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Welcome to Roots. I’m your host, Abby Huie, and I’ll be walking with you through the story of my family’s farm and ranch outside of Beeville, South Texas. We will dive into the origins of 1349 Food and Fiber, its struggles and successes, and the outlook for future generations. We’ll also explore the ways that agriculture has evolved for small production businesses like ours, gaining a deeper understanding of the realities an American farmer faces everyday.
James Riggle riding horses with his grandson, Matt Huie.
In The Beginning
In episode 1, we will explore the origins of the 1349 Food and Fiber farm and ranch. We’ll date back to my great-grandfather and the origin of our roots, James Riggle, who handpicked cotton during the great depression. James and his wife, Frankie, would go on to build their own farm and ranch operation with all of the blood, sweat, and tears that this lifestyle demands. James, who was “Grandaddy” to us all, embodied the spirit of the Texas cowboy. He embraced the land and it in turn bared the fruits of his diligent work. Though he and Frankie are not physically with us anymore, their legacy remains at the root of our family and our love for agriculture.
Our First Guests:
To get a first hand perspective of life growing up on the original family land, we will hear from Cherry Pichot, one of James’s three daughters, and her husband Claude Pichot, who in later days helped James with the finances and business aspect of his farming operation. Although James’s daughters never officially took over the operation, they were vital in its lasting success and in its continuity in the next generation. In speaking with Cherry and Claude, we will lean into stories of the old days, when pastures stretched to the horizon and $200 was a lot of money.
James Riggle, 2010
Farming and ranching are not for the faint of heart. This life requires faith, perseverance, and grit to be successful. It is these values and this story that shaped who I am today. It is my hope that through this podcast, you too will feel these roots. As Grandaddy always said, move forward in your life rooted in the past, but with steady eyes on the future.
The operation currently produces corn, cotton, and grain sorghum. In addition, seasonal cover crops such as winter wheat are grown to enhance soil matter. Most of these products are sold or traded to make animal feeds and textiles. However, we use some of these products to feed the ranch’s livestock. The planting season for these crops usually begins in late February and spans until early May, ending just in time to prepare for summer harvest. This period is one of the most stress-inducing parts of the production agriculture process. The weather in these months can make or break a good crop.
This episode is special to me, as it encompasses my life growing up. This is what made me who I am. So, welcome to the family! These are the roots.