Brady Wilson was born and raised in Walker County and is a young man who has a passion for serving those in need. His mind is fixed on making things better in his lifetime. Brady grew up in New Waverly and graduated from New Waverly High School in 2022. He was elected president of Area IX FFA Association in 2021. He is currently attending West Texas A&M University and will graduate in May of this year with a degree in agricultural communication.
My mom and dad, Jana and Clint Wilson, taught Ag in New Waverly schools for years and now teach in nearby Groveton. My grandfather taught Ag in the Lufkin area for thirty-three years. I also have an aunt who teaches agriculture in Douglass, Texas. Just about everyone in our family has ties to agriculture, so it became a part of my life. Both of my grandfathers farm and ranch for a living — one in Groesbeck, Texas, where he grows beef cattle; the other in Garrison, Texas, where he raises chickens for Tyson and also raises black angus cattle, pigs, and sheep. I got involved in raising chickens and turkey at an early age and joined 4-H and afterwards FFA.
I have placed in the lineup and made the premium auctions many times. I won grand champion in 2015 at the State Fair of Texas and won grand champion at the San Antonio Livestock Show in 2017. I also had a grand champion turkey in Walker County in 2018. Raising chicken broilers and turkey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. While in FFA and 4-H, I have appeared at public speaking events, livestock judging, and dairy cow judging. I would say 100 percent of my college tuition has been paid for through involvement with FFA and 4-H. Our family just recently received new chicks for my sister to raise for competition at the San Antonio Livestock Show.” This time of year is very busy for our family because of the Houston Livestock Show and San Antonio Livestock Show, so we are traveling between the cities quite a bit.
It was kind of by accident. All my family has gone to Sam Houston or Texas A&M. I thought Sam was too close, and I knew most of the professors there. I didn’t want to be treated differently because they knew me and my parents. Texas A&M was just too big of a school for me. I visited Tarleton State, which has a great agricultural program, and I liked the campus. I signed up for orientation and was all set to go there, but that never happened. In the latter part of 2021, my dad and I had some ticket vouchers we needed to use, and we decided to fly up to Amarillo and visit West Texas A&M, which is in the nearby town of Canyon. I had visited Canyon in the past for FFA events, and I knew some friends who attended W.T. It is a division ll school and is not as well-known as the larger ones. We took the tour, visited the new Ag facility that had recently been built, and the place just felt like home. The professors I met were very personable, and we immediately exchanged cell phone numbers. If I needed to talk with them about any concerns, I had their personal number. The initial reason for visiting was word of mouth from friends, but the real reason would be how it felt like home.
In the fall of 2025, 15 other students and I were selected for a study abroad trip to Cape Town, South Africa. We took several hundred books and bookmarks to distribute to in-need children in six different primary schools. Our team was involved in planting a fruit and vegetable garden that was much needed at one of the schools in a rural area. We took several tours while we were there which included: Stellenbosch University Citrus Orchard; Table Mountain; Robbin Island; Seal Island; and Langa Township, where we attended a church service. We saw people who live in townships that are very poor. Right off, I noticed how resilient the people were in South Africa. I tried to keep an open mind on the trip, thinking there were going to be things I would see that I would not expect. The people didn’t seem to dwell on the fact they were poor, and I witnessed their love and respect for one another–much different than what I have witnessed in America. Social classes didn’t seem to be emphasized, as I witnessed the wealthy sitting down to eat with the poor. The people of South Africa are extremely happy. While visiting the different schools, it was apparent the kids had a desire to learn, even though they lacked the technology. It didn’t seem to matter to them; their eagerness to learn was far different than what I had experienced in U.S. schools. They may be dealing with hardships, but you couldn’t tell, because they were so excited to be there.
My servant attitude began as a kid while attending church. My mom was very instrumental in the importance of community service, as we were heavily involved with the Salvation Army. During the holidays, we would serve at the ringing of the bell to accept donations. We also visited the Conroe Soup Kitchen on different occasions. I became involved in 4-H in third grade and helped in other non-profit organizations as well.
While going to West Texas A&M, I was sightseeing near the middle of town in Amarillo. There is a section called the Sixth Street Historic District, consisting of different shops, restaurants, antique malls, bars, art studios, and music venues. All of these places were located in old historical buildings. I met the owner of an antique store who is a member of the “Old Route 66 Association of Texas.” She shared information about the group that interested me. I learned there was a festival coming up that was the first Route 66 festival, hosted by the Visitors Bureau of Amarillo. They offered a bus tour that traveled the whole route through Texas. After taking the bus tour and talking with one of the tour guides, I was convinced to get involved. I became a leadership team member involved in membership and communications. Along the way, I have helped with photography, digital communication, and graphics. Since I knew a bit about lobbying, I volunteered to meet with representatives in Austin who were leaders in the Panhandle. My visit helped improve communication with TxDOT to facilitate installation of signs along the Route 66 corridor. Phase one was completed, which included 28 signs. This year, the association is celebrating the 5th Annual Texas Route 66 Motor Tour and the 100-year Anniversary of Route 66, Oct 1-3.
I have been working remotely with an organization I am quite fond of. The Seitz Fundraising Corporation is a corporate sponsor of FFA. They provide products, financial support, and customer service, meeting the fundraising needs of FFA, 4-H, and other school organizations. They are located in Fredericksburg, and if all works out, I will soon be moving to that area. I will continue to be involved in production agriculture, helping students in FFA and 4-H, serving those in need, and continuing to work in historical preservation with the folks at Old Route 66 Association of Texas. I am and always will be a man of many hats.
