Strong winds, flowing water, sun rays, earth’s warmth, and products of the earth, all sources of energy that propose a seemingly perfect solution to so many problems, but at what cost? Renewable energy sources can be pushed as the possible answer to greenhouse gas emissions, but what price is being paid for this reduction?

The fourth-generation farmer from Kress, Texas, has committed decades to the cotton and sorghum industries. Throughout his farming career, Evans constantly worked on his craft of improving his farming practices. “It is important to tell our story,” Evans said. “Every farmer I know cares about the soil, sustainability, and more. There is a story about being the stewards of the land.”

A vineyard is an expensive, long-term investment in comparison to other agricultural pursuits. Bolen said one acre of winemaking grapes can cost upwards of $10,000 and take three to five years for a return on investment. Managing a vineyard is a time-intensive and largely un- mechanized endeavor. Growing grapes is hard enough as is without the added stress of protecting your crop from one of the most powerful herbicides commercially available to farmers.

When Lindsay Hamer started her communications internship at the Texas Peanut Producers Board, she thought she had a good understanding of what her day-to-day responsibilities would be: writing press releases, making social media posts, and answering phones. But as she climbed into the 8-foot tall Tex P. Nut mascot uniform, she started to wonder what she had gotten herself into.