Shiner FFA returns energized from state convention Fort Worth

Shiner FFA officers returned recently from the 94th annual Texas FFA convention held at the historic Fort Worth Stockyard District, where student leaders from across Lavaca County and the Lone Star State spent an entire week of July 11-15 immersed in all things FFA.

“I’m so thankful for this group of kids,” said Amberly Moye, Shiner ag teacher/FFA advisor. “We had a blast at this year’s state convention and made LIFETIME memories.”

So, what does one do at an event like this? Well, Moye said, there are a few items that come rather standard for convention-goers of almost every sort. Like voting to decide a group’s leaders or, possibly, address some policy or procedural issue within that organization. Or, to learn new skills or come up with various different strategies  or strategy sessions offered, perhaps, or participating in a talent or leadership poll of some sort. You might want to hear from some subject expert or, simply, hear from those rare few, who have extraordinary gifts and like to share.

Most self-respecting conventions usually have something like a trade show happening someplace as well, where some of that industry’s best and brightest show off the latest innovations or trends. Or, where those who supply a particular industry might set up their wares.

FFA, usually teaming with our best and brightest, had plenty of colleges, universities and tech institutes, each with its own program pitch.

“Our students got to speak to various agricultural colleges and other stakeholders interested in helping them decide what their individual futures might hold, some we may not otherwise hear from, here in Shiner” Moye said. “Most importantly, they spent the week networking with peers and learning their own impact as leaders.”

And they got to see things, Moye said, things that just aren’t near as likely to pop up back home. Meeting Dale Brigsby was one of those sorts of things.

Never heard of him, you say? 

Do yourself a favor: Hop on a search engine, and type in that name. Then, prepare to be entertained. 

Dale Brigsby, you see, is a real Texas cowboy and rancher whose claim to fame lies in his comedic YouTube channel (and other platforms) launched in July 2013. He runs the Radiator Ranch in Winnebago, Texas (a non-existent town) and claims to be the world’s best bull rider. He’s so good, in fact, he quit school in the third grade. Yet despite this prowess possessed you rarely see him set foot anyplace near an actual rodeo bull. After nearly a decade now of him bragging about how impressive he is.

A bit far-fetched? That’s kinda the point. 

Because Dale Brigsby, you see, is a character—or, more aptly, a caricature— played by real-life rancher Clint Hopping, 35, an authentic second-generation PRCA rodeo cowboy from Newcastle, some 20 miles northeast of Graham, a place where alter-ego Grisby commonly frequents. 

That Grigsby is chummy with folks like J.B. Mauney (world champion bull rider), Cody Johnson (a bull rider turned country singer), Granger Smith (another Texas singer) and Fallon Taylor (world champion barrel racer, who owns her own line of clothes), who appear regularly in his videos, I doubt they hurt his ratings in the least. 

But as of Monday night, this week, his little YouTube project collected 70.9 million views in nine years, exactly, this month—that averages, roughly, just shy of 22,000 views per day—based on subscriber numbers (he’s got 326,000 of those) and a conservative estimated payout at right at $170,000 a year.

Toss in merchandise and apparel—much of it T-shirts and caps featuring some phrase Grigsby made famous, like “It’s Rodeo Time!” or “Keeping it 90” or “You Ain’t No Cowboy” or “Pow Pow,” (for $32 apiece) and he also struck deals with Rock and Roll Denim for snazzier duds. He even has his own brand of straw hat ($156 each).

Considering the best he ever got from rodeo was $36,434 per year, I’d say he’s alright for a fellow who dropped out of third. That part’s a hoax, too. In fact, he met his wife at A&M, while working on his masters. Which he holds…

So, that students met and were impressed by him… you couldn’t ask for better. 

“They got to meet Dale Brisby and laughed A LOT!” Moye said. “I am blessed beyond measure to be their FFA advisor & I cannot wait to see the amazing things they accomplish this year at SHINER FFA!