Rural producers – ranchers as well as farmers – had always been self sufficient , wary of government help . It took the Dust Bowl and determined government workers to bring unity to focus on the issues facing the agricultural side of our nation .
4 . Resilience through ecological disaster seems to be a topic that never goes away . Do you draw any parallels between how Oklahomans behave today and then ?
Rural producers – ranchers as well as farmers – had always been self sufficient , wary of government help . It took the Dust Bowl and determined government workers to bring unity to focus on the issues facing the agricultural side of our nation . Once rugged individualists realized that they could be a force through unity in their efforts , the struggle was on its way to being over . We have different entities attacking our nation ’ s agriculture today . Some pencil necked accountant behind a desk in Washington , D . C . decides that cow farts are hurting the environment , and the next thing producers know is that some agency wants them to diaper their cattle . Prices for goods are set by factors far out of the reach of producers , yet they get blamed for high prices . Most Oklahomans are better educated on such subjects , but too many activists have no clue as to how food reaches their mouths . City people grew gardens in their back yards in the great wars , because they understood basic agriculture . I doubt today ’ s populace could produce much food . Finally , the ownership of vast amounts of agricultural property by foreign entities – primarily China – is a serious threat to our nation . about the “ No Gun ” decal on the window . It is nothing short of insane to think a sign will stop a kook from killing people when it in fact tells them people within are defenseless . As for the autobiography , I was raised along the Atchinson , Topeka and Santa Fe ( now Burlington Northern and Santa Fe ) railroad across Arizona . From Gallup , New Mexico , to Needles , California , I literally lived about every 40 miles . My home was a railroad car built as a home for maintenance workers and we lived up on the side tracks along the main line . I don ’ t consider myself all that interesting , but believe me , the people we met and the places we lived were fascinating . “ McGee ’ s Boy ,” tells that story in ebook only . W . F . “ Mack ” McGee , was my stepfather , but he was Dad . By the way , he was born and raised across the Cimarron River north of Ripley .
“ Winds of April ” is available now to purchase in
SwOk paperback and electronic form .
5 . As an author , what has the writing process been like or how has it differed from your poetry , to columns , to an autobiographical piece to now ?
Thus far , my poetry has been entirely Christian . My book , “ When first I heard the whisper ,” has sold well enough that I had it reprinted once . I hope to again one day . It sounds silly to some people , but inspiration for those efforts came entirely from somewhere within my spirit . OK , I believe that God had a direct hand in it , so if one doesn ’ t believe that , they can discuss it with the Almighty . My columns began when I dropped by the News Press to pay a bill and griped to the publisher
STORY BY : Beau Simmons Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS : PROVIDED
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 13