10-12-2008, 05:31 AM
Yes, Scott, I saw the Horns hook OU. It was glorious.
As far as the oil business goes, you have to understand that where I come from, the struggling family ranchers (not mega-businesses or "hobby" rancher millionaires) have long distrusted the oil companies. They have a history of taking advantage of Texas land owners that goes back to the early 20th century by buying mineral rights and paying royalties that were only a fraction of what a more sophisticated person would have negotiated. To top it off, they frequently left the land they drilled upon environmentally wrecked and useless for future agricultural use. If you fly over West Texas, you can still see the scars on the land from drilling in the 1920's.
We used to think we were unlucky because there was no oil under our land, but now those of my family who choose to follow the traditional livelihood have a beautiful, unspoiled place to work. It isn't the life I would choose, but my cousins love it, and I respect their choice. And my Mama still gets to shoot rattlesnakes.
Cheers,
Jerry
As far as the oil business goes, you have to understand that where I come from, the struggling family ranchers (not mega-businesses or "hobby" rancher millionaires) have long distrusted the oil companies. They have a history of taking advantage of Texas land owners that goes back to the early 20th century by buying mineral rights and paying royalties that were only a fraction of what a more sophisticated person would have negotiated. To top it off, they frequently left the land they drilled upon environmentally wrecked and useless for future agricultural use. If you fly over West Texas, you can still see the scars on the land from drilling in the 1920's.
We used to think we were unlucky because there was no oil under our land, but now those of my family who choose to follow the traditional livelihood have a beautiful, unspoiled place to work. It isn't the life I would choose, but my cousins love it, and I respect their choice. And my Mama still gets to shoot rattlesnakes.
Cheers,
Jerry