1 00:00:02,786 --> 00:00:04,873 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Growing Our Future podcast. 2 00:00:04,873 --> 00:00:08,811 In this show, the Texas FFA Foundation will take on a 3 00:00:08,891 --> 00:00:12,663 journey of exploration into agricultural science, education, 4 00:00:12,663 --> 00:00:15,990 leadership development and insights from subject matter 5 00:00:16,071 --> 00:00:19,669 experts and sponsors who provide the fuel to make dreams come 6 00:00:19,708 --> 00:00:19,969 true. 7 00:00:19,969 --> 00:00:22,344 Here's your host, Aaron Alejandro. 8 00:00:30,170 --> 00:00:33,453 Speaker 2: Well, good morning, good afternoon, good evening or 9 00:00:33,713 --> 00:00:38,457 whenever you may be tuning in to the Growing Our Future podcast. 10 00:00:38,457 --> 00:00:41,347 First, we want to start by saying thank you. 11 00:00:41,347 --> 00:00:44,947 You know, time's the only thing that we get to spend. 12 00:00:44,947 --> 00:00:45,869 We can't save it. 13 00:00:45,869 --> 00:00:51,625 And so the fact that you're spending a little bit of your 14 00:00:51,645 --> 00:00:53,030 time with us today, we want you to know how much we value that. 15 00:00:53,030 --> 00:00:54,636 We also value the time of our incredible guests. 16 00:00:54,636 --> 00:00:55,600 We have guests that are. 17 00:00:56,140 --> 00:00:58,805 They come onto this podcast and they're willing to share their 18 00:00:58,866 --> 00:01:03,103 time, their experiences, their insights, their expertise. 19 00:01:03,103 --> 00:01:06,980 They pour into others and, like we say in the world of 20 00:01:07,081 --> 00:01:11,090 agriculture, if you want to know what the future is, grow it. 21 00:01:11,090 --> 00:01:14,025 If you want to know what the future is, grow it. 22 00:01:14,025 --> 00:01:16,896 Well, to grow something, you got to plant the right seeds, 23 00:01:17,477 --> 00:01:19,242 and that's what this podcast is about. 24 00:01:19,242 --> 00:01:22,930 It's about bringing people on that give us some seeds that we 25 00:01:22,990 --> 00:01:27,364 can put in place in our lives and grow a beautiful life, a 26 00:01:27,403 --> 00:01:29,427 beautiful community and a beautiful future. 27 00:01:29,427 --> 00:01:32,313 Today's guest is no exception. 28 00:01:32,313 --> 00:01:37,950 Folks, y'all are about to meet a legend in the history of Texas 29 00:01:37,950 --> 00:01:41,263 ag, education and FFA, and it won't take you long to 30 00:01:41,304 --> 00:01:44,471 understand why he is, because he's such an incredible 31 00:01:44,551 --> 00:01:48,707 encourager and he's got a great, great background and we're 32 00:01:48,727 --> 00:01:50,191 going to talk about that background. 33 00:01:50,191 --> 00:01:53,828 But, ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor to welcome Dan Taylor 34 00:01:53,909 --> 00:01:54,411 to the show. 35 00:01:54,411 --> 00:01:56,186 Dan, thank you for joining us. 36 00:01:57,061 --> 00:01:59,388 Speaker 3: It's my pleasure and I look forward to it. 37 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,049 Speaker 2: So, dan, you know every one of these episodes we 38 00:02:04,088 --> 00:02:07,965 start off the same way, so you're going to get the same 39 00:02:08,026 --> 00:02:12,900 question everybody else gets, and that question is this Dan 40 00:02:12,941 --> 00:02:16,951 Taylor, what are you grateful for today? 41 00:02:18,461 --> 00:02:21,169 Speaker 3: Well, I'm grateful for lots of things. 42 00:02:21,169 --> 00:02:25,588 One, to live in America, even though we have disarray in 43 00:02:25,609 --> 00:02:28,194 certain things, but America's still the greatest country in 44 00:02:28,215 --> 00:02:29,681 the world, without a doubt. 45 00:02:29,681 --> 00:02:32,748 I'm grateful to have been invited to agriculture. 46 00:02:32,748 --> 00:02:34,612 I'm grateful to my family. 47 00:02:34,612 --> 00:02:39,634 All of my kids and grandkids either have degrees or are 48 00:02:39,675 --> 00:02:44,621 working toward degrees in agriculture, and so it's been a 49 00:02:44,661 --> 00:02:46,353 great life in agriculture, and so it's been a great life in 50 00:02:46,372 --> 00:02:47,239 agriculture. 51 00:02:47,239 --> 00:02:50,409 Many things I'm grateful for in good health. 52 00:02:53,521 --> 00:02:55,489 Speaker 2: Isn't that something when we start with that, Dan? 53 00:02:55,489 --> 00:02:59,944 I don't know, but people that are grateful, they tend to be 54 00:03:00,004 --> 00:03:00,627 more hopeful. 55 00:03:00,627 --> 00:03:04,270 People that are grateful seem to be more energetic. 56 00:03:04,270 --> 00:03:05,826 They look forward to things. 57 00:03:05,826 --> 00:03:07,010 People that don't seem to be more energetic they look forward 58 00:03:07,010 --> 00:03:06,963 to things. 59 00:03:06,963 --> 00:03:09,770 People that don't have a lot of gratefulness they don't always, 60 00:03:09,770 --> 00:03:13,704 they're not always positive, but when you start your day with 61 00:03:13,704 --> 00:03:18,782 a little gratefulness, I think it sets the tone of great things 62 00:03:18,782 --> 00:03:19,764 to happen that day. 63 00:03:19,764 --> 00:03:23,372 And we always start this podcast with gratefulness, 64 00:03:24,181 --> 00:03:26,865 because I think when we all start by reflecting on what 65 00:03:26,925 --> 00:03:31,152 we're appreciative of, it just kind of sets the tone of the 66 00:03:31,212 --> 00:03:32,534 dialogue that we're going to have. 67 00:03:34,420 --> 00:03:36,127 Speaker 3: Yes, without a doubt it does. 68 00:03:37,759 --> 00:03:42,768 Speaker 2: So Dan Taylor my goodness, dan Taylor's got a 69 00:03:42,948 --> 00:03:47,335 life journey here, folks, that we're about to share with y'all. 70 00:03:47,335 --> 00:03:50,566 And it goes back and he's going to start. 71 00:03:50,566 --> 00:03:52,792 Dan, I want you to start and tell us a little bit. 72 00:03:52,792 --> 00:03:55,145 You're a successful businessman . 73 00:03:55,145 --> 00:03:58,293 You've been a former agricultural science teacher. 74 00:03:58,293 --> 00:04:00,685 You are a philanthropist. 75 00:04:00,685 --> 00:04:03,973 I'm going to put another label on you You're a historian 76 00:04:07,419 --> 00:04:07,721 philanthropist. 77 00:04:07,721 --> 00:04:09,103 I'm going to put another label on you You're a historian. 78 00:04:09,103 --> 00:04:10,747 And what I'd like for you to do , dan, is walk us through if you 79 00:04:10,747 --> 00:04:13,252 will walk us through your life journey. 80 00:04:13,252 --> 00:04:17,786 How did you end up being the head of Buster's Gin and the 81 00:04:17,846 --> 00:04:21,173 president of the Ag Museum in Lubbock, texas? 82 00:04:21,173 --> 00:04:24,572 How in the world did this come about? 83 00:04:24,572 --> 00:04:27,021 Take us through your life's journey, if you will. 84 00:04:27,923 --> 00:04:30,591 Speaker 3: Well, number one, you don't ever do it alone. 85 00:04:30,591 --> 00:04:35,925 And so many mentors, many people support, don't ever say I 86 00:04:35,925 --> 00:04:41,213 did this with you, we got it done through the efforts of so 87 00:04:41,274 --> 00:04:41,475 many. 88 00:04:41,475 --> 00:04:46,670 I was raised on a farm in small range in central Texas, hill 89 00:04:46,709 --> 00:04:49,365 County, a little town of Bloom which is south of Fort Worth 90 00:04:49,404 --> 00:04:50,329 about 40 miles. 91 00:04:50,329 --> 00:04:53,463 Because I grew up in agriculture, I was born in World 92 00:04:53,463 --> 00:04:58,427 War II so things were pretty primitive in that area. 93 00:04:58,427 --> 00:05:01,607 We started some slight advancement in the 50s. 94 00:05:01,607 --> 00:05:04,882 But in the 50s we were not really tolling in the fields. 95 00:05:04,882 --> 00:05:06,588 We had no ag chemicals. 96 00:05:06,588 --> 00:05:10,824 There was very little fertilization and very little 97 00:05:10,884 --> 00:05:12,690 mechanical harvesting methods. 98 00:05:12,690 --> 00:05:14,728 It was pretty primitive. 