Tattered Jeans

Rodeo highlight: Future Farmers uphold the spirit of what makes America great

Being the youngest of four, I was tolerated as the tag along. But my brother, Kit, was kind.

When we were toddlers, Kit used to kiss me like Bugs Bunny kissed Elmer Fudd. When we got a little older, he’d sometimes sock me in the stomach. By high school, there was 20 yards between us as we walked into school every morning but I always knew that from the corner of his eye, Kit watched over me. He cared. He played football on the high school team, wore his FFA (Future Farmers of America) jacket proudly, and worked part time at a veterinary clinic. I adored him. Still do.

So whenever I see someone wearing the blue and corn gold colored FFA jacket something inside just feels good. Hopeful. Affirming.

Last year at the rodeo I spotted a group of youngsters wearing their FFA jackets and went over to chat with them awhile. They were as nice as the FFA members I knew in high school. Courteous too. “Yes ma’am” isn’t something I often hear from a bunch of teenagers.

Courteous too. “Yes ma’am” isn’t something I often hear from a bunch of teenagers.

Usually, when I go to the rodeo, I have no particular assignment story, but this year was different. I remembered those FFA youngsters from a year ago and thought now this is one I could happily go looking for.

I found them gathered under a big sign that said WELCOME TO AGVENTURE – waiting to take young school kids on a tour through a building full of chickens, cows, rabbits and more.

Some were in charge of taking the children on the swine tour. Others were responsible for leading them through the chicken and cattle exhibits. They were kind enough to let me mosy along and learn too. Throughout the tour, it was easy to see that these FFA members connected with the kids as much as they did with the animals. Afterwards, I had the pleasure of visiting with a few of them.

Caitlin Toomey, age 16, grew up around the rodeo and has shown llamas. “It (FFA) teaches you a lot about responsibility,” she said, “and we get to help a lot of people.”

Throughout the tour, it was easy to see that these FFA members connected with the kids as much as they did with the animals.

Miles Hackstedt, also 16, says it makes him feel good to teach kids about agriculture. “How they get food, clothing, stuff they need,” he explained. “Hopefully, these kids will keep the cycle going.”

Hunter Bean, age 15, believes that the FFA “teaches you lessons you can carry with you your entire life.” He likes the responsibility of taking care of animals. “I learn from them,” he said.

Later, I asked the youngsters if I could take a group photograph. Taking one look at these fine folks, you gotta believe that the FFA is alive and very well. But, if any of you youngsters need some encouragement, just talk with someone who still exemplifies the FFA spirit.

At age 61, Kit runs his farm and works in the trust department of a bank. Early most mornings, we talk on the phone over coffee. He tells me about the geese on the pond, how many calves he’s counted. We talk about the long, cold winter there but how beautiful spring should be. I can’t wait to go see.

If Henry Ford’s right, “The farther we get away from the land, the greater our insecurity,” Kit need never worry. Neither do any of you, Future Farmers of America.

Tom turkey.

Photo by Katie Oxford

Tom turkey.

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in this economy?

This is the salary you need to live comfortably in Houston in 2026

money, salary, income to live comfortably, SmartAsset

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Single Houstonians need to make a little more than $82,000 to live comfortably in the city, the report found.

A 2026 report analyzing how much it costs to live "in sustainable comfort" in the biggest U.S. cities has found Houston residents have the 11th lowest salary requirement to live a comfortable life in 2026.

SmartAsset's annual report found single adult residents in Houston need to make $89,981 a year to qualify as "financially stable." Compared to last year, single Houstonians needed to make $83 more to live comfortably in the city.

Families with two working parents and two children need to make a household income of $204,672 to have a financially stable life in Houston, the report found. That's almost $2,000 less than what families needed to make last year.

To determine the rankings, SmartAsset's analysts examined 100 of the largest U.S. cities and used the latest cost of living data – such as the costs for housing, food, transportation, and income taxes where applicable – from the MIT Living Wage Calculator for childless individuals and for two working adults with two children.

For the purpose of the study, the 50/30/20 budgeting strategy was used to determine "comfortable lifestyle" costs for both individuals and families: 50 percent of income to cover needs and living expenses, 30 percent for "wants," and 20 percent for savings or paying down debt.

Here's breakdown of a Houston resident's comfortable lifestyle based on SmartAsset's findings:

$44,991 dedicated to needs and living expenses
$26,994 dedicated to wants
$17,996 dedicated to savings or debt repayment

This is SmartAsset's interpretation of a comfortable lifestyle for families of four:

$102,336 dedicated to needs and living expenses
$61,402 dedicated to wants
$40,934 dedicated to savings or debt repayment

SmartAsset said single individuals and families should compare the fluctuating local cost of living and their long-term goals to fully "understand the context" of their respective household incomes. But it's worth pointing out that a financially stable life in Houston isn't quite attainable for many residents: The city had a median household income of $64,361 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Comfortable salaries in other Texas cities
Elsewhere in Texas, the report found that families in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs Frisco and McKinney "are closest to a comfortable salary."

"In Frisco, [Texas], the median household earns $145,444 – substantially higher than the national median of $83,730," the report's author wrote. "This figure also accounts for 63.1 percent of the $230,464 income a family of four in Frisco needs to live comfortably. In McKinney, TX, the $124,177 median household income accounts for 53.9 percent of the $230,464 needed."

Both cities also tied with Plano for the 29th highest salary needed nationally to live comfortably in 2026. Single adults living in these cities need to make $109,242 a year to live a financially stable life this year.

On the opposite end, San Antonio has the lowest salaries needed to live comfortably in the U.S. Single adults only need to make $83,242 a year, and $192,608 for families of four.

cost of living reports salaries smartasset money