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The story of National Day of the Cowboy Boot
50 Plays1 month ago
Get ready to kick up your boots with a behind-the-scenes look at how National Day of the Cowboy Boot came to life. In this episode, Jessica Ogden, Director of Marketing, and Emily Castillion, Social Media Manager at Justin Brands, share the story behind the creation of this exciting campaign. They dive into their inspiration for celebrating 145 years of Justin’s heritage and the incredible response from boot lovers everywhere. If you’re curious about the history of this iconic brand and what goes into a successful campaign, this is a must-listen. Join us to celebrate craftsmanship, tradition, and the cowboy spirit that makes Justin legendary.
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Transcript
Celebrating Cowboy Boot Heritage
00:00:00
Speaker
But there's a lot of history behind the cowboy boo and it's, you know, it's something that we talk about a lot with the heritage and the tradition of our brand, but it's not just us. So I think it should be celebrated, you know, industry wide, western industry wide on the cultures that came together.
Introduction to Episode 62
00:00:14
Speaker
Hey everybody and thank you for listening to the Kick Your Boots Up podcast. I'm so excited you're here. We're on episode 62 and we've made it this far. There's so much in store left for the season before we close for the year and this episode is going to be extra special.
Engagement Call to Action
00:00:29
Speaker
So before we tell you about the ladies that are sitting right next to me, go ahead and if you see that little bell icon in the top and on YouTube, go ahead and like and subscribe and share this with everyone for us. um If you're listening on audio Feel free to go over to YouTube and look a video.
Meet the Host's Life and Friends
00:00:45
Speaker
This is gonna be a great episode to get to know not only my coworkers, but my personal friends as well. So you've gotten a chance over the past 60 some seasons to get to know me a little bit better. And now you get to step into a little bit of my life here at Justin, my coworkers and friends.
Introducing Emily and Jessica
00:01:00
Speaker
So and sitting next to me on my immediate right is the social media manager here at Justin. This is Emily Castilian, newlywed. Thanks for being on the podcast. Thank you for having me.
00:01:10
Speaker
ah Absolutely. And sitting next to her is our boss. So if there's anything that goes wrong, she's going to know immediately. This is the director of marketing here at Justin. This is Jessica Ogden. Jess,
Justin's Fun and Camaraderie
00:01:20
Speaker
thank you for being here. Hey, y'all. We're excited about this. Yeah, ah this has been a long time coming.
00:01:25
Speaker
um We have a lot in store and a big surprise to talk about. But before we do that, I kind of want to get to know you guys a little bit better because um you guys don't understand our day to day is so fun. And um I feel like from time to time we get in the like bog down of doing our jobs and the the actual business side of marketing. But um the camaraderie at Justin is really fun too. So before we get too much into why we're here, let's talk about our personal lives a little
Emily's Career Journey
00:01:53
Speaker
bit. um Emily, I'm gonna start with you. You graduated at Tarleton, yeah correct? okay And something that I loved about you is like throughout your college career, you got to work for a radio station. So tell us a little bit about what you did there.
00:02:05
Speaker
Yeah, so the radio station was a part-time job that I did while I was at Tarleton. I actually had three, so it was one of them. And I was the alternative media director there. So I did mostly social media as the main thing, but I helped with podcasts and all all things media. So I helped there, did all the social media, and that was actually my first social media job. So I'd never done social media before. um Please don't go and look at the old account.
