Life's work rooted in agriculture; Joe Doby honored for contributions

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Joe Doby, Ag Pioneer

January 16, 2003 -- Back in the 1930s, it wasn't unusual for a poor farmer to raise five children - it provided more workhands. But it was unusual, in that era, for a poor farmer's five children to go on to college and earn at least one degree each.

Joe Doby of Washington County was one of those children - earning a college degree in the 1930s from Southern State, which is now Oklahoma State University. He chose to put his higher education to use, and has stayed involved in agriculture throughout his life.

Because of his great contributions to Texas agriculture, Doby earned one of the Pioneer Awards, issued by Texas Farm Bureau, in 2001. Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) annually issues the awards to persons in each of their districts.

Doby served as president of the Washington County district from 1990 to 2000, and he served as a Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural agent for 30 years, living in Grayson and Knox counties, before retiring ... after 18 years in Galveston County.

A history buff, along with his wife Mary (whom he met in college), Doby has been retired since 1984, but he says he's been involved in agriculture all of his life.

He and Mary bought 72 acres in Washington County in 1977 and said that they came up on weekends, staying in a travel trailer. They planted 30 of those acres in pecan trees, which they owned until it became too labor intensive, and they sold it in 1999.

While building their energy-efficient home on the property in 1984, they lived in a mobile home so they could supervise the work.

"I used to run starter cattle for gain on both places, in the winter time, plus the pecan orchard," he added.

"The Dobys came to Virginia in 1657 and my mother's people came from Ireland a hundred years, later, and we've been farming ever since," explained Doby.

"My grandmother and grandfather came from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1856. They built the house there (in Arkansas) where I was born and raised. He (grandfather) was in the Civil War. My dad was born in 1874."

Growing up on a farm, Doby said money was scarce, and their main income came from the milk production generated by the family's Jersey cows.

"We had Jersey cows, so we separated the milk and sold the cream ... back in those days. We shipped the cream off by railway express to a creamery. That was our main source of income. We raised everything we ate, just about," said Doby.

There were three sons in his immediate family, and all three went into agriculture. Doby's younger brother was an Exension agent, too, until his death in an accident in 1975; and his older brother was head of the department of agriculture in Illinois for 30 years, according to Doby.

At their Washington County farm, the Dobys (Joe and Mary) still grow Coastal and Tifton 85 bermudagrasses on their remaining 28 acres, which adjoins part of the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park.

While none of their three sons chose to go into agriculture-related professions, they and the grandsons enjoy coming to Washington County to fish and enjoy the serenity of the Doby's property.

Doby said the hardest part of being in agriculture all of his life was not being able to control the weather conditions ... and, sometimes ... the prices! Many of his duties involved working with 4-H students, and he really enjoyed being a part of their lives.

When asked about the best part of his career, Doby didn't have to think but a minute.

"Well, agriculture was just something I enjoyed doing. I enjoyed the county (Extension) agent work, because you're working with people and you're only working with the people who want to work with you!" he laughed.

His awards are proud possessions, and his woodworking hobby gives him led him to build various pieces of furniture, including a grandfather clock that he built 30 years ago. The clock continues to tick away the hours, and the Dobys have time to reminisce about the 53 years they've spent as husband and wife.

And it all started with agriculture and a chance meeting at college, all those years ago.