99 00:05:14,728 --> 00:05:18,610 We hand harvested our cotton until I was a sophomore in high 100 00:05:18,629 --> 00:05:18,831 school. 101 00:05:18,831 --> 00:05:22,887 But I learned work ethics. 102 00:05:23,860 --> 00:05:24,783 And your family. 103 00:05:24,783 --> 00:05:27,600 I was blessed with a good parents but at the time you 104 00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:30,548 think probably you've been mistreated because you worked 105 00:05:30,649 --> 00:05:31,151 all the time. 106 00:05:31,151 --> 00:05:37,567 But as life goes on you realize how what a real blessing that 107 00:05:37,627 --> 00:05:42,891 was to learn some integrity, honesty, work ethics. 108 00:05:42,891 --> 00:05:45,552 So sharpening up a little. 109 00:05:45,552 --> 00:05:48,067 I wasn't going to an agriculture college. 110 00:05:48,067 --> 00:05:52,129 I was going to determine I was real strong about two things I 111 00:05:52,168 --> 00:05:55,584 was not going to do, and that was farm or have anything to do 112 00:05:55,603 --> 00:05:56,105 with cotton. 113 00:05:56,105 --> 00:06:01,303 I really pushed that hard to cotton because that was nothing 114 00:06:01,343 --> 00:06:02,468 but hard times. 115 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:07,324 I went to a non-agriculture college but during another year 116 00:06:07,466 --> 00:06:11,754 had grown up and I wasn't pleased with the university I 117 00:06:11,774 --> 00:06:12,076 was at. 118 00:06:12,076 --> 00:06:15,021 It was more liberal thinking than I was raised and that's 119 00:06:15,060 --> 00:06:19,988 before we really knew the word liberal hardly in the 1960s when 120 00:06:19,988 --> 00:06:20,630 I graduated. 121 00:06:20,630 --> 00:06:27,466 But by accident I followed a cousin to Texas Tech. 122 00:06:27,466 --> 00:06:30,170 I had to look on the map to know where Texas Tech was. 123 00:06:30,170 --> 00:06:35,004 It could have been in Europe as well as Texas as far as I'm 124 00:06:35,024 --> 00:06:35,225 concerned. 125 00:06:35,225 --> 00:06:39,103 I followed him out here with a transcript in my hand, without a 126 00:06:39,103 --> 00:06:39,987 place to live. 127 00:06:39,987 --> 00:06:43,629 He was a year younger than me. 128 00:06:43,629 --> 00:06:45,386 He was on the engineering scholarship. 129 00:06:45,386 --> 00:06:49,483 We arrived in Lubbock I registered, slept on his dorm 130 00:06:49,523 --> 00:06:54,362 floor a few days and I found the house out on the farm and from 131 00:06:54,641 --> 00:07:01,427 then on I really got enrolled in Texas Tech, got more excited. 132 00:07:02,079 --> 00:07:06,783 More of my real passion was in agriculture Not during the time 133 00:07:06,884 --> 00:07:09,346 I was going to teach, but I wanted to be in some 134 00:07:09,446 --> 00:07:10,410 agricultural field. 135 00:07:10,410 --> 00:07:15,209 And from day one there's mentors, people that helped me, 136 00:07:15,819 --> 00:07:20,524 the people I lived on their farm Archland this was great Texan 137 00:07:21,668 --> 00:07:25,702 way back in some of the early beginning of it and they ended 138 00:07:25,783 --> 00:07:29,886 up nearly like parents do, real reluctant to rent an old house 139 00:07:30,026 --> 00:07:34,548 in front of their house on the farm to two college boys. 140 00:07:34,548 --> 00:07:39,531 I didn't realize at the time what their fear was, but anyway, 141 00:07:39,531 --> 00:07:43,230 after they got to know me, I lived there and developed 142 00:07:43,269 --> 00:07:48,072 relationships, worked for farmers across the road and got 143 00:07:48,132 --> 00:07:50,180 more and more involved in agriculture. 144 00:07:50,180 --> 00:07:56,069 I obtained my major in ag education and I had two of the 145 00:07:56,129 --> 00:07:57,071 best professors. 146 00:07:57,071 --> 00:07:59,814 There was TL Leach and LM Hardraves. 147 00:07:59,814 --> 00:08:07,805 If anybody didn't steal the importance of agriculture 148 00:08:07,845 --> 00:08:09,612 education, it couldn't be instilled in someone. 149 00:08:09,612 --> 00:08:10,435 They were gross. 150 00:08:11,819 --> 00:08:15,283 Did my student teach in agriculture Not instilled even 151 00:08:15,343 --> 00:08:16,889 more of my desire to want to teach. 152 00:08:16,889 --> 00:08:18,725 Up until then I wasn't sure. 153 00:08:18,725 --> 00:08:22,831 But in serving in the block under Mr Leach and Hargrave 154 00:08:23,019 --> 00:08:23,964 didn't student teach it. 155 00:08:23,964 --> 00:08:29,406 So, luckily, the grace of God again, and half the people, my 156 00:08:29,446 --> 00:08:29,747 wife. 157 00:08:29,747 --> 00:08:34,229 We got married a year of college for her, so I had to 158 00:08:34,249 --> 00:08:35,740 stay located close to Lubbock. 159 00:08:35,740 --> 00:08:40,865 This is 1964, and you still wasn't real mobile then as much 160 00:08:40,946 --> 00:08:41,508 as today. 161 00:08:42,701 --> 00:08:46,235 I took a job at Lubbock as much as today Feed limit, for 55 162 00:08:46,274 --> 00:08:46,817 hours a day. 163 00:08:46,817 --> 00:08:48,342 I took a job at Lubbock Cooper. 164 00:08:48,342 --> 00:08:49,567 That came open late in the summer. 165 00:08:49,567 --> 00:08:54,562 I graduated in August and we lived on campus. 166 00:08:54,562 --> 00:08:57,325 I was 50 yards from the Ag building for 11 years. 167 00:08:57,325 --> 00:09:03,025 Really All my kids were barred while I lived at Cooper. 168 00:09:03,025 --> 00:09:05,105 It was a great place. 169 00:09:05,105 --> 00:09:10,708 I had great administration and our program just kept advancing. 170 00:09:11,561 --> 00:09:15,432 After about six years we added a second teacher, an ag mechanics 171 00:09:15,432 --> 00:09:24,125 , farm-powered machine at the time and I was very blessed and 172 00:09:24,164 --> 00:09:25,750 still is our one farm. 173 00:09:25,750 --> 00:09:29,202 By then we had mechanized cotton harvesting, we had Treff 174 00:09:29,243 --> 00:09:31,389 Land came out in the 60s we had weed. 175 00:09:31,389 --> 00:09:38,870 So I developed a six acre farm on the school campus and we 176 00:09:38,991 --> 00:09:42,746 irrigated from a well, shared it with the football field. 177 00:09:42,746 --> 00:09:44,465 We started on time. 178 00:09:44,465 --> 00:09:45,731 We planted different varieties kind of researched wealth, 179 00:09:45,751 --> 00:09:46,557 shared it with the football field. 180 00:09:46,557 --> 00:09:47,038 We started on-time. 181 00:09:47,038 --> 00:09:49,702 We planted different varieties of research and I rented 10 182 00:09:49,722 --> 00:09:53,628 acres of my home in my fourth year, which is well inside 183 00:09:53,687 --> 00:09:58,494 Lubbock today, and when I talked about the 10 acres a lot of 184 00:09:58,514 --> 00:09:59,916 people thought I had 1,000. 185 00:09:59,916 --> 00:10:03,326 Well, I talked about it. 186 00:10:03,326 --> 00:10:07,405 I have the tractor I started on that Restored in my barn. 187 00:10:07,405 --> 00:10:09,707 It's 53 Super M Farmall. 188 00:10:09,707 --> 00:10:11,226 I bought it in 66. 189 00:10:11,226 --> 00:10:16,788 But that kind of developed my desire, got interested and got 190 00:10:16,849 --> 00:10:21,100 approached about buying a cotton gin that was about to close, a 191 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,648 gin, just barely enough to have the doors open a year before. 192 00:10:27,159 --> 00:10:31,152 I didn't want to leave teaching, but I guess, as your kids get 193 00:10:31,774 --> 00:10:35,767 three of them, I thought I might spend more time with them and 194 00:10:36,831 --> 00:10:40,020 had a desire to take the next step in agriculture. 195 00:10:40,020 --> 00:10:44,548 To this day, this is many years later. 196 00:10:44,548 --> 00:10:48,614 That's the hardest decision I've ever made in my life today. 197 00:10:48,673 --> 00:10:49,416 I quit teaching. 198 00:10:49,416 --> 00:10:53,250 I know you hear a lot say I quit on kind of money. 199 00:10:53,250 --> 00:10:54,826 I didn't quit on kind of money. 