00:02:29
Speaker
should be it's no in theite you come along way it's It's not good, but yeah that was my that was my first job in social media and kind of introduced me to it So I didn't go for college for marketing at all. I actually went for agricultural services and development So what did you want to be with that originally when I went to college? ah I wanted to be a vet so I went for pre-vet originally, then I thought about being a game warden. So then I started doing that. And then that didn't work out. So I had no idea what I wanted to do. So I just did generic ag with a double minor in animal science and psychology because I still loved animals at the time. I'd previously worked at a vet for about seven years. So did that for a really long time. And then actually my senior year is when I took a course in like agriculture or communications, which I didn't know was a thing. Wow. So my first kind of introduction to it, and then I was like, wow, I really like this. I should have majored in it. But I didn't, and it still got me where I am today. So that was kind of the starting point of my social media career, which was in November of 2017. So I'm almost on six, seven years now. also so And I hope you don't kill me for sharing this fun fact about you. but Things that we cannot believe to this day that you're running a social media for a big brand, you didn't have a cell phone until you were 16. And I wasn't allowed to have a cell phone with internet till I was 18. No social media till I was 18. So still kind of like, well, it hasn't even been 10 years that I've been on social media. So seven years on as a career, but not even 10 years using it. And that is really impressive, honestly, being being like thrown into it. You probably had a lot of time to sit and sulk and plan, you know, plan what you were going to do. True, I was just plodding behind the sun scenes. Now, I saw a lot of my friends using it, and my parents were just super protective about that, which honestly, looking back, I'm really grateful for, because I would have been the weirdo talking to very strange men on the internet, which...
00:04:16
Speaker
ah It's not something that should be done. So that's why my parents protected me from it. So I'm glad they did. Just innocence, right? Yeah, completely innocent. I mean, I remember at one time, which my parents would probably hate me saying it, I was grounded for six months for texting my friend off my cousin's phone. That's all I did. It wasn't anything bad. Like I straight up just texted someone and I got grounded for six months. So ah yeah, not a long time on the cell phones and social, but it has been my whole career pretty much since
Viral Social Media Success
00:04:43
Speaker
I've gotten on it. So. And it's really fun to see you do what you do. I know when we were recording this episode, we um had just posted MooDang. MooDang. First of all, let's just talk about that for a second. so yes Since you're in social media, you have to kind of be up with all the trends and stuff. So the fact that MooDang even is a possibility to be related to boots, but then you took it a step further and like Canva photoshopped a kid. Not investing on MooDang.
00:05:08
Speaker
Yeah, MooDang is a very cute little hippo that was born in Thailand in the Thailand Zoo. And she's just kind of gone viral for being cute. And I was like, oh, I keep seeing MooDang everywhere. And I think she's so cute. um Fiona was another baby hippo a long time ago. I actually very much annoyed my previous bosses talking about Fiona a little too much. so I've cut it back with the moo dang. But when I saw moo dang, I was like, oh, this hippo's so cute. And everyone was just kind of throwing moo dang in. All the sports teams were putting them with their mascots. And I was like, this is so cute. I was like, we have to do this. And it's done really well. i yeah like It's almost to 1,000 likes, which to some people isn't a lot. But I take that as a little personal award. So bringing moo dang into the Western industry is kind of fun.
Impact of Audience Engagement
00:05:53
Speaker
And I like, I like that you're on the team for that reason and that you look at things like that. Our boss probably doesn't think the same way. So I'm going to pretend that you're not here when I say this, but, um, like whenever I'm in my head about podcast numbers or whatever it is, yeah you always say, Taylor, imagine a room of let's for your sake, a thousand people. Yeah. Just that's amazing. Yeah. They're just clapping. And so I'm like, thank you for that. That's exactly what we need sometimes on the days. I mean, I know it's not that low, but there's 10 people just in a room. It's just like, okay, there's 10 people. They matter. Thank you. You matter. Mom, dad, Grammy. Thank you. I think her first comment actually on the podcast was my Grammy. Yes. And I was like, Emily, please delete it. Sorry. But, um, I did appreciate that. I love that she's out there doing that, but okay. Yeah. I have to go back to this meme thing because there's been so many times that you have spent so much time on something so funny and it's not really done the best. It's okay. Always. But never the best. But then something that you spend two seconds on like this moo ding or whatever. It's like, okay, pop off. No, ah that's kind of like a common joke in being a social media manager is whatever you spend the most time on is going to crash and burn and not do well. And whatever you spend two seconds on is going to hit. And I think it's just,
00:07:02
Speaker
I kind of look at that as like if you start overthinking things and like changing them and doing them differently, it tends to just like you're getting away from your core message. That was not a post that was trying to get people to buy boots, yeah educate people about boots. It's just to purely connect with people on something fun that we're all liking and I think that's important to do every once in a while. It's just kind of take away the nitty gritty and just have fun with everyone. so Yeah, no, it was fun. And it was just fun sitting there watching, like, you're on the next screen. And you were just there while I'm photoshopping this. And they're like, oh, how about we do this and do that and can't be giving us issues. But yeah, I know it's fun when we get to kind of get together and kind of put everything else aside and just kind of work on something fun together. Oh, for sure. And my favorite, I think, takeaway quote from that day was we were trying to edit
Host's Transition to Justin and Networking
00:07:46
Speaker
some boots on her. It just didn't really work out the best that we were wanting. But I was like, well, just like cut part of this boot off because it looks like it's covered in fat. So, like, that's not things that you typically would say. Yeah, no. There's always a rough draft of things, too. But, yeah, the original MooDang was her wearing, like, four of our clothes with a cowboy. I would love to see how you describe this to H.J. Justin. Like, Mr. Justin, as you were setting up this cobbler shop, someday there will be a thing called social media. We're going to put baby hippos on it. And it's going to make sense. It's a 27-year-old girl who's just Photoshopping boots on a hippo. 27-year-old girl.
