If I had been told over 10 years ago while I was going to college at Sam Houston State University that I would someday be putting my heart and soul into creating my own coffee roastery and brand... I would have laughed. At the time, I was getting a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, set on a lifelong career in the criminal justice profession. I had moved all over East Texas, from Huntsville to Jacksonville and then Tyler, TX, where I ended nearly seven years of state employment with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to rethink and regroup.
So I moved back to where it really all started: Saginaw, TX. I spent my entire public education with Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District and graduated from Saginaw High School. I even spent some time over at TCC-Northwest (let's face it, university isn't cheap these days). Despite the path that I had set myself on, my roads brought me back to Saginaw with one question:
What do I really want to do with my life?
Over the summer, I had a lot of time to think about what to do next. Coffee has always been a passion of mine, and before I knew it, I was doing business planning for a coffee roastery. But I knew that I had to do so much more than just make good coffee. The business needed to mean something, both to myself and the community that I have called home for so long. I wanted to combine my love for my family, my community, and the great state of Texas.
With a good chunk of my family hailing from Oklahoma, and another chunk hailing from Texas, that's when I quickly realized that Red River Roastery had to be the name for the brand. The Red River has been an iconic border between Texas and Oklahoma, even resulting in the famous Red River Rivalry. It spoke to my own Texas roots, and the Oklahoman roots of other parts of my family.
A local business is nothing without its local community. Saginaw is a great community, and it has seen tremendous growth. I've also followed along with what people ask of the City of Saginaw as far as what they want to see, and I agree with the people! The people of Saginaw have long wanted more unique businesses for the community, and I believe that a coffee roastery right here in the heart of Saginaw, TX fits in perfectly.
But I don't want to stop there.
After getting settled, my hope is to give back, and to start doing just that as early as 2024. I already have many roasts and blends planned, and some of these have community give-back donation campaigns attached. Through the sales at Red River Roastery, I hope to take a portion of proceeds to fantastic organizations such as Community Link. There is also a donation campaign in the works for a nonprofit that supports and provides assistance to veterans.
I know I've got a long road ahead of me. The coffee industry may be grow every year, but it's a competitive place to build a business. I'm hoping that my fellow neighbors and Saginaw community will come to rally behind me, support local business, and bring something unique to Saginaw, TX. The best way to do that is to order some great coffee, and keep an eye out for new stuff in the near future!
Because it's surely beginning to smell - and taste - a lot like Christmas around here at Red River Roastery...
