Exploring the many crops of the Lone Star State
By Jessica Domel
You never know what you’re going to find on the back roads of Texas. I’ve lived in this state my entire life, and every time we go on a trip, I find something new at which to marvel. Sometimes I feel like a little kid because I get so excited learning about the different foods grown in the Lone Star State.
read moreMeet a Texas catfish farmer: Darrell Bowers
By Amanda Hill
When you think of agriculture in Texas, you probably think of cattle and cotton–maybe even corn and pecans. But what about catfish? Yes, there are catfish farmers here in the Lone Star State, working hard to make sure you can get fresh fish from their ponds to your table in just two days. Now that’s local food!
Meet Texas catfish farmer Darrell Bowers. Darrell and his wife, Lindsey, own and operate the second-largest catfish farm in the state. (His uncle owns the largest.) The Bowers are proud to be involved in agriculture and like talking about what they do on their farm.
read moreGiving thanks
By Jessica Domel
If you’ve been on Facebook at all lately, you’ve most likely seen dozens of posts from people who are part of an ongoing project during the month of November where they post each day about things for which they are thankful. I haven’t joined in yet, but I think the project has merit.
There are so many things to be thankful for each and every day. Currently, I’m thankful that Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. I’m craving a piece of my aunt’s delicious pecan pie.
read moreMeet a Texas pumpkin farmer: Jason Pyle
By Amanda Hill
Halloween is almost here! The candy is overflowing from its bowl by the door, the perfect costumes have been laid out for a night of “trick or treating” and the jack-o-lanterns are shining on the porch from their goofy—or spooky—faces.
Did you know that your carefully carved pumpkins may have started in a patch right here in the Lone Star State?
Meet Jason Pyle, a Texas pumpkin grower and Floyd County Farm Bureau member, who tends his fields to be sure you and your family enjoy the perfect fall pumpkin.
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Thank you, farmers
By Jessica Domel
Farming is harder, and more labor-intensive, than it looks. I know it seems pretty obvious, but I’ve spent a lot of time on our family’s farm, and I have to say, even I was shocked by the amount of tasks farmers accomplish in a single day. I’ve spent the greater part of the past two weeks traveling the state–from Harlingen to Lubbock–interviewing farmers about what they do for our Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher competition. It’s been very interesting, to say the least. For the first time in my life, I touched sugar cane, which is much taller than you think. In Mercedes, near Harlingen, there were stalks about eight feet high.
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