West Texas Roots is KACU’s oral history project which collects the stories of individuals and families of West Texas. These are stories that help paint a picture of the building/founding of West Texas as well as recalling other moments of the region’s unique history.
West Texas Roots is made possible in part by a grant from the Doctor Paula Windham Fund for Education and Community Development—through the Community Foundation of Abilene. And from a Gift from the Doris Miller and Don Fitzgibbons Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene.
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Got a family tale to tell? A love story made for a country song? Family roots in Business, education, agriculture, and religion? Did your great-grandfather's farm survive severe weather hardships or wild hogs?
Or do you have anything you want us to know? Help us uncover West Texas Roots by telling your story.
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The cowboys of the West Texas of old have plenty of tales to tell. Judy Davis shares some of those tales, passed down from her parents and grandparents from their youth in Okra, Texas. We’ll hear all about playing in the creek, hunting spotted cats, and telling stories that endure through generations. -
We’re hearing from Becky Lovvorn. She's the co-owner of ML Farms in Stamford, Texas, where her family grows cotton, wheat, and raises cattle. She's also a key part of the Abilene Farmers Market, which has been connecting the community with local produce and farm goods since 1983.
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A staple of West Texas is the small town with a big history. Nestled in West-Central Texas, within the bounds of Brown County, lies the small town of Bangs, Texas. Let’s have a listen about the man who this town was named after, and how his printing career led to local fame and an enduring legacy throughout the region. Tom Bowden has the story.
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When it comes to the holidays, lots of people have family traditions. Some of those may even seem strange to outsiders. But have you ever seen a holiday tradition that was creepy? What about crawly? On today’s edition of West Texas Roots, we’ll hear about how one family developed a tradition all about the Texas tarantula.
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West Texas Roots brings us the story of a father’s journey from hitchhiking to the oil fields.
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Randy shares the story of how a simple childhood moment sparked a lifelong obsession with pecans.
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Stacy Villanueva and her daughter moved from the big city and dove head first into the West Texas tradition of farming. From cramming into a dense city neighborhood to tending a wide variety of plants and animals, she takes us through her journey to becoming a true farmer.
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Wade Lakey takes us inside the world of aerial application, where pilots brave the skies to keep local farms thriving.
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