TownTalk Commentary With Dan Jackson, Texas Cotton Ginners

Listen in as TownTalk’s Dan Jackson and Eric Horton talk politics and ag with commentary from Dan Jackson.

Commentary with Dan Jackson

This week in Lubbock the Texas Cotton Ginners Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show will take place. This will be the 112th meeting of the Ginners, and as always is a great week to come together and see the latest technology and catch up with old friends. When the first gin show met in Dallas there were over 4,000 gins in Texas, today that number is under 300. Lots of changes have happened in our industry. The size of equipment and with that, the ability to gin more bales per hour has led to fewer gins. I’ve been attending the gin show since I was old enough to walk. From an early age, I learned about the brotherhood the ginners share, and Texas Cotton Ginners brings us all together. I affectionately call it the Ginner Mafia. Independent, Co-op we all come together under the banner of TCGA to work for the good of the industry, and that leads to lifelong friendships. That more than anything makes this a week we all look forward to every year. It’s really a family reunion more than anything. I’m thankful to be a life member of TCGA, and it is one of the biggest honors I’ve ever received. Even more so is when we sit down on Friday at the Life Members lunch, I’ll be sitting with my Dad. Two generations of Jackson’s who are life members. That’s special, and there are several other Father’s and Sons who also share Life Membership. Like a said it’s a special week…

I would encourage our producers and the general public to make their way to Lubbock Thursday or Friday and walk through the show, and along with the latest gin equipment, there’s also farm and harvesting equipment as well. It’s a great opportunity for folks to see what makes the cotton industry work, and also how many companies and people are involved. The economics involved are huge and point to what we always talk about, Ag is vital to this region. So folks please take the time and head out to the Civic Center in Lubbock April 4th or 5th. On Thursday from 9am-4:30 pm and Friday from 9am-2: 30 PM. Come on out and join us!