Ray Akins on Gardening

By Edwin Cooper

During the peak of vegetable and fruit harvesting, Ray and Virginia Akins may be seen sharing the bounty of their gardening with their many friends in and around Franklin.
Ray said, "My dad was a straw boss on the John Wall Ranch out of Brady. Times were tough then so we planted three to five acre gardens every year. We did about 600 cans of corn each year and grew sweet potatoes for ourselves and to feed the hogs. We trapped for hides to sell and ate those wild animals considered fit to eat, along with the goats, chickens and hogs we raised. About all we had to buy was salt and flour. Along with milk, cheese and honey from our bee hives we ate great.
Dad didn't want us to attend school because it interfered with our chores. Regardless I managed to graduate from Brady High School and then Southwest Texas in San Marcos where I met Virginia. It turned out that we both love gardening and plant every year.
I have been trading with M&M Farm Supply since early 1960. I had 13 cows then and bought 2:1 Meal (Salt and meal) from Pryse Metcalf. I always enjoyed discussing my ranching plans with Pryse. Today, Steve and Loren are my advisers along with other staff members. When Ruth Rinehart was at M&M she could answer any questions like Mary Stegall does today.
Through the years the store has enlarged, clothing items and the garden center have been added. I always get a friendly greeting when I stop by to visit or do business."
About five years ago Ray and Virginia gave me a tour of their garden. It had that professional care look about it, including stalks of okra some 10-12 feet in height. Ray explained, "Well, when the corn decides to quit producing it withers away. But not okra- it keeps on reaching for the sky, producing okra all the way."
Ray Adkins has had a remarkable career and many kinds of challenges since his early days on that ranch near Brady--the one where the family home was a small hay barn built of 1 x 12 inch planks, dirt floor and sheet iron windows.