Former College Rodeo Coach Still Giving Back To Next Generations

While on-site at the TCA Convention in February, TCA Talk had the opportunity to meet J.D. Van Hooser, who dedicated 20 years of his life serving as the head coach for Murray State University’s Rodeo Team, which competed in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Following his retirement from Murray State, where he also taught classes in the Animal Science Department, J.D. has stayed in the cattle industry by joining the sales team at Yarbrough Sales, which provides steel, fencing and pipe products primarily to farming operations.In our conversation with J.D., he looks back on his coaching days and the opportunity to work with young people through his years at Murray State. While talking about his overall impressions of being on-site at the TCA Convention, J.D. notes the importance of fostering a desire to work in production agriculture among young people. As J.D. shares with TCA Talk, despite obstacles for new producers that include high land prices, infrastructure costs, and market challenges, J.D. believes the future of the beef cattle industry is a bright one. To learn more about the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association and how you can become a member of TCA, please visit TNCattle.org.