200 00:10:54,826 --> 00:10:59,582 I think I was treated very good salary-wise but it was the 201 00:10:59,644 --> 00:11:01,208 hardest decision I ever made. 202 00:11:01,208 --> 00:11:03,607 I went to see the superintendent, the president of 203 00:11:03,607 --> 00:11:05,485 the board on a Sunday to tell them I ever made. 204 00:11:05,485 --> 00:11:06,532 I went to see the superintendent, the president of 205 00:11:06,532 --> 00:11:07,720 the board on a Sunday to tell them I was leaving. 206 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,326 That was a lot of tears by us Sid. 207 00:11:10,326 --> 00:11:13,725 I don't know whether it's tears the community shed. 208 00:11:13,725 --> 00:11:18,919 But we moved to a farm near Rocheville that we purchased 209 00:11:20,565 --> 00:11:26,222 which is four miles from the cotton gin and I told people 210 00:11:26,243 --> 00:11:33,038 that my time at the gin a lot of that's kind of track my time in 211 00:11:33,038 --> 00:11:33,740 education. 212 00:11:33,870 --> 00:11:39,330 There's a lot of parallels to your customer service and PR and 213 00:11:39,330 --> 00:11:47,379 I give my dearest credit in May my being successful in business 214 00:11:47,379 --> 00:11:54,143 and we took Buster's Inn to one of the largest in Texas. 215 00:11:54,143 --> 00:11:54,894 It was the largest family home. 216 00:11:54,894 --> 00:11:56,163 We were surrounded by Co-Op's Inn to the one of the largest in 217 00:11:56,163 --> 00:11:56,284 Texas. 218 00:11:56,284 --> 00:11:56,908 It was the largest family home. 219 00:11:56,908 --> 00:12:00,220 We were surrounded by Co-Op's Inn which were owned by the 220 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:04,291 members but I outperformed most of them in production. 221 00:12:04,291 --> 00:12:12,003 The den was a lot of my farmer students were customers and but 222 00:12:12,423 --> 00:12:13,705 it was a real blessing. 223 00:12:13,705 --> 00:12:17,470 But that early you don't do none of this by yourself. 224 00:12:17,470 --> 00:12:18,568 I had a lot of mentors. 225 00:12:18,568 --> 00:12:21,163 A lot of mentors probably didn't know this. 226 00:12:21,163 --> 00:12:21,908 I had my mentor. 227 00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:29,299 They bothered me in life, same way teaching is a naysayers. 228 00:12:30,173 --> 00:12:32,836 The world is full of many naysayers instead of the 229 00:12:32,875 --> 00:12:38,275 positive people and I had them even teach and you can't have 230 00:12:38,317 --> 00:12:39,299 that kind of problem. 231 00:12:39,299 --> 00:12:40,932 But you can. 232 00:12:40,932 --> 00:12:45,937 I think a good teacher can go to any school regardless how 233 00:12:45,996 --> 00:12:48,437 weak a problem they've had before, and they'll develop that 234 00:12:48,437 --> 00:12:52,953 problem and in two years they'll have an outstanding 235 00:12:52,974 --> 00:12:55,214 problem and it's in the same way . 236 00:12:55,214 --> 00:12:58,716 But I had a lot of nice series that probably helps me. 237 00:12:58,716 --> 00:13:05,714 I'm one of these that not good tell me I can't do this and that 238 00:13:05,714 --> 00:13:07,491 probably motivated me At the time. 239 00:13:07,491 --> 00:13:08,456 It hurt my feelings. 240 00:13:08,456 --> 00:13:13,116 Sure, I've been in cotton gins. 241 00:13:13,116 --> 00:13:18,128 You can't financially make it a success so it probably works 242 00:13:18,148 --> 00:13:18,409 harder. 243 00:13:18,409 --> 00:13:21,730 So paint's not a word in my vocabulary. 244 00:13:21,730 --> 00:13:27,840 I really appreciate and I've tried in my life to be very 245 00:13:27,899 --> 00:13:29,169 positive towards others. 246 00:13:32,567 --> 00:13:35,836 Same thing we've been saying in the 60's been said today there's 247 00:13:35,836 --> 00:13:41,187 no way you start farming on your own without family help or 248 00:13:41,207 --> 00:13:41,429 something. 249 00:13:41,429 --> 00:13:44,037 My wife and I not from there. 250 00:13:44,037 --> 00:13:45,642 We had zero family help. 251 00:13:45,642 --> 00:13:47,092 We started. 252 00:13:47,092 --> 00:13:50,481 But you don't start the same level as somebody across the 253 00:13:50,522 --> 00:13:50,743 road. 254 00:13:50,743 --> 00:13:54,700 You've got a big perseverance road map. 255 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:55,624 You've got to be in perseverance. 256 00:13:55,624 --> 00:13:56,929 In the same way in teaching you've got to have that 257 00:13:57,009 --> 00:13:59,254 perseverance, that desire to want to. 258 00:13:59,254 --> 00:14:01,360 You take it step by step. 259 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:06,831 I still say a person can start the day, and even in this 260 00:14:06,932 --> 00:14:10,356 environment, on their own, little by little. 261 00:14:10,356 --> 00:14:14,682 You may have to work off-site and farm on the side, but 262 00:14:14,703 --> 00:14:16,206 there's opportunities out there. 263 00:14:16,206 --> 00:14:22,600 Ag education program is such a good program that helps 264 00:14:23,543 --> 00:14:27,011 establish some basis for individuals in so many different 265 00:14:27,011 --> 00:14:31,927 , varied fields of agriculture and leadership in things that 266 00:14:32,027 --> 00:14:35,337 they may do in life that's not directly related to agriculture, 267 00:14:35,337 --> 00:14:43,825 but I've been blessed with so many people that were positive. 268 00:14:45,092 --> 00:14:47,057 One on the naysayer side and talking about the naysayer, you 269 00:14:47,097 --> 00:14:48,381 mentioned the museum a while ago . 270 00:14:48,381 --> 00:14:51,404 I've been blessed to be involved with it, which really 271 00:14:51,445 --> 00:14:54,567 filled a gap after my selling of the cotton gin. 272 00:14:54,567 --> 00:14:59,131 I've got to have a goal every day, something to do, but it's 273 00:14:59,211 --> 00:15:00,236 full of naysayers. 274 00:15:00,236 --> 00:15:04,659 I mean, there's no way y'all can build this facility, get the 275 00:15:04,659 --> 00:15:05,341 money to do it. 276 00:15:05,341 --> 00:15:07,575 I heard that a bunch. 277 00:15:08,057 --> 00:15:08,438 Speaker 2: Really. 278 00:15:09,130 --> 00:15:10,054 Speaker 3: Oh, yes, yes. 279 00:15:11,231 --> 00:15:12,376 Speaker 2: Those of us that know it. 280 00:15:12,376 --> 00:15:13,621 Now, I can't believe that, because it's so important I have 281 00:15:13,621 --> 00:15:15,008 support members that know it now I can't believe that because 282 00:15:15,008 --> 00:15:15,370 it's so important. 283 00:15:15,830 --> 00:15:17,636 Speaker 3: I had support members that said it. 284 00:15:17,636 --> 00:15:27,998 Wow, perseverance and people with desire, team effort is a 285 00:15:28,217 --> 00:15:29,041 positive thing. 286 00:15:29,041 --> 00:15:34,211 It wasn't the nature of it, it wouldn't have been done, but 287 00:15:34,251 --> 00:15:39,129 that covered some of my life in a short version well, there's 288 00:15:39,188 --> 00:15:42,477 more there, dan, and we're gonna we're gonna talk about a little 289 00:15:42,477 --> 00:15:43,822 bit more of the details here. 290 00:15:44,652 --> 00:15:47,980 Speaker 2: One of my favorite photos from my ffa experience, 291 00:15:48,041 --> 00:15:51,774 dan, because it changed my life. 292 00:15:51,774 --> 00:15:55,860 But growing up at boys which I understand you had a guy by the 293 00:15:55,921 --> 00:15:57,243 name of Bill Sarpolis. 294 00:15:57,243 --> 00:15:58,625 That student taught under you. 295 00:15:59,250 --> 00:16:01,451 Speaker 3: That is correct, and so. 296 00:16:01,832 --> 00:16:05,051 Speaker 2: Bill Sarpolis student taught under Dan Taylor, and 297 00:16:05,110 --> 00:16:08,099 many of you know that Bill went on to become a Texas senator and 298 00:16:08,099 --> 00:16:12,577 a US congressman and then helped the country of Lithuania 299 00:16:12,658 --> 00:16:13,902 become a free country. 300 00:16:13,902 --> 00:16:16,258 But it's because of Dan Taylor. 