life and his banking career. “If you’re going to throw your hands up the first time things go wrong, you won’t make it in farming and I think you’ll see you won’t make it in business either.” There are clear challenges in the High Plains farming market right now such as the depressed market price for cotton, the fall in grain prices from their highs, and the declining water supply. Griffith explained things have changed from his father’s days, “Our production cost per acre for irrigated agriculture here on the High Plains has multiplied by a factor of at least 8; unfortunately, our commodity prices have not.” Griffith also gave advise on the new farm program that will bring significant changes in the coming year. He pointed out that the program will be like a version of insurance and farmer’s need to have a good relationship with their crop insurance agent and be sure the agent can explain all the options. Having a workable production and insurance plan is crucial to the High Plains farmer, but Griffith said it will not be inexpensive. With the many difficulties and uncontrollable factors of the High Plains, Griffith is sometimes asked by people in other parts of the country why he stayed around Lubbock. He proudly said that besides the fact that he was born and raised here, “What we lack in scenery,
we more than make up for in quality of people.” He went on to explain how the rest of the world has an image of the High Plains to be a lone cowboy out on a horse. “They’ve got it wrong. An early settler out here didn’t survive and succeed by being a lone pioneer out by themselves. You survived by having some kind of neighbor, somebody who would help you out when you needed it and you helped them out when they needed it,” said Griffith. He believes that on the High Plains, people hold high standards for themselves and that the spirit of the High Plains is still here.
to be worried!” he laughed. Though the world is continuously changing, Griffith believes every generation figures out a way to go on and he has hope for the future.
_____________________________ Hayley Magness Agricultural Communications Student Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
He went on to share that he has learned that most problems are not as big as they seem when you are thinking about them and that time cures a lot of ills. A hard one he said he learned was having the right people around you often matters more than always making the right decisions because those people will save you from your bad decisions. Griffith still has some things on his “bucket list,” including traveling to Europe to see the historical sights and treasures. He also hopes he will get to stick around long enough to see the accomplishments of his five grandchildren. Despite his busy life, Griffith will tell you he feels no stress or pressure. With a positive mix of humility and pride, Griffith said he has been married now over 43 years to the best person he knows, he has reasonably good health, and he knows where he will go when he dies. “I have no reason
www.HighPlainsAg.com / December
2014 / Page 15
AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS
Area I FFA Prepares for LDE Contest Whitharrel FFA, along with many other schools will all be competing Nov. 22 at West Texas A&M with the opportunity to advance to the state level.
It is that time of year again for high school agricultural science teachers and students alike to prepare for leadership development contest (LDE’s). Whitharral agriculture teacher and Area I FFA Association coordinator, Kyle Bates, said he sees a promising year for the Area I FFA Association throughout the fall LDE season. “As an area, we are going to send the best teams to compete at state,” Bates said.
These contests focus on various types of leadership in the agricultural industry. Some contests available to students are public relations, chapter conducting, creed speaking and agricultural advocacy. Bates said, “this is a perfect opportunity for students to practice leadership skills that will benefit them forever.” “I have a student that has never been in a speaking contest, but we have made a speaker out of him and that’s something
to be proud of,” Bates said. Students from all over the country have become increasingly interested in FFA leadership contest. In Texas, approximately 95% of all chapters compete in LDE contests and the number is rising yearly. Beyond the state level, FFA is the largest youth organization in the country.
“Success breeds success,” Bates said. “We go to all the conventions and contests and we are successful at it, so kids want to be a part of that.” ______________________________ Kayla M. Wilkins Agricultural Communications Student Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
FARM PHOTOS - SUBMIT YOUR PICTURE VIA WWW.HIGHPLAINSAG.COM
Tristan Neal swimming in cotton.
Jordan Harder harvesting cotton near Plainview
Harvesting Grain in Bailey County submitted by Brandi Claunch.
Berkley Bird training her show steer.
Page 16 \ December Untitled-4 1
2014 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com
Tahoka’s Remington Stone inspects this years crop.
10/17/2014 4:33:06 PM
CATTLE OPERATIONS
Bird Cattle: Breeding A Family Business return on investment this year. Breeders were buying embryos for $1,000 a piece.”
This December, cattle producers are focused on local and online cattle sales, as well as upcoming livestock shows. Fifth generation rancher Brandon Bird of Bird Cattle said they had a successful genetic online sale this past November. “The commercial market is higher,” Bird said, “so we are seeing a higher
HARVESTING
The overall technology in cotton harvesting in the last 5 years has been focused on efficiency of getting the crop out of the field. These changes are very apparent as you drive down many of our High Plains roads. The most significant of these changes are the amount of acreage changing from stripper machines to picker machines. The incline towards picked cotton and stripped cotton has been easy to notice
London, about show cattle.“I showed steers growing up,” Bird said, “and now my daughter Berkley is old enough to start showing. We are focusing on getting ready for the major shows.”
Show steers purchased from Bird Cattle typically perform well at stock shows, averaging two to three champions or reserve breed champions each year, Bird said. In 2014, one steer took Reserve Champion Simmental at the Houston Livestock Show, and another took Reserve Champion Simmental at the San Antonio Livestock Expo.
