The Next Generation of Stewardship

Each year Twisted X looks forward to April with a special anticipation. Not only is Spring a welcome exhale after a long winter, but it also signals a more focused and reverent attention to land and how we relate to it. And while sustainable practices and products are infused into our business year round, taking the chance to celebrate it during Earth Day is a welcome occasion. In recent years we have been exploring what it means to harbor a "Love of the Land." We have found that it's an expansive concept that reaches from rural corners where it is as normal as breathing, to cityscapes where day after day more opportunities to be good stewards of the earth are making themselves apparent. One constant, no matter your region or background, is that the future of sustainability belongs to the next generation. 

This could not be more clear when you spend any amount of time around 4-Her's. Twisted X proudly partners with the 4-H organization and last year released an exclusive collection of 4-H footwear, in hopes of outfitting tomorrow's leaders in comfortable shoes. Recently we had the honor of spending some time getting to know Wyatt and Eli Gandy - two passionate brothers heavily involved in 4-H already blazing their own trails in the agricultural industry. Read about their story below!

Hailing from Grandview Texas, Wyatt and Eli currently serve in their local 4-H chapter as Vice President and Parliamentarian. Collectively they have been involved with 4-H for 10 years, each showing steers and heifers. They also participate in meat and livestock judging as well as skillathon which serves to test and demonstrate their vast knowledge of livestock and animal sciences. To add to their already robust resume of agricultural activities, the brothers own a cattle company together named WE Livestock where they are working to increase the genetic value of their Simm/Angus herd. 

Daily the Gandy brothers go to the barn to work with their animals. With care and dedication they will either practice showmanship skills or tend to their livestock by blowing them out or washing them to ensure they are always in prime condition. 

When we asked about what participating in what 4-H has taught them, they responded in turn: "4-H livestock projects teach us the importance of responsibility, as we are accountable for the well-being of our animal. Raising livestock provides valuable life skills, including financial management, time management, problem-solving, and communication." 

If the present is even a small indication of what the future holds for these two avid 4-Her's, it's certainly very bright. Currently Eli plans to be an embryologist while Wyatt aims to earn a degree in Ag Business to become a seed stock producer and own his own feedlot, all while continuing to judge livestock. 

We are inspired by these boys' dedication to their livestock and the land they inhabit. Their "Love of the Land" challenges us to look forward with hope as young leaders like those in 4-H carry the torch towards a more sustainable future, but also to focus presently on changes we can make today to join in the collective and enduring work of stewardship to this amazing planet. Happy Earth Day!

Learn more about Twisted X's 4-H Collection by visiting our website or a local retailer near you.