301 00:16:16,258 --> 00:16:17,635 Dan started all that. 302 00:16:17,635 --> 00:16:20,460 So, Dan, you had an impact on the world. 303 00:16:20,460 --> 00:16:21,455 You just didn't know it. 304 00:16:23,673 --> 00:16:27,418 Speaker 3: You mentioned, Bill, and I think I had 21 student 305 00:16:27,457 --> 00:16:32,595 teachers under my time 11 years teaching and a lot of that was 306 00:16:32,634 --> 00:16:35,916 due to convenience Cooper School was only 12 miles from the 307 00:16:36,096 --> 00:16:39,592 campus of Texas Tech but I had some. 308 00:16:39,592 --> 00:16:44,903 These student teachers were more than just trainees under me 309 00:16:44,903 --> 00:16:44,903 . 310 00:16:44,903 --> 00:16:49,000 I've learned from them and their enthusiasm, their ideas 311 00:16:49,750 --> 00:16:54,576 and I got a lot out of it and my friend and most of them had 312 00:16:54,635 --> 00:16:56,198 contact ever since. 313 00:16:56,198 --> 00:17:01,573 Some of them are even deceased now and some are honored with 314 00:17:01,614 --> 00:17:02,456 the Hall of Fame. 315 00:17:02,456 --> 00:17:09,094 Last year that student taught under me, Danny Beck and David 316 00:17:09,153 --> 00:17:10,638 Howell were honored last year. 317 00:17:14,594 --> 00:17:16,442 Speaker 2: You were talking, though I was going to tell you 318 00:17:16,502 --> 00:17:16,683 that. 319 00:17:16,683 --> 00:17:19,574 You know, one of my favorite photographs from my ffa 320 00:17:19,634 --> 00:17:23,663 experience I have was when I was at the state fair of texas. 321 00:17:23,663 --> 00:17:28,919 And at state fair of texas we I was a pig showman, so I showed 322 00:17:28,979 --> 00:17:34,318 pigs and the hog farm or the swine barn, the superintendent's 323 00:17:34,318 --> 00:17:36,166 office they always put boys ranch. 324 00:17:36,166 --> 00:17:39,055 We were always right in front of the superintendent's office. 325 00:17:39,556 --> 00:17:40,156 Speaker 3: I remember. 326 00:17:40,678 --> 00:17:43,344 Speaker 2: And LM Hargrave was the superintendent. 327 00:17:45,532 --> 00:17:48,479 One of my favorite photos, dan, is I've got a picture of me 328 00:17:48,539 --> 00:17:50,384 wearing a as a freshman. 329 00:17:50,384 --> 00:17:54,939 I'm wearing a yellow t-shirt with a picture of my mom on it, 330 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,915 I'm standing with my ag teacher and LM Hargrave. 331 00:17:59,915 --> 00:18:04,306 The reason that's such an amazing picture for me is 332 00:18:04,346 --> 00:18:07,551 because later in my FFA career, when I went to Texas Tech 333 00:18:07,612 --> 00:18:12,778 University, dr Bill Bennett gave me, helped me, get a 334 00:18:12,818 --> 00:18:17,164 scholarship, and that scholarship was the LM Hargrave 335 00:18:17,204 --> 00:18:17,786 Scholarship. 336 00:18:17,786 --> 00:18:22,491 And that ag teacher that's in that picture with me is now the 337 00:18:22,551 --> 00:18:27,597 president of Vernon College, and so it's a real special picture 338 00:18:27,638 --> 00:18:31,910 for me because of LM and everybody that knew ag education 339 00:18:31,910 --> 00:18:36,554 knew LM Hargrave and TL Leach, and everybody that understands 340 00:18:36,653 --> 00:18:40,401 cultivation and the importance of scholarships knows what Bill 341 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,605 Bennett did for Texas Tech University. 342 00:18:42,605 --> 00:18:47,510 And you know, when I think back , dan, of what you do today and 343 00:18:47,630 --> 00:18:52,553 what I've tried to do, those men were great examples to us of 344 00:18:52,671 --> 00:18:53,451 stewardship. 345 00:18:53,451 --> 00:18:57,859 Men were great examples to us of stewardship, of making sure 346 00:18:57,941 --> 00:19:00,413 that we do something to make it better for the people that 347 00:19:00,473 --> 00:19:01,817 follow in our footsteps. 348 00:19:02,819 --> 00:19:03,761 Speaker 3: That's correct. 349 00:19:03,761 --> 00:19:09,152 Fortunately, linda and I, after our kids got educated, they 350 00:19:09,172 --> 00:19:10,237 were fortunate. 351 00:19:10,237 --> 00:19:14,676 It cost me a very minimal amount, next to none, because I 352 00:19:14,769 --> 00:19:19,320 get to own so many FFA and 4-H scholarships with all the nice 353 00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:20,262 support of Texas. 354 00:19:20,262 --> 00:19:25,699 But Bill Bennett got Lindenite College towards Thanksgiving and 355 00:19:25,699 --> 00:19:30,874 I had several lunches with him trying to get us involved in 356 00:19:30,913 --> 00:19:34,220 starting an endowment at Texas Tech for the college ag. 357 00:19:34,220 --> 00:19:39,316 He was such an influence on our life and I think what we're 358 00:19:39,336 --> 00:19:42,482 doing today is a result of what Bill Bennett got us started. 359 00:19:45,595 --> 00:19:48,041 Speaker 2: And you know it's behind the scenes, dan. 360 00:19:48,041 --> 00:19:51,773 It's so many people like you, by the way, I hope that people 361 00:19:51,834 --> 00:19:52,837 see this podcast. 362 00:19:52,837 --> 00:19:55,575 You know there's an old saying that says you don't have to be 363 00:19:55,615 --> 00:19:55,940 loud to be heard. 364 00:19:55,940 --> 00:19:58,615 You don't have to be loud to be heard, you don't have to be 365 00:19:58,714 --> 00:19:59,438 loud to be heard. 366 00:19:59,438 --> 00:20:02,212 And I'm going to tell you, when you look at the legacy of Bill 367 00:20:02,272 --> 00:20:07,398 Bennett and you think about all the people that he mentored, you 368 00:20:07,398 --> 00:20:10,983 know, you, you talk about his relationship with you. 369 00:20:10,983 --> 00:20:15,998 Gordon Davis yes, gordon Davis is another one that was mentored 370 00:20:15,998 --> 00:20:16,760 by Bill Bennett. 371 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,638 You know so many of these folks and then I was blessed to know 372 00:20:20,679 --> 00:20:24,498 them as well, and I've got to say honestly that Bill Bennett 373 00:20:24,698 --> 00:20:27,131 is probably one of the people that helped change my life. 374 00:20:27,131 --> 00:20:31,259 I think my mom sending me to Boys Ranch, the fact that Mr 375 00:20:31,319 --> 00:20:35,634 Chandler put me in FFA and the fact that a kid that didn't 376 00:20:35,654 --> 00:20:38,080 think he could go to college, didn't think he ever had a 377 00:20:38,141 --> 00:20:39,123 chance to go to school. 378 00:20:39,123 --> 00:20:42,076 Bill Bennett made that possible . 379 00:20:42,076 --> 00:20:43,141 That's right. 380 00:20:46,234 --> 00:20:46,836 Speaker 3: So anyway. 381 00:20:47,276 --> 00:20:50,201 Speaker 2: I appreciate you because I just want you to know 382 00:20:50,261 --> 00:20:54,388 that people like you empower people like me that don't even 383 00:20:54,449 --> 00:20:54,970 see it coming. 384 00:20:54,970 --> 00:20:58,207 We don't always know the behind the scenes of who makes those 385 00:20:58,307 --> 00:21:02,234 opportunities possible, but you know that's what you and Linda 386 00:21:02,315 --> 00:21:06,509 are doing through this generosity and the success that 387 00:21:06,550 --> 00:21:11,656 you've had, that you're willing to share that with others yeah, 388 00:21:11,837 --> 00:21:16,586 and we're blessed to be in our time of our life where we can 389 00:21:16,686 --> 00:21:19,076 afford to do things older. 390 00:21:19,097 --> 00:21:20,098 Speaker 3: We need to give back. 391 00:21:20,319 --> 00:21:23,846 Speaker 2: I think back how many supported our own kids and 392 00:21:23,885 --> 00:21:29,144 grandkids and dan, let's talk about something here real quick, 393 00:21:29,144 --> 00:21:31,817 because I know there's people listening to this podcast and 394 00:21:32,638 --> 00:21:34,403 they heard the word cotton gins. 395 00:21:34,403 --> 00:21:35,925 They heard cotton gin. 396 00:21:35,925 --> 00:21:37,067 What is a cotton gin? 397 00:21:37,067 --> 00:21:41,144 So I want to take a moment here and I know I know you know what 398 00:21:41,144 --> 00:21:45,806 one is, but there could be people listening to this that if 399 00:21:45,806 --> 00:21:47,519 they're not, if they're listening, they're not really 400 00:21:47,579 --> 00:21:48,122 paying attention. 