Perimeter Fires

Over a foot of rain might be killing the tomatoes, but it may be worth it for the seasonal lesson that it brought this way.

The 2024 Hill County Muster Address answers questions about Bonfire, how it is built, what it means to Aggieland, what it means to the students who build it, what they learn, and their resolve to carry on this and every year.

A lot to be motivated about after Mustering with the gracious and outstanding Aggies of the Hill County A&M Club. But let's talk about something that happened before we got into town on April 21.

The 2021 Ft. Worth Muster was my first occasion to give a Muster Address. I have spoken at a Muster every year since. Every Muster Address is new, created to represent the students' outstanding work and share the unique lessons and challenges of their most recent season. I was originally set to speak at the 2020 Ft. Worth Muster. After COVID interrupted that Muster, the 2021 Muster Address represented two very motivating seasons.

In the wake of last week's news about a possible Bonfire on campus, I answered lots of tough questions and had lots of conversations. In one case, to an audience of some 5 million weekly visitors. Of all the interviews I've done over 25 years, this might have been the hardest. And I loved it.

Joel Taylor, Aggie Class of '98, is a motivated Aggie and father to a Bonfire Redpot. Our conversation - the first at an actual Perimeter Fire - outlasted the camera, so part two is audio only. We talk about being a father, continuous improvement, and the marvels of Bonfire's construction.

A trio of concerns and two home runs. Doing the right thing the right way can be hard. But always rewarding.

Joel Taylor is Aggie Class of '98. A leader on the Quad and motivated Bonfire participant in his time as a student, he is also now father to a Senior Redpot for Bonfire '24. In a wide-ranging two-part conversation that outlasted the video camera, we reflect on what it means to be an Aggie, what makes a leader, what it takes to build Bonfire, and what it gives in return.

This Monday Moti comes on a Tuesday. Because I was fishing with my brother and my son on Monday. A conversation about tides and witness to greatness reminded me of another talk about different tides, that weren't really tides at all.

There's a lot of words you may hear at Bonfire. But there's one word you learn not to use.