#117 - DA Harral: Rancher, Dad & Mentor
Release Date: 10/25/2024
Crockett Carothers of the Wealthy Cowboy Podcast
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil sits down with Crockett Carothers of the Wealthy Cowboy Podcast after they gather cattle, discussing what’s changed since his prior appearance two years earlier: a new baby on the way, the launch and growth of his podcast to about 111 episodes, new sponsors, meetups, and expanded opportunities. Crockett says the best part is meeting high-value people, growing his knowledge and network, and connecting others. He explains how he books guests through outreach, networking, and social media, and why documenting stories matters, including for older guests. They cover building active income...
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Josh Beavers on Breaking Into Cowboying & Learning the Unspoken Rules
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil and co-host Kyle Johnson welcome Josh Beavers, who explains his family name history (his dad was adopted after his biological father was murdered, leading to the Beavers surname) and discusses growing up near Dallas while spending weekends ranching in Kemp, Texas. Josh describes craving cowboy life, attending Tarleton, and learning by observing and absorbing “unspoken rules” about horsemanship, day work expectations, and maturity. He explains how his businessman father influenced his networking skills, helping him sell horses by relating to non-cowboy buyers. Josh outlines his career...
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Isaac Diaz on Career Longevity, Faith & Finding His Next Chapter
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Isaac Diaz discusses his long career, describing success as simply not quitting and noting he’s missed the NFR more years than he’s made it despite competing for 21 years and often attending 85+ rodeos annually. He shares growing up in South Florida outside a rodeo family, guided by mentor Mike Fletcher, and relying more on work and perseverance than money. Diaz explains shifting priorities toward family and a “next thing,” recently earning a Texas real estate license through Hayden Outdoors while continuing to enjoy rodeo, horses, and a home program. The group talks about confidence,...
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Tucker Hatch: Dogs, Wild Country & Building a Life
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil and co-host Kyle Johnson interview Tucker Hatch, a young cowboy and friend of Kyle’s, about his background, mindset, and experience in big country. Tucker recounts first meeting Kyle in Nevada and discusses overcoming nerves by being proud of who he is and willing to approach strangers. The conversation focuses heavily on working cow dogs—Border Collies and Kelpies—contrasting practical ranch dogs with trial dogs, and explaining how dogs extend a crew’s effectiveness when gathering and trailing cattle. Tucker describes leading a crew at age 22 on the 450,000-acre, unfenced Arapaho...
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Travis Dickinson on Cow Horse Training, Gratitude & Sobriety
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil, with co-host Kyle Johnson, welcome trainer Travis Dickinson, who starts each day in the gym and has 12–15 horses in training, mainly reined cow horses. Travis explains the three events—herd work, reining pattern, and fence work—and he and Kyle recount how they met when Kyle sought help learning reined cow horse after moving to California. Travis describes his background from construction and a strict, successful father to pursuing horse training, defines a “bridle horse” progression, and shares key training lessons about focus, circles, and knowing when to push or quit. The...
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Reed Sykes on Learning Horsemanship, Patience, and the Pressure of Training in Public
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil welcomes Reed Sykes with co-host Kyle Johnson to The Cowboy Perspective for a conversation about horsemanship and animal training, focusing on building confidence rather than stripping it away. Reed shares his background growing up in Midland with a ranch near San Angelo, graduating from Sam Houston State after attending several universities, working in the oil field, then leaving in 2015 to train horses and dogs for the public despite initially feeling unprepared. He avoids labels like “cowboy” or “buckaroo,” emphasizing daily improvement and teaching horses to “try,”...
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Introducing the Kyle Johnson Series
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil debuts a new series of episodes co-hosted with Kyle Johnson, recorded in person around a table to highlight friends and horsemen and to help listeners connect with guests. They discuss filming Tucker Hatch putting the first ride on a colt named Wild Thang and share how to contact Tucker (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok under Tucker Hatch) and Travis Dickinson/TC Performance Horses in Red Bluff (Facebook; TikTok under Travis Dickinson), who specializes in cow horses, lessons, clinics, and plans to post more videos. They mention other guests—Isaac Diaz, Josh Beavers, and Reed Sykes/Devout...
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Darin Deaton: Businessman, Physical Therapist, Christian, Cowboy
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil interviews Darin Deaton, a physical therapist, entrepreneur, and rancher. Darin shares his shift from pre-med toward PT after observing an independent practice owner’s lifestyle, his education at Texas Woman’s University, and juggling full-time work with graduate school. He describes learning business through an early partnership, then launching his own clinic using SBA financing and a $60,000 investor check that enabled a 1998 seven-figure exit. Darin later built and sold a seven-location Fort Worth PT group (sold in 2024) and runs DPT Therapy. They discuss Deaton Ranch Beef,...
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Kevin Mock: Father, Businessman, Christian
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil reunites with entrepreneur Kevin Mock to discuss his career changes, return to podcasting in 2026, and life experiences influenced by the 'Cowboy Perspective'. Kevin dives into his multifaceted roles as a businessman and father, sharing insights from his various endeavors in the livestock industry, including Mock Livestock and Livestock Marketing Group. The conversation touches on the intersections of faith, success, and the challenges of balancing personal ambitions with Christian values. Kevin recounts his passion for high-end show animals, balancing family life, and the importance of...
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Jason Davis: Businessman, Mentor, Rancher and Dad
The Cowboy Perspective an exploration of grit, servant leadership, and business philosophy with high performers!
Neil welcomes Jason Davis to discuss the 'Cowboy Perspective' and various life insights. They explore the importance of experience and learning from mistakes, foundational lessons from grandparents, and the value of real-world application over theoretical knowledge. Jason shares his personal journey from corporate life to ranching, emphasizing the significance of true wealth and life experiences. They also touch on the impact of significant personal events like the loss of a spouse, raising children, and teaching valuable life lessons. The conversation dives into concepts such as the...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Cowboy Perspective, Neil has an engaging conversation with rancher DA Harral. The discussion covers his extensive family history dating back to 1650 in the U.S. and their agricultural legacy in Texas since 1859. They delve into the challenges faced over the years, including devastating fires in 2008, and DA’s adaptive switch from sheep to cattle. Topics include successful beef sales to Whole Foods, the GAP certification process, and operational challenges like droughts and staffing dynamics, including the involvement of family members and international workers. The conversation also explores intriguing aspects such as hunting and wind energy ventures, the use of AI in cattle management, and personal anecdotes that highlight the significance of perseverance, risk-taking, and the power of prayer. The episode concludes with mutual appreciation, networking tips, and a call to share the inspiring story.
Topics
00:13 Meeting DA Harral
01:48 DA's Family History and Ranching Background
03:38 The 2008 Fire and Its Aftermath
06:10 Transition to Cattle and Whole Foods Partnership
07:29 GAP Certification and Its Benefits
10:23 Family Involvement and Ranch Expansion
15:27 Life on the Ranch: Horses vs. Cattle
16:03 The Value of Being Multilingual
16:14 Adapting to Life in West Texas
17:03 Family Background and Ranch Life
17:29 Hunting and Wind Business Ventures
18:29 Integrating Technology and AI in Ranching
19:42 Family Dynamics and Business Operations
21:01 Cash Flow and Business Philosophy
21:50 College Days and Lifelong Friendships
22:35 Raising Kids and Beauty Pageants
23:48 Strong Family Values and Gender Roles
25:07 The Power of Prayer: A Personal Story
26:28 Final Thoughts and Farewell