401 00:21:48,122 --> 00:21:49,025 They might've missed something. 402 00:21:50,134 --> 00:21:53,503 So Dan Taylor talked about purchasing a cotton gin that was 403 00:21:53,503 --> 00:21:54,737 on the verge of closing. 404 00:21:54,737 --> 00:21:58,913 Okay, dan Taylor told you that he sold a cotton gin that was on 405 00:21:58,913 --> 00:21:59,335 the verge of closing. 406 00:21:59,335 --> 00:22:00,798 Dan Taylor told you that he sold a cotton gin where he and 407 00:22:00,838 --> 00:22:03,424 his wife were the largest independent cotton ginners in 408 00:22:03,444 --> 00:22:06,098 the state of Texas, and if you're not familiar with the 409 00:22:06,138 --> 00:22:07,744 state of Texas, it's a big state . 410 00:22:07,744 --> 00:22:11,383 So that's a big statement to say it's the largest independent 411 00:22:11,383 --> 00:22:12,707 cotton gin in the state of Texas. 412 00:22:12,707 --> 00:22:14,977 Dan, for our listeners and folks that are tuning in, give 413 00:22:14,942 --> 00:22:15,662 them a brief overview of what is a cotton gin in the state of 414 00:22:15,627 --> 00:22:15,788 Texas. 415 00:22:15,788 --> 00:22:17,336 Dan, for our listeners and folks that are tuning in, give 416 00:22:17,355 --> 00:22:20,204 them a brief overview of what is a cotton gin. 417 00:22:21,496 --> 00:22:25,659 Speaker 3: Well, if you go back in history, eli Whitney invented 418 00:22:25,659 --> 00:22:27,905 a cotton gin in 1793. 419 00:22:27,905 --> 00:22:32,263 All the cotton gin basically was invented for separating the 420 00:22:32,325 --> 00:22:34,864 fiber, or lint we call it, from the cotton seed. 421 00:22:34,864 --> 00:22:36,661 The lint drove off the seed. 422 00:22:36,661 --> 00:22:40,545 Or it says modernization, harvesting everything. 423 00:22:40,545 --> 00:22:43,261 There's more separation to do than just the lint. 424 00:22:43,261 --> 00:22:44,866 We harvest it. 425 00:22:44,866 --> 00:22:50,019 The cotton was on the plant so you did a lot of foreign matter 426 00:22:50,039 --> 00:22:50,821 harvesting with it. 427 00:22:50,821 --> 00:22:56,859 So there's about 15 something machines and again 15 to 20 428 00:22:56,900 --> 00:23:02,520 different machines from heaters to dryers separating. 429 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,810 So all of this goes to a large mass of equipment. 430 00:23:06,810 --> 00:23:12,462 Today to build a new cotton gin would be the 20 plus million, 431 00:23:13,925 --> 00:23:15,628 25 probably closer. 432 00:23:15,628 --> 00:23:18,621 All of this is going through a cotton gin. 433 00:23:18,621 --> 00:23:20,727 Separating all this in a minute's time. 434 00:23:20,727 --> 00:23:23,183 It's from start to finish it's a minute. 435 00:23:23,183 --> 00:23:29,115 But the end product is mainly the lint and the cotton seed and 436 00:23:29,115 --> 00:23:32,721 the foreign matter is used for cattle feed. 437 00:23:32,721 --> 00:23:33,884 A lot less for value. 438 00:23:33,884 --> 00:23:38,961 So a lot entailed. 439 00:23:38,961 --> 00:23:40,538 Of course I've got very modern and euterized now. 440 00:23:40,538 --> 00:23:44,403 It's still a very complex industry. 441 00:23:44,403 --> 00:23:49,076 It don't flow like a regular manufacturing plant that's got a 442 00:23:49,076 --> 00:23:53,140 constant product and a constant temperature, constant quality. 443 00:23:53,140 --> 00:23:55,923 Our quality varies from farm to farm. 444 00:23:55,923 --> 00:24:00,102 So running a cotton gin is very entailed. 445 00:24:00,162 --> 00:24:02,066 Most of the gin now operated. 446 00:24:02,066 --> 00:24:06,340 When I started it was more people that were laborers, that 447 00:24:06,381 --> 00:24:10,676 were moved up to be managers, but now it's very educated 448 00:24:10,737 --> 00:24:11,578 individuals. 449 00:24:11,578 --> 00:24:12,760 College education. 450 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:17,420 You really need an engineering degree, an electrical degree all 451 00:24:17,420 --> 00:24:18,282 at the same time. 452 00:24:18,282 --> 00:24:18,944 There's so much. 453 00:24:18,944 --> 00:24:24,645 Our gen was approximately 4,000 horsepower. 454 00:24:24,645 --> 00:24:27,921 You got a lot of components. 455 00:24:27,921 --> 00:24:33,021 Education was so important. 456 00:24:33,021 --> 00:24:35,401 Our proximity to love. 457 00:24:35,401 --> 00:24:39,425 We had so many chamber of commerce groups, tour groups 458 00:24:39,595 --> 00:24:43,895 walking to our cottage in from other states and local, so we 459 00:24:43,936 --> 00:24:46,525 built an education room 16 foot up. 460 00:24:46,525 --> 00:24:48,923 A picture of one that was looking every direction. 461 00:24:49,414 --> 00:24:51,222 They could see every piece of machinery. 462 00:24:51,335 --> 00:24:52,961 They could see the trucks bringing it in. 463 00:24:52,961 --> 00:24:58,842 They could see 50 people dinners, studying, had TV 464 00:24:58,902 --> 00:24:59,343 monitor. 465 00:24:59,343 --> 00:25:02,363 So we did a lot of educational programs. 466 00:25:02,363 --> 00:25:05,282 Field of Finnish Bale was a video we produced. 467 00:25:05,282 --> 00:25:09,265 It took you from the harvest all the way through every step. 468 00:25:09,265 --> 00:25:16,643 We gave away I lost count well over 5,000 copies of that to 469 00:25:16,682 --> 00:25:19,182 teachers, mainly as the word spread. 470 00:25:19,182 --> 00:25:23,845 So we've incorporated education with the Cotton's and we 471 00:25:23,884 --> 00:25:24,967 continue to do so. 472 00:25:24,967 --> 00:25:30,047 We had a lot of educational meetings there as well as tour 473 00:25:30,086 --> 00:25:30,468 groups. 474 00:25:30,468 --> 00:25:35,380 So when I sold the den I lived three months in it, so we've 475 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:36,615 kind of incorporated it. 476 00:25:36,675 --> 00:25:37,881 Now back to my barn. 477 00:25:37,881 --> 00:25:43,707 We're doing a lot of leadership group, texas Tech Ag groups, do 478 00:25:43,707 --> 00:25:47,902 some political groups here, ones that I'm really involved 479 00:25:47,942 --> 00:25:48,163 with. 480 00:25:48,163 --> 00:25:50,740 We've had fundraisers for them. 481 00:25:50,740 --> 00:25:51,974 So we do it here at my barn. 482 00:25:51,974 --> 00:25:54,476 We still do a lot of these groups and still tour them at 483 00:25:54,444 --> 00:25:54,923 the cotton shed, but we have a function at my barn. 484 00:25:54,923 --> 00:25:55,816 We still do a lot of these groups and still turn them into 485 00:25:55,785 --> 00:25:59,650 cotton, but we have a function at my barn and take them to the 486 00:25:59,730 --> 00:26:00,009 tent. 487 00:26:01,030 --> 00:26:05,739 Speaker 2: So education remains a important part of our life so 488 00:26:05,759 --> 00:26:08,525 for everybody listening, because , dan, this goes all over the 489 00:26:08,625 --> 00:26:12,040 united states, all over texas, even around the world. 490 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,145 If you ever find yourself on the south, if you ever find 491 00:26:14,185 --> 00:26:17,654 yourself on the South Plains and you ever find yourself in 492 00:26:17,714 --> 00:26:21,903 Lubbock, texas, you can drive a little bit out of town just 493 00:26:22,164 --> 00:26:26,117 toward a little town called Ropesville and you will see a 494 00:26:26,298 --> 00:26:30,366 big lighted up, a big red barn that's got a big double T that 495 00:26:30,426 --> 00:26:31,469 lights up at night. 496 00:26:31,469 --> 00:26:35,423 And if you can make your way out to that barn you're going to 497 00:26:35,423 --> 00:26:36,855 find a lot of history. 