Why is a moratorium the wrong answer, do you think?

Well, I'm not against a moratorium at all.

It's just not the place for the ag commissioner, um, to...

That's not within my purview.

I have relationships with the governor.

Uh, I was actually just with him two days ago, and I have continued to encourage him to, to step out and, and be bold with ensuring that we're protecting Texas land and water.

And as it relates specifically to the agriculture commissioner, you know, the areas where I can make the greatest impact for a producer is to ensure that they have optionality because we lost 68 farms this week because farmers and ranchers can't afford to be in business any longer.

Should voters see that distinction as important or not important? H- how big of a deal do you make of that?

You also have the largest, um, ag district, uh, which is right here where I'm at goes clear back out to the panhandle in the nation, uh, primarily, uh, run by, uh, agriculture independent and corporate agriculture so that's an important issue and so uh with that being said the truth is is not a lot of people across the nation know who you are and so help us understand who you are and where you came from

Well, thanks, guys, for allowing me to be on here with you today.

It's an honor.

And a lot of people might not know who I am from a political standpoint, just because I've never run in politics.

I've been involved in politics, but just purely from a donor side and voting side and support side.

But What people might know me for is that they went to their pantry and looked for a bright neon orange bottle of honey with the name Nature Nates on there.

But in 1996, after I met my lovely wife, Patty, here in Dallas, we got married and she told me we needed a hobby together.

Does that put you at odds, you know, with the independent thought and then the corporate thought, how are you going to balance that?

and i got to meet her at the texas ffa convention sophie yes sophie that's right yeah and

But when Patty and I got married, we had a couple things happen that we didn't really understand the impact that was going to have on our lives.

One, I went on a mission trip down to Venezuela in 1997.

That resulted in me going and spending 12 years in full-time Christian ministry, raised support like a missionary, traveled to 88 countries around the world telling people about Jesus.

But at that same time, bought a beehive as a hobby.

So Patty and I got married.

Right after we got married, she said, hey, we need a hobby together.

You know what? You should.