Bird said he credits his success to his dedicated employees, Josh Lesky, Cindy Bird and Eddy Bohanan. “There is no way I could do it without the people I work with or my loving wife, Lindsay,” Bird said. _______________________________
As the head of a family-run operation, Bird enjoys teaching his two daughters, 8-year-old Berkley and 6-year-old
Michelle Hochstein Agricultural Communications Student Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Technology changing the landscape
owners in Seminole, Texas. The landscape of the High Plains constantly revolves around elements that are sometimes uncontrollable. Rainfall, weather, commodity prices are all variables that sometimes dictate to a farmer what they will plant and how they will harvest it. In this circumstance the landscape is changing by the initiative of the High Plains farmer to ensure that they lead the world in harvesting technology and to ensure that their crop is at the highest level of quality.
because of the distinction of round modules in the field. A new twist this year, the introduction of machines like the John Deere CS690, which is a nonstop harvesting round module stripper. “This new technology enables cotton producers to harvest cotton using the manpower of only one person, and maybe an additional person for staging,” said Meadow Farmer’s Co-Op Gin Manager Dan Jackson. Due to the growth of the oil industry near the High Plains, labor has been an increasing issue for the High Plains farmer. “Farmers can’t afford to pay what the oil companies are paying, so this makes labor very hard to find,” said Jade Froman, one of 50 Ocho Gin
___________________________________ Co-Contributors, Peyton Waldrip - Agricultural Communications Student, Texas Tech University
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2014 / Page 17
FIELD TO FORK - This Month’s Food Recipe...Turkey Soup This turkey soup recipe is very flexible, just add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Experiment with your favorite spices and ingredients. The basics are the turkey carcass, onions, and rice. I usually throw in what I have on hand and it turns out great every time. It is a real fool proof recipe! What do you do with your Thanksgiving turkey after you have carved as much meat off as possible? You know there is still some on it. Do you give it to the dogs? Do you toss it? Before you do either - try this Turkey Soup recipe. Served with bread, rolls, or muffins, it is an after Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition for our family.
I normally simmer this recipe most if not all day. A slow cooking seems to release more flavor from the carcass and the meat left just falls off. ___________________________________ Dina-Marie Oswald owns a blog website, www.myculturedpalate.com, where she publishes recipes and posts about her family in Meadow, Tx.
INGREDIENTS: • 1 turkey carcass (with a little meat left on) • 4 onions, chopped • 3 cups of rice • celery (optional) • carrots, chopped (optional) • salt to taste • pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS: • Place all ingredients except the rice in stock pot. • Add enough water to cover plus several cups. • Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. • Simmer 1 - 6 hours. • Add the rice 30 minutes before serving. • Cook until rice is done. • Stir frequently and check water level. • Add more water as necessary.
EXTENSION UPDATE Floyd County: Farmers in Floyd County are working hard to get the cotton and sorghum out of the field. So far, the quality of cotton has been average to good, Extension Agent Cristen Brooks said, with average yields for irrigated cotton are at two to three bales. Unfortunately, the previous rains, snow and freezing temperatures are not allowing the cotton to dry as quickly. Therefore, harvests will run late, with many producers harvesting into December. ____________________________ Garza County: With a majority of rangeland in Garza County, Extension Agent Greg Jones said he is finishing the first year of the Texas Quail Index, a two-year program that monitors quail habitats by performing spring and fall
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quail counts, observing nesting patterns, and evaluating predators. He said the overall nesting cover has grown mainly due to the increase in rainfall. ____________________________ Hale: Hale County farmers are focusing on getting finished with the harvest, which has been prolonged due to the fact that the majority of the sorghum and cotton fields were planted later in the season, agent Blayne Reed said. As of Nov. 20, less than 20 percent of the cotton has been harvested. Of that cotton, quality and yield has been average. ____________________________ Lubbock County: Producers in Lubbock County are focusing on getting their cotton off the stalk, Extension Agent
Mark Brown said. Despite the snow and ice in early November, the gins continued to run, and USDA daily shipments are continuing to increase. In addition, Brown said, he is preparing for the December Farm Bill Meeting that will take place at 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture, where he expects over 100 producers. ____________________________ Dawson County Not Available. Terry County Not Available. Lamb County Not Available. Hockley County Not Available. ____________________________ Michelle Hochstein Agricultural Communications Student Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
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OUT AND ABOUT It’s a great treasure that I hold deep in my heart. The time and memories we’ve spent hunting are an important part of my life and I understand why he took me hunting with him every weekend. Now, I’m a parent and have two girls, 13, 11 and a 9 month old boy. I truly love the outdoors. Whether it be hunting, fishing, farming, ranching, sports or just being outside, I find myself in my element. I’ve been a hunter since I was young. It’s in my DNA. I took my first deer, a spike, at 7 years old under a live oak tree overlooking an oat field and have hunted every year since. My dad would take my brother and I to our family ranches in Junction, Rankin or our place west of McCamey every chance he could. He enjoyed the moment of spending time hunting with his kids, just as his grandparents had taught him how to hunt.
My daughters wear pink but love a good camo pattern just as much. They have camo coveralls, jackets, shirts, jeans, gloves, hats and boots. I introduced them to hunting (and venison) when they were young and it’s now something they enjoy doing with me, my dad and my brother. My oldest daughter has taken 3 deer an 8 point, a 9 point and a doe and my youngest daughter is still working on her first deer, which she hopes to get this year. I recently purchased a small ranch near Aspermont, East of Lubbock about 120 miles. Our family has always been
blessed to own land but I wanted to buy my own to pass down to my kids one day. This being my first hunting season at the new ranch, I was speechless when this fantastic 10 point whitetail walked in. The fact that my girls were there with me was one of the best moments I’ve ever spent with them. The excitement in their voices showed they enjoyed the moment just as much as I did. Some of you, I know are not hunters and I respect that. We on the other hand are a family of hunters. And the moments I spend outdoors, I will treasure for the rest of my life. I ask that you take a kid hunting, fishing, to the family farm or hiking outdoors. The moments you spend will create memories that will last forever.
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Rowdy Bolen - Publisher, High Plains Ag
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