498 00:26:36,855 --> 00:26:40,262 Dan, how many tractors, how many tractors do you have on 499 00:26:40,323 --> 00:26:41,265 premise there now? 500 00:26:41,925 --> 00:26:44,301 Speaker 3: well, I can't tell all of that because your wife's 501 00:26:44,422 --> 00:26:46,714 always wanting to know how many and you put them in different 502 00:26:46,795 --> 00:26:48,897 barns so you can't get a true count. 503 00:26:49,719 --> 00:26:53,243 Speaker 2: I got approximately 20 yeah, the reason I shared 504 00:26:53,284 --> 00:26:57,750 that again is dan taylor's attention to history and 505 00:26:58,009 --> 00:27:01,442 willingness to share history is not just at the museum in 506 00:27:01,501 --> 00:27:04,147 lubbock but on their farm. 507 00:27:04,147 --> 00:27:08,739 They have an incredible display of the history, of not only 508 00:27:08,778 --> 00:27:12,688 their farm but of cotton jenny, and they've got equipment and 509 00:27:12,708 --> 00:27:16,042 they've got a barn that they can host events in. 510 00:27:16,042 --> 00:27:19,945 And you know it's always one of our favorite stops when we take 511 00:27:19,945 --> 00:27:23,858 our lead teachers through West Texas is to go to Dan Taylor's 512 00:27:23,919 --> 00:27:27,686 barn and to spend time at the museum and walking around 513 00:27:27,747 --> 00:27:31,637 looking at the tractors and then there's cotton fields right 514 00:27:31,678 --> 00:27:33,220 there, right next to everything. 515 00:27:33,220 --> 00:27:35,020 They get to see the actual fields. 516 00:27:35,020 --> 00:27:41,527 And so when we talk about history here, not only is Dan 517 00:27:41,586 --> 00:27:45,990 Taylor sharing history, he's living history, but he's sharing 518 00:27:45,990 --> 00:27:50,434 history Physically. 519 00:27:50,434 --> 00:27:52,117 He's sharing the story of cotton ginning, and so if you 520 00:27:52,157 --> 00:27:56,664 ever find your way to Dan's farm , y'all will understand just how 521 00:27:56,664 --> 00:28:01,978 impressive his storytelling really is Well. 522 00:28:02,038 --> 00:28:05,542 Speaker 3: Thank you, we hope and Linda and I have talked a 523 00:28:05,583 --> 00:28:10,846 lot you spend such a busy time in your life, your business, 524 00:28:10,954 --> 00:28:13,042 trying to be a success in your kids. 525 00:28:13,042 --> 00:28:17,077 You probably don't do enough for others, given your time and 526 00:28:17,117 --> 00:28:21,421 talents and resources, and we've really tried to devote 527 00:28:21,461 --> 00:28:21,882 ourselves. 528 00:28:21,882 --> 00:28:22,664 In later years. 529 00:28:22,664 --> 00:28:27,301 Most of our day is spent in some way giving back, hopefully 530 00:28:28,023 --> 00:28:32,342 to others in the museum or in education or something. 531 00:28:34,516 --> 00:28:36,462 Speaker 2: Dan, we're going to talk about a couple more things 532 00:28:36,502 --> 00:28:38,542 here and we're going to come back to what you just shared 533 00:28:40,875 --> 00:28:43,578 let's talk about real quick, because I want people to know a 534 00:28:43,618 --> 00:28:48,066 little bit more about the museum , because you've had so many 535 00:28:48,146 --> 00:28:50,776 incredible guests that have visited that museum there in 536 00:28:50,816 --> 00:28:54,936 Lubbock Texas and it's called the Discovery Center now and it 537 00:28:55,037 --> 00:29:00,001 is impressive, but it is a museum of agricultural history 538 00:29:01,084 --> 00:29:04,176 and, if anybody's listening to this, if you're ever looking for 539 00:29:04,176 --> 00:29:08,070 a destination field trip, I would encourage you to look at 540 00:29:08,111 --> 00:29:10,217 coming to the Ag Museum in Lubbock Texas. 541 00:29:10,217 --> 00:29:15,968 It is a destination field trip and, dan, you've got so many 542 00:29:16,028 --> 00:29:16,528 things in there. 543 00:29:16,528 --> 00:29:19,836 You've got an airplane in the ceiling when you come in, you've 544 00:29:19,836 --> 00:29:23,356 got silos, you've got a cotton stripper, you've got an 545 00:29:23,416 --> 00:29:28,023 entertainment room, you've got a museum, you've got stuffed 546 00:29:28,425 --> 00:29:29,974 animals, taxidermied animals. 547 00:29:29,974 --> 00:29:31,883 You've got everything in this thing. 548 00:29:31,883 --> 00:29:35,545 Tell us a little bit about the museum and why it's important. 549 00:29:36,474 --> 00:29:39,003 Speaker 3: Well, we're trying to preserve the history and 550 00:29:39,023 --> 00:29:42,117 heritage of agriculture and teach the next generation where 551 00:29:42,137 --> 00:29:43,583 their food and fiber comes from. 552 00:29:43,583 --> 00:29:48,997 Now back up a little bit Alden Brazel, which was a National FFA 553 00:29:48,997 --> 00:29:52,001 officer in 1947-48. 554 00:29:52,001 --> 00:29:59,183 He was a county commissioner, raised on a farm and 36 years he 555 00:29:59,183 --> 00:30:04,323 was county commissioner and he got real interested as he saw 556 00:30:04,644 --> 00:30:08,682 what revolution changed in agriculture and our equipment 557 00:30:08,722 --> 00:30:11,740 went advancing a lot, particularly starting in about 558 00:30:12,202 --> 00:30:13,065 late 50s. 559 00:30:13,065 --> 00:30:19,136 So he went to he said if we don't preserve, collect some of 560 00:30:19,156 --> 00:30:21,104 this, it's going on to the scrapyard. 561 00:30:21,104 --> 00:30:23,920 So he got involved early on. 562 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:27,057 The county allowed him to use the county truck with no county 563 00:30:27,117 --> 00:30:30,208 funds and nearly everything was given to him. 564 00:30:30,208 --> 00:30:35,477 He started a mass collection of tractors and equipment and as 565 00:30:35,497 --> 00:30:36,669 time moved on he started a mass collection of tractors and 566 00:30:36,689 --> 00:30:44,227 equipment in the 60s and as time moved on he really pushed for 567 00:30:44,247 --> 00:30:45,990 trying to get a museum structure . 568 00:30:47,174 --> 00:30:52,646 Farmer Mayor Lovett was a farm boy and lawyer and he's the 569 00:30:52,707 --> 00:30:53,588 first president. 570 00:30:53,588 --> 00:31:00,336 We started a charter about 23 years ago I think, and he served 571 00:31:00,336 --> 00:31:03,058 president three years and I've had it 18 years. 572 00:31:03,058 --> 00:31:11,734 But we started with a plan and a vision, a three-phase vision 573 00:31:12,155 --> 00:31:14,304 plan, what we needed to do. 574 00:31:14,304 --> 00:31:18,044 It took years to get it. 575 00:31:18,044 --> 00:31:20,202 Finally, the only thing we got out of the city. 576 00:31:20,202 --> 00:31:23,726 The city loaned us 24 acres for 99 years. 577 00:31:23,726 --> 00:31:30,835 We started, we built phase one in 2011, phase two in 2014, and 578 00:31:30,855 --> 00:31:33,003 phase three has been built as we talk. 579 00:31:33,003 --> 00:31:38,115 Phase one is more the collection of history and 580 00:31:38,155 --> 00:31:41,863 heritage of agriculture, got a lot of interactive exhibits. 581 00:31:41,863 --> 00:31:49,239 Phase two is more upper level, science-based Got the airplane 582 00:31:49,278 --> 00:31:51,025 in there that was a spray plane. 583 00:31:51,025 --> 00:31:55,057 Got the late model cotton stripper they can do the 584 00:31:55,077 --> 00:31:58,980 simulation for three minutes driving it and we have a 585 00:31:59,161 --> 00:32:00,545 fabulous meeting room. 586 00:32:00,545 --> 00:32:03,634 These are built like grain tanks to represent agriculture 587 00:32:05,218 --> 00:32:10,109 and we have about 120 rental events a year in that area. 588 00:32:10,109 --> 00:32:12,015 But that's health, promote agriculture. 589 00:32:12,015 --> 00:32:16,247 And our third phase is the most expensive. 590 00:32:16,247 --> 00:32:19,061 We're going to have approximately $15 million in 591 00:32:19,142 --> 00:32:20,826 buildings and exhibits. 592 00:32:20,826 --> 00:32:23,323 That'll be more than that count in exhibits. 593 00:32:23,323 --> 00:32:27,655 We're doing $15 to $20 million in buildings and exhibits when 594 00:32:27,676 --> 00:32:29,383 we finish that phase. 