Back in 1997, a consultant and I were discussing the upcoming boll weevil eradication program and how I might continue to produce a high-yield cotton crop. We decided on growing a legume crop in rotation with milo and cotton. After reviewing many potential crops, we chose to pursue guar.

We contacted farmers who had grown guar in the Knox City, Rule, and Rochester areas of the Rolling Plains in the early and mid-1980's. After discussing production, marketability, and stability of the guar industry, we attempted to arrange a meeting with Rhodia Inc. At that time, Rhodia owned the only operational guar-bean processing facility in the United States.

We met with Rhodia mid-December 1997. In our meeting, Rhodia informed us that they were not interested in purchasing domestic guar beans and that guar contracts had not been available since the late 1980s. However, one month later, I was asked to return to Rhodia to discuss guar production in West Texas. Price fluctuations and instability in the overseas market, gave me the opportunity to grow guar if I started contracting in the West Texas area. And so, West Texas Guar was born.

By July 1999, I had contracted 20,000 acres of guar beans. Due to the number of acres I farm, I took a partner, Cory Golden. Cory runs the West Texas Guar office and helps with the management and delivery.

Together, with the help of local growers and Texas A&M Research, we have conducted a number of test-plot trials aimed at improving cultivation and production and worked to maintain a constant market for guar. Today, West Texas Guar strives to better serve the farming community with fair prices, grower support, and continuing research and development.