When Cherie first approached me about taking a position at The Showbox magazine, I thought, yeah right. Turned out she was serious. Over the years, Cherie and I have had several conversations about marketing, publishing, advertising and magazine design. She was picking my brain since I have been in marketing for 30 years, but in the oil and gas service industry. There were may similarities, although from my perspective a livestock publication created in a small East Texas town was not something to be taken seriously. Wrong again.

Randy and I go back ten years as best friends who talked about everything, some mentionable, some not. What amused me the most would be the stories he would have after returning from one of the deadline weeks in Crockett. My first thought was, here we go with all the drama to ensue: tales of crazed advertisers, office members talking at each other and to no one in particular, the power going out in the middle of downloading files, trying to keep up with all the town gossip for good measure, and to top it all off the maid drove her car through the garage. The year before, the same scenario, only Ryan was going through the crises of a total home remodel and had to tell Scooter they were moving in with Ryan’s parents for another couple of months. Again, I thought drama to ensue. The year before that, a buzzard flew through the windshield of Poncho’s truck after he had picked up the magazines from the printer to meet a critical distribution date. It occurred to me that not even Randy, even on a slow news day, could spin tales of this magnitude. Who, in his right mind, would want to get involved in this scenario? 

Well, here I sit. I have learned a lot in the past 2 weeks. I have learned that the livestock industry is comprised of just as many characters as any Fortune 500 company. But, I must also say there are some wonderful people who are committed to making a difference in the quality of education and making sure their children are prepared for what waits ahead as they enter the next stage of their lives. Oh well, if everyone were the same, it would be boring. Right? Coming from corporate America, where everyone is suspicious of your motives and your every action, it is refreshing to be a part of a group that looks beyond itself and tends to focus on the positive effects of spending time together as a family and working hard to achieve its goals. If you think about it, it is a reflection of what most of our country is experiencing, only you guys were way ahead of the curve. You had it right all along. I may not have the corner office, the company credit card, or the keys to the executive washroom, but from where I sit, the view is just fine.

I have to believe that things happen for a reason. I have volunteered, for several years, at the Belt Buckle Bonanza and helped with The Showbox on various occasions, and have met many of you along the way and hope to meet more of you in the future. I am a big believer in the education of our youth and the influence parents, teachers, and loved ones have on their attitude and development, and I cannot think of a better way to do my part than give you a magazine that reflects these values. On that note, if there is anything that you want to hear about or want to see in The Showbox, let me know. As the year rolls along, I will be attending even more shows and events, and if we have not met, I welcome the handshake and the occasional, “new in town?” There is a big box of chocolate cookies in the break room with my name on it and a note that says welcome. I wonder how long I can work the “new in town” angle?

Bill Poplin

Managing Editor

The Showbox