595 00:32:29,383 --> 00:32:32,950 This phase around now is costing a little over $6 million 596 00:32:32,950 --> 00:32:32,950 . 597 00:32:32,950 --> 00:32:38,266 It's going to focus on that kind of third, fourth, fifth 598 00:32:38,326 --> 00:32:38,948 grade level. 599 00:32:38,948 --> 00:32:43,714 We're going to really inspire more teachers to come field trip 600 00:32:43,714 --> 00:32:49,695 and we have about 20-something interactive exhibits and these 601 00:32:49,736 --> 00:32:51,844 have been developed in Chicago. 602 00:32:51,844 --> 00:32:54,682 We got our first shipment last week. 603 00:32:54,682 --> 00:32:59,719 Then we got a cotton heritage center in there and we've hired 604 00:32:59,759 --> 00:33:02,805 a company in Indiana to help sign that. 605 00:33:02,805 --> 00:33:06,680 My collection is going to level and Lynn and I are funding that 606 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:09,067 part of the museum, the cotton heritage center. 607 00:33:09,067 --> 00:33:18,326 But it's going to be a facility to catch all of them and this 608 00:33:18,385 --> 00:33:21,170 phase is really going to put us in a new level. 609 00:33:27,359 --> 00:33:29,724 We started with this three-phase plan a long time ago. 610 00:33:29,724 --> 00:33:33,614 I never heard so many people that can't be done, can't ever 611 00:33:33,634 --> 00:33:33,673 do. 612 00:33:33,673 --> 00:33:35,813 It had some get off the board not going to be part of that, 613 00:33:35,833 --> 00:33:40,140 but personally, if we've got a good team we've got 19 on the 614 00:33:40,180 --> 00:33:44,061 board and most of them have some background. 615 00:33:44,061 --> 00:33:46,642 We've got bankers on the board, we've got business people on 616 00:33:46,662 --> 00:33:51,115 the board and got some retired farmers. 617 00:33:51,115 --> 00:33:57,490 We've got a great team and we've been able to get to where. 618 00:33:57,490 --> 00:34:00,681 It's a team effort getting where we are. 619 00:34:01,241 --> 00:34:05,973 Our first director was a lady that out of Kansas got a 620 00:34:06,013 --> 00:34:08,557 master's degree. 621 00:34:08,557 --> 00:34:12,224 We didn't go after somebody that knew how to run a museum. 622 00:34:12,224 --> 00:34:14,668 Number one we couldn't afford those people. 623 00:34:14,668 --> 00:34:20,018 Number two I felt like as imparted and personally the 624 00:34:20,057 --> 00:34:23,940 board gave me the power pretty well to seek who's the next 625 00:34:23,981 --> 00:34:24,422 director. 626 00:34:24,422 --> 00:34:27,242 We've only had two directors in a year. 627 00:34:28,114 --> 00:34:30,443 Lacey this phrase. 628 00:34:30,443 --> 00:34:31,025 We hired her. 629 00:34:31,025 --> 00:34:33,603 Lacey Holden now is on her 16th year. 630 00:34:33,603 --> 00:34:40,960 She was a very outstanding FFA student at Cooper State, ffa 631 00:34:41,039 --> 00:34:45,688 officer first vice president, got her degree in tech, a 632 00:34:45,748 --> 00:34:50,425 master's in A&M, did internships at Ag Worker, houston, the talk 633 00:34:50,425 --> 00:34:51,630 show Anyway. 634 00:34:51,630 --> 00:34:55,146 When we had an opening for that I told the board I had somebody 635 00:34:55,146 --> 00:34:59,605 in mind what she knows about running a museum nothing. 636 00:34:59,605 --> 00:35:02,304 What Dan Taylor knows about running a museum nothing. 637 00:35:02,304 --> 00:35:07,077 But we learned together in the first appearance and she's been 638 00:35:07,097 --> 00:35:08,222 a blessing to have. 639 00:35:08,222 --> 00:35:15,322 Lacey has such many communicative skills and connect 640 00:35:15,322 --> 00:35:15,744 to people. 641 00:35:15,744 --> 00:35:19,496 So her and I both give that credit back to FFA and the 642 00:35:19,536 --> 00:35:24,802 leadership she learned and had and been a great team. 643 00:35:24,802 --> 00:35:29,527 Marty Berkeback is our communication marketing director 644 00:35:29,527 --> 00:35:29,527 . 645 00:35:29,527 --> 00:35:31,222 She's got an ag comm degree. 646 00:35:31,222 --> 00:35:38,704 So agriculture, education and the FFA program in NASCO has 647 00:35:38,744 --> 00:35:42,769 played such a big role in the success of this museum. 648 00:35:42,769 --> 00:35:48,166 The current name today is FiberMax Center for Discovery. 649 00:35:48,166 --> 00:35:50,242 We took the word museum out. 650 00:35:50,242 --> 00:35:54,646 Some think the museum is nothing but artifacts to look at 651 00:35:54,646 --> 00:35:54,646 . 652 00:35:54,646 --> 00:35:56,760 We're a center of discovery. 653 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:58,505 It's interactive. 654 00:35:59,916 --> 00:36:01,860 Speaker 2: That's the reason why I'm telling people, if you ever 655 00:36:01,860 --> 00:36:04,126 get a chance to go see this place, you got to go see it 656 00:36:04,215 --> 00:36:06,121 because it's interactive. 657 00:36:06,121 --> 00:36:11,344 It's water, it's vegetation, it's livestock, it's everything, 658 00:36:11,344 --> 00:36:12,880 and it's interactive. 659 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:14,000 That's what I like about it. 660 00:36:15,675 --> 00:36:18,233 Speaker 3: Yeah, we'll actually just do a small example of the 661 00:36:18,273 --> 00:36:22,244 exhibits and next we'll have a supermarket, a grocery store, 662 00:36:22,865 --> 00:36:26,826 wow, and they pick up an orange or something, a computer monitor 663 00:36:26,826 --> 00:36:28,784 , and tell them something about the guy that grew. 664 00:36:28,784 --> 00:36:33,581 That it's educational, it's entertaining as well. 665 00:36:36,099 --> 00:36:37,523 Speaker 2: Dan, that's the reason why I wanted to have you 666 00:36:37,605 --> 00:36:39,277 on this show, because I'm telling you, you're like an 667 00:36:39,336 --> 00:36:44,483 encyclopedia of Britannica, of ag, ed, FFA, agricultural 668 00:36:44,543 --> 00:36:48,795 history, and I just appreciate you sharing all this with us. 669 00:36:48,795 --> 00:36:51,101 So we've learned a lot about you. 670 00:36:51,101 --> 00:36:53,867 We've learned a lot about your journey through ag education, 671 00:36:54,396 --> 00:36:56,239 FFA business. 672 00:36:56,239 --> 00:37:00,445 We've learned about your taking on this role of leadership and 673 00:37:00,485 --> 00:37:03,858 helping craft the vision for a museum which now has become a 674 00:37:03,898 --> 00:37:04,800 discovery center. 675 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,516 One last quick topic here, and we're not going to dwell on this 676 00:37:08,516 --> 00:37:12,405 one very long, but I just want to say thank you, because Dan 677 00:37:12,445 --> 00:37:16,358 Taylor is one of the original founders of the Texas FFA 678 00:37:16,438 --> 00:37:17,119 Foundation. 679 00:37:17,119 --> 00:37:22,067 Dan was one of the early folks that got involved with this 680 00:37:22,186 --> 00:37:28,746 organization back in the late 80s and, Dan, just like what 681 00:37:28,786 --> 00:37:31,835 you've witnessed with the museum , what you've witnessed through 682 00:37:32,235 --> 00:37:37,105 FFA, you have also witnessed and been a part of the growth of 683 00:37:37,125 --> 00:37:40,177 the Texas FFA Foundation and you need to take a little credit 684 00:37:40,237 --> 00:37:40,539 for that. 685 00:37:40,539 --> 00:37:41,762 Dan, I know how you are. 686 00:37:41,762 --> 00:37:44,751 You're going to say, well, I didn't do anything, but I'm 687 00:37:44,791 --> 00:37:46,235 going to tell the world right now. 688 00:37:46,235 --> 00:37:51,644 This man has done a lot to support the Texas FFA Foundation 689 00:37:51,644 --> 00:37:51,644 . 690 00:37:53,166 --> 00:37:56,898 Dan, I just want to tell you how much we appreciate you, we 691 00:37:56,998 --> 00:38:01,905 value you and when we look at the success of the Texas FFA 692 00:38:01,945 --> 00:38:06,530 Foundation and you said it, nobody does it alone, Nobody. 