It's October in Texas, which for a kid from rural West Texas this means that your local farmers are getting ready to harvest cotton. I grew up watching my step-dad and step-brother work cotton fields day in and day out. As a matter of fact, I remember being paid $100 one summer for helping manage the farm behind our house by cutting down weeds. I also remember every fall, during football season, attending the local community's harvest festival.

One of the things I remember about growing up in a farming family was sometimes the crop didn't produce, due to circumstances outside my family's control. For example, during summer droughts, unless you had irrigated fields, your cotton didn't grow. It was even more heartbreaking when your neighbors field was flourishing during the drought, while your field was not.

This reminds me a lot about sports. Just because my family's crop didn't produce as they had planned, did not mean that they had not invested the time and hard work needed to be successful. In sports, we tend to look at records as the measure for success. As fans, sometimes we think that the reason someone's record is not producing wins, it must be someone's fault. When in fact, it is sometimes just the nature of the game.

This season I have witnessed two situations, in two different sports, that remind me of this parallel between farming and coaching. In Jacksboro, our football team started out the season with an 0-4 record for the first time since 2014. It was not the start that anyone in our community probably expected, but just like in farming there were some things that were outside our control. What impressed me the most, was very similar to what impresses me about farmers and ranchers alike. They never quit working, never complain, and look to how they can improve the situation the next week.

Another team in Jacksboro looking to end a drought this season is the Tigerettte Volleyball team. These ladies are putting together a season to already be very proud of, as they are approaching a 20 win season. However, they are hungry for more than just a 20 win season. They are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and first playoff win since 2006. Just like with the football team, no excuses, no complaining. They show up everyday and give it the best they have.

What has made me prouder than anything is how our community has rallied behind these kids and coaches and never once did I hear any grumbling about the team or the way they were being coached. As a matter of fact, during Homecoming week, while Jacksboro was celebrating its 150 year celebration of the town's founding, I saw a community come out stronger than ever to support a football team looking for its first win. They did in such a way that it seemed like the team was 4-0!

In that same time span, I saw the Tigerette Volleyball team rally off two big district wins with opponents that they had to beat in order to position themselves for a possible playoff opportunity.

Galatians 6:9 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." I think this verse is a great reminder to farmers, athletes, coaches, and fans alike. Never give up working. No matter the circumstances, no matter the disappointments, keep working towards that harvest.

Because scripture promises us that if we do not give up in doing good and doing what is right, we will reap the harvest coming our way! Get ready...the Harvest is coming!