Sam Middleton is deeply rooted in his farming heritage, coming from a long line of farmers in Happy, Texas. As a fourth-generation farmer, he is dedicated to continuing the family tradition of raising cattle and growing crops such as wheat, corn, and cotton.
I plan to take a few portraits of Sam in and around the PSS building. I also think a few portrait shots of Sam on or around farm equipment might be good, as well as pictures of he and his cattle
PSS Major
"Its giving me useful information I can take home and apply"
Advisor - Robert Right
Graduates May 2020
Small town feel
Junior Crop Science PSS major
Learning actual skills related to his family farming operation
"Its going to be useful down the road with the technology and crops changing"
Favorite class - Weed Sciences Dr. Dotray
Weed management and chemical application
Happy, TX
Graduated Happy High School in 2016
Great grandad started farming operation
Small town
85 miles North of Lubbock
Story idea
I plan to portray Sams experience in PSS and how it is going to help him when he graduates and moves home to his families farm and stocker cattle operations
Anecdotal Lead
Rain or shine, starting the day early is just a way of life in the small town of Happy in the panhandle of Texas. A normal day doesn't consist of sitting behind the desk, for some it means feeding and watering cattle, checking fences, and putting in 5 hours on a tractor before lunch.
4th generation farmer
Family is very close and important to Sam
Cattle brand "7" 7 is a biblical number
Wants to go home and carry on the tradition
"I always knew i wanted to go back home and farm"
Grew up on farm
"I just love being out there"
Texas Tech family
Most of the family graduated from Tech
Brother coming to tech in fall 2019
Uncle, Marty Middleton, Tech profesor
Always went to Tech football and basketball games
Brand, vaccinate, castrate, and dehorn in 45 to 60 seconds
Subtopic
"Everybody's got their job" "We have a pretty good system"
Grow wheat, corn and cotton
Farm and Stocker Operation
Sam is more like a partner than an employee
Receive 100 head every 2 weeks on average
Feed, water, check fence, and get on tractor
Normal Day starts at 6 a.m. and can end as late as midnight