693 00:38:06,530 --> 00:38:11,340 And I'm telling you, as the executive director for 24 years, 694 00:38:11,340 --> 00:38:16,289 Dan, I can tell you there are a lot of times where I was 695 00:38:16,329 --> 00:38:16,969 discouraged. 696 00:38:16,969 --> 00:38:19,862 There was a lot of times where I wondered if I was in the right 697 00:38:19,862 --> 00:38:19,983 place. 698 00:38:19,983 --> 00:38:21,809 There's a lot of times where I wondered if I was in the right 699 00:38:21,849 --> 00:38:22,190 place. 700 00:38:22,190 --> 00:38:27,528 There's a lot of times those naysayers as much as you try to 701 00:38:27,568 --> 00:38:30,679 drown them out, they can sometimes slip a comment in and 702 00:38:30,699 --> 00:38:31,601 get it in your ear. 703 00:38:31,601 --> 00:38:35,956 But I'm going to tell you it's the words of encouragement of a 704 00:38:36,016 --> 00:38:38,059 man like Dan Taylor that'll keep you going. 705 00:38:38,059 --> 00:38:42,547 And, Dan, if anybody has benefited from any of the 706 00:38:42,608 --> 00:38:49,021 programs, any of the services, any of the outreach of the Texas 707 00:38:49,021 --> 00:38:54,505 FFA Foundation, you deserve a thank you for being a part of 708 00:38:54,525 --> 00:38:57,318 that and I just want to get that on the record of how much we 709 00:38:57,338 --> 00:38:58,782 value what you've done for us. 710 00:39:00,114 --> 00:39:03,099 Speaker 3: Well, you're very kind and I share some of the 711 00:39:03,139 --> 00:39:03,960 sentiments you did. 712 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:08,206 I've discouraged a few times, several times, and look like we 713 00:39:08,646 --> 00:39:15,076 might not succeed in getting the belt in the foundation, but the 714 00:39:15,076 --> 00:39:17,210 things I mentioned earlier, the perseverance and the team 715 00:39:17,230 --> 00:39:19,998 members that they're pushing forward and a little bit about 716 00:39:20,338 --> 00:39:23,954 as I was bragging on with Lacey, while you were our director and 717 00:39:23,954 --> 00:39:25,722 our background in agriculture. 718 00:39:26,275 --> 00:39:30,684 You're a good example here to help carry forward this 719 00:39:30,764 --> 00:39:35,474 foundation and your training in agriculture and ag science and 720 00:39:35,635 --> 00:39:40,523 FFA has been set to positive in the leadership of the foundation 721 00:39:40,523 --> 00:39:41,858 and the reason it's successful. 722 00:39:41,858 --> 00:39:45,784 You're carrying it forward and thank you for your leadership. 723 00:39:46,836 --> 00:39:49,123 Speaker 2: I want you to know that I'm humbled by your 724 00:39:49,143 --> 00:39:52,414 compliment and I'm telling you I tell people all the time and 725 00:39:52,436 --> 00:39:55,039 you know what I mean, dan when we think about our friends like 726 00:39:55,079 --> 00:39:55,340 J? 727 00:39:55,340 --> 00:39:56,983 Udy and Guy Femstead. 728 00:39:57,505 --> 00:39:57,766 Speaker 3: Yes. 729 00:39:59,175 --> 00:40:01,260 Speaker 2: We stand on the shoulders of the people that 730 00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:04,797 went before us and I'm proud, and I know you are too. 731 00:40:04,797 --> 00:40:07,302 I want people to be proud of what we've accomplished. 732 00:40:07,302 --> 00:40:11,221 I want us to stand a little taller, but I think with that 733 00:40:11,300 --> 00:40:14,315 comes the challenge to everybody that's listening your job is to 734 00:40:14,315 --> 00:40:15,518 stand it even taller. 735 00:40:15,518 --> 00:40:19,806 Your job is to make it even better, to make more 736 00:40:19,927 --> 00:40:24,757 opportunities, to create more acknowledgement of our history. 737 00:40:24,757 --> 00:40:29,326 But, dan, we are in a good place because of who you and 738 00:40:29,385 --> 00:40:33,103 Linda are, and I don't know for those that know, I don't know if 739 00:40:33,103 --> 00:40:35,894 what's ever going to happen to their farm when they're done, 740 00:40:35,934 --> 00:40:39,416 but whatever we do, we need to go out there and we need to soil 741 00:40:39,416 --> 00:40:43,079 sample it, we need to water test it Because, dan and Linda 742 00:40:43,099 --> 00:40:46,601 Taylor, every time I talk to them they seem to get younger 743 00:40:46,721 --> 00:40:50,262 and younger and younger, and so whatever they're doing out there 744 00:40:50,262 --> 00:40:50,963 , it's working. 745 00:40:51,784 --> 00:40:53,043 Speaker 3: Awesome, thank you. 746 00:40:53,925 --> 00:40:56,465 Speaker 2: Dan, thank you so much for joining us today. 747 00:40:56,465 --> 00:41:00,728 I always like to wrap up the podcast with kind of a fun 748 00:41:00,768 --> 00:41:04,730 question, so I'm going to ask you a fun question Um, what's 749 00:41:04,750 --> 00:41:06,510 the best concert you've ever been to? 750 00:41:07,652 --> 00:41:15,161 Speaker 3: Oh, that'd have to be George George Strait. 751 00:41:15,161 --> 00:41:16,063 Yeah, and he's a farmer. 752 00:41:16,163 --> 00:41:18,186 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was going to say how can you go wrong with 753 00:41:18,226 --> 00:41:18,967 King George? 754 00:41:18,967 --> 00:41:24,016 Yeah, oh, that's great. 755 00:41:24,016 --> 00:41:25,117 Dan, thank you for coming on the podcast, but more 756 00:41:25,137 --> 00:41:29,907 importantly, thank you for what you've done for agriculture and 757 00:41:30,068 --> 00:41:34,125 ffa and ag education, the state of texas zig and tom ziggler 758 00:41:34,144 --> 00:41:34,646 talk about. 759 00:41:34,646 --> 00:41:37,675 We are all going to leave a legacy. 760 00:41:37,675 --> 00:41:39,338 We're all going to leave a legacy. 761 00:41:39,338 --> 00:41:40,721 We're all going to leave a legacy. 762 00:41:40,721 --> 00:41:44,768 It will either be by default or design. 763 00:41:44,768 --> 00:41:51,856 This man right here has left a legacy by design and I hope that 764 00:41:51,856 --> 00:41:54,784 today you were able to capture some of those seeds of greatness 765 00:41:54,784 --> 00:42:00,362 that made him a success, made his organizations a success and 766 00:42:00,382 --> 00:42:03,315 can make your life and your community and your organization, 767 00:42:03,315 --> 00:42:05,280 even your business, a success. 768 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:08,005 Dan, thank you for joining us today. 769 00:42:08,847 --> 00:42:10,255 Speaker 3: Thank you, have a good day. 770 00:42:10,637 --> 00:42:12,460 Speaker 2: For all of you that joined us today. 771 00:42:12,460 --> 00:42:14,487 Thank you so much for stopping by. 772 00:42:14,487 --> 00:42:17,900 Remember, if you want to know what the future is, grow it, 773 00:42:18,701 --> 00:42:22,567 start planting seeds of greatness, take care of them and 774 00:42:22,567 --> 00:42:26,099 then harvest it, and then, when you harvest it, share it with 775 00:42:26,159 --> 00:42:26,920 somebody else. 776 00:42:26,920 --> 00:42:31,396 Until our paths cross again, go out and do something great for 777 00:42:31,436 --> 00:42:31,938 somebody. 778 00:42:31,938 --> 00:42:33,641 You'll feel good about it. 779 00:42:33,641 --> 00:42:38,780 Our homes, our community, our state and country will be better 780 00:42:38,780 --> 00:42:39,443 because of it. 781 00:42:39,443 --> 00:42:42,217 Thank you for joining us, and country will be better because 782 00:42:42,257 --> 00:42:42,898 of it. 783 00:42:42,998 --> 00:42:45,583 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. 784 00:42:45,583 --> 00:42:48,148 We hope you've enjoyed this episode of the Growing Our 785 00:42:48,188 --> 00:42:49,188 Future podcast. 786 00:42:49,188 --> 00:42:55,876 This show is sponsored by the Texas FFA Foundation, whose 787 00:42:55,896 --> 00:42:57,159 mission is to strengthen agricultural science education 788 00:42:57,179 --> 00:42:59,903 so students can develop their potential for personal growth, 789 00:43:00,264 --> 00:43:03,469 career success and leadership in a global marketplace. 790 00:43:03,469 --> 00:43:05,800 Learn more at mytexasffaorg.