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The Hill Country Podcast

Carter Keating – Advocating for Texas Agriculture

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places, and their activities of the Texas Hill Country.

Are you interested in the ins and outs of Texas’ agriculture industry? You have to check out this episode of the Hill Country Podcast, which features Carter Keating, the founder of Texas Agricultural Connection. They discuss how his interest in public service led him to a master’s degree in international affairs and a passion for agriculture. Carter shares his advocacy work on water infrastructure and farmer funding solutions, as well as legislative advocacy, community support, and a scholarship program for high school seniors pursuing education in agriculture. With Texas’ growing population, the state’s water resources have become strained, but Carter and Tom discuss legislative priorities for funding water access programs and incentivizing young people to enter the agriculture industry. Additionally, they explore the potential impact of the Chinese purchase of American agriculture and land on the American food supply system. Start listening to Hill Country Podcast now to learn all about Texas’ agricultural landscape and the issues it faces!

Key Highlights

·      Carter Heating’s journey to Texas Agricultural Connection

·      Agricultural Commodity Associations and Water Infrastructure

·      Agricultural Water Challenges and Solutions

·      Legislation improving rural life in Texas

·      Agricultural Regulations and National Security

·      Crafting foreign investment legislation in Texas

·      Balancing Agriculture and Other Concerns

 Notable Quotes 

“ Our mission is to promote support and strengthen Texas agriculture, educating the general Texas public about why agriculture is important, why it matters, and why it matters to the general Texas public even if you’re not directly involved in that industry.”

“In my research, it seems like just about every issue has water at its core. Last year, in 2022, we had more than 3000 boil water notices in the state of Texas.”

“Evidence suggests that broadband access improves health outcomes. It increases the educational opportunities that are available in rural communities. It makes farms and ranches more profitable and more competitive.”

“Right now, only 7 or 8 percent of our producers are under the age of 35, and the average age of the farmer is right around 60 years old.”

Resources

Carter Keating on LinkedIn

Texas Agricultural Connection

Tom Fox

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The Hill Country Podcast

The Big Empty On 5 Economic Issues Facing Texas Today: Part 1-Water

This begins a special podcast series on current economic and culture issues faced by the state of Texas, its governments and its citizens. We will explore these issues with author Loren Steffy, through the prism of his book The Big EmptyThe Big Empty set in 1999, is a tale about the sense of place and tells the story of a fictional company AzTech which builds a semi-conductor plant in the dying west Texas city of Conquistador. The attempt is beset by the clash of culture in bringing Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs to rural Texas. The book also raises multiple economic issues facing Texas as we move towards the mid 21st century. Over this 5-part podcast series we will consider the following issues facing Texas today; including water, power, land investment, housing and the clash of cultures.

In Episode 1 we consider water and water resource in a time of water scarcity. In the book, the newcomers build out a lake which sits in the front of their gated community and is used to water their private golf course. We explore questions of where water is found and how is it delivered, transmission to move to water where you need it and what happens if you have too much water. We consider the clash of culture in using water to create a water feature for a gated community that is either seen as a positive by its residents or a waste of water in the time of draught by the locals. Water as a sustainable commodity is a question facing Texas today and for the future.

Purchase The Big Empty.