Mr. and Mrs. Alden Johnson
Alden
Nels Johnson and Kathleen (Katy) Norma Dodson Johnson have lived their
entire lives in the Rio Grande Valley. They have experienced,
firsthand, the evolution of the cotton industry from the days of horse
and wagon trailers to GPS operated tractors, from picking cotton by hand
to round bale cotton pickers, from defoliating crops with army worms to
Round Up ready seed. The cotton industry has been a part of Alden’s
life since birth and has been instrumental in shaping his character,
strengthening his faith, and providing a legacy for generations to
follow.
Alden
was born in 1927 and was raised on the family farm at Zapata Ranch,
west of Sebastian. Alden’s father, Arthur Levine Johnson moved to the
Valley in 1913 from his farm in Minnesota. After serving in WWI, Arthur
married Esther, purchased land, and began farming cotton, corn, and
grain sorghum in South Texas. In those early days of the Rio Grande
Valley’s emerging agriculture industry, history played out in the fields
of the family farm, with Texas Rangers on horseback clashing with
banditos and outlaws along the largely undeveloped brush country and
farmland.
Alden
spoke Swedish in the home and Spanish in the fields, requiring him to
repeat first grade at Sebastian Elementary School in order to learn
English. When Alden turned 14, his dad purchased their first tractor
with rubber tires. At age 16, while Alden attended Lyford High School,
his older brothers were called to serve during WWII in the Air Force and
82nd Airborne Division, leaving him to work the family farm after
school hours to help his dad who had grown ill with muscular dystrophy
and was bound to a wheelchair. Alden would work long hours, often until
midnight, after going to school all day. He graduated early to manage
the family’s farming operation until his brothers’ returned from the
war.
He
later farmed in partnership with his two brothers, Gordon and Chester,
for about two years before striking out on his own. In the early 1950s,
Alden purchased 400 acres and began farming as a sole proprietor. He
established a corporation and a partnership as he grew his farming
operation over the years. Alden was always a fair and generous employer.
One employee has worked with Johnson Farms for over 55 years.
Although
retired from farming, Alden still makes the rounds to check crops,
advise his sons and son-in-law, and help move equipment as needed. He
also keeps up with the ag community at the domino table at Lyford Gin
every afternoon. Alden served the cotton community for many years. He
sat on the Board of Directors of Lyford Co-op Gin for multiple years and
held the office of president several terms. He also served on the
Board of Directors of Valley Co-op Oil Mill as well as the
Willacy-Hildalgo Soil and Conservation Board of Directors. Alden was
named the Willacy-Hildalgo Soil and Water Conservation District
Outstanding Conservation Farmer in 1973. He was also awarded Honorary
Lyford FFA Chapter Farmer for the year in 1975. Alden has been a member
and served for many years at Lyford Methodist Church. He sings in the
choir, has served as chairman of the board, and attended the Southwest
Methodist convention as a delegate for his church. He has also served
on the Board of Directors at Chapel by the Sea on South Padre Island.
Alden
has been married to Katy for 66 years. Alden and Katy met while Katy
was teaching Home Economics at Lyford High School. At the time she was
earning $2000 a year and was once given a live chicken by a family at
one of her home visitations as a way of saying thank you! Katy was
raised in Santa Rosa, Texas, and attended school there. She furthered
her education at Texas A&I in Kingsville, Texas, earning a degree in
Home Economics and a teaching certificate. Katy’s father, Howard
Dodson, and wife, Mary, farmed in the Santa Rosa, Texas area. He grew
vegetables, citrus, and some cotton. Katy learned her work ethic having
spent many days in the fields picking cotton by hand. She passed that
work ethic along to her and Alden’s five children. After teaching at
Lyford High School for two years, she became an at-home mom. Her
children “fondly” remember her meeting them at the bus stop with several
hoes and machetes so they could take care of any weeds in their
designated 120 acre Palm Tree block before supper. She even had them
hand plant several acres of cotton that had not come up. Those few
tortuous acres were then destroyed by hail a few months later, and her
children were introduced to just one of the difficulties a farmer must
face.
Katy
has always been active in the Lyford community. She served on the
Lyford PTA Board and is a member of the Lyford Methodist Women. She has
been a part of Lyford Women’s Club for many years, serving on numerous
committees and in the office of president. She taught Sunday School for
over 20 years. She was also a member of the Texas A&M Mother’s
Club and served on the Cotillion Board.
Katy
was an integral part of the farming operation, handling finances and
most importantly taking meals to the fields twice a day to feed family
and employees. Many holidays and birthdays have been celebrated with
her homemade ice cream on the tailgate of a pickup truck in the fields.
She is legendary for her delicious cooking and many will testify to her
culinary skills.
Alden
and Katy have 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren
with two more on the way. Their family has been very active in the
Algodon Club. Son, Richard, and wife, Cheryl, served on the Algodon
Board. Son, Lynn, and wife, Tami, are past Algodon presidents.
Daughter, Ann Johnson Jud, was Duchess of Willacy in 1972.
Granddaughters, Kristi Johnson Horton, Karyn Jud Hatch, Emily Johnson
Rivera, Rachel Johnson Lippe, were all Ladies-in-Waiting.
Granddaughter, Kelsey Johnson Stocker, was a Princess, and
granddaughter, Katie Johnson Mayeaux, was Queen. Grandsons, Travis
Johnson, Cale Johnson, and Cody Johnson, were all Ambassadors of Cotton.
Cody also served as Crown Bearer. Several grandchildren were
recipients of Algodon scholarships. Currently grandsons, Travis Johnson
and wife, Sarah, are serving as Treasurer/Secretary of the Algodon
Board, and Cody Johnson and wife, Brittany, are serving on the Algodon
Board of Directors.
The
Valley Morning Star featured a series of articles on the Johnson family
farm and the cotton industry in 1997. Cotton farming and faith in the
Lord is the heritage that runs through the Johnson family’s veins.
Through hail, hurricanes, drought and many abundant crops, the Lord has
blessed Alden and Katy’s family and those whom they employ through
cotton farming in Willacy County.