00:08:19
Speaker
I always say that for the people who are, shout out to y'all, y'all keep me alive, but you know, people who comment, I'm like, I'm just a 27 year old girl, like, please. So, yep, mooding is a perfect representation of my career. And maybe we need to have like a podcast after hours so we can talk about all the things that have happened to you, all the traumas you've been through as a social media manager. There's been some wild ones.
00:08:42
Speaker
Anyways, well, um, thank you for opening up with us. This has been good. And, um, I kind of have to, before we get to know Jess kind of set the stage a little bit for you guys. I apologize for not doing that in the beginning. These two girls were, um, in the same class as me for cowgirl magazine 30 under 30. And so 2022 we're repping. Um, and so shout out to cowgirl magazine as well. They've been a good partner of ours, but it brought us together. It brought us and well, 30 other women, 28, 27 math is hard. You write things. You don't do math. That's okay, that's good. and we have calculators We lean into our strengths around here. but Anyways, um so there for a while we got together and we would have like these little cocktail hours for those of us that lived in the area and that was so handy. We tried to bring them back and of course now we're all in different seasons of life. True. We have kids, we have married we're married now, that's crazy. People moving yeah people have moved. um So we're trying to get it together but
00:09:33
Speaker
I say all that to say there was one day in particular that I'll never forget changed
Cowgirl Magazine Class Bonds
00:09:36
Speaker
my life forever. um I had had like a particularly rough day at a former job and was just like kind of like low key. Hey guys, like I didn't have a great day. If you know of any job openings, let me know and you guys also had an opening like fairly recently around that time and.
00:09:51
Speaker
I remember like you guys championing me and um helping me get here. And so I'll always be appreciative of that. But um I also want everyone out there to know the importance of like marketing yourself with your friends and being real and vulnerable in times that you need to because um there's not a lot of women in and agriculture, a lot of women in Western that are able to do that and have that, especially like being the hub of
Jessica's Career Path Pivot
00:10:12
Speaker
Fort Worth. We were so awesome to have that. So thank you officially for that, but then also for like cheering me on as ah as a team member as well along the way. And so Jess, that brings me to you. We've got to get to know you a little bit better because I have a story after they get to kind of know who you are um about how we trans how I transitioned here. So Jess, for you, you are a graduate of A and&M, Texas A and&M, which we won't hold against you.
00:10:37
Speaker
like yeah whole sister so than yeah Anyways you also had a crazy story you didn't think that you were gonna be in marketing one day so tell us about your journey at A and&M. Yeah so I was dead certain I was gonna be an equine vet I've always loved horses I worked in the vet all throughout high school and that has just growing up for sure horse pet and went to school and did not do so hot in organic chemistry. Naturally. It's okay. not Not a strength. And then that summer I had the opportunity to do an internship at either the four sixes ranch starting ah their yearling program and and then or going to a youth summer camp.
00:11:18
Speaker
And so I was like, okay, I'll do the more serious like big girl job later. ah Freshman year, let's do the fun the fun job. So I went out and I was a Wrangler and crew leader at Camp Lone Hollow down in Vanderpool, Texas. And I fell in love with working with kids and horses and just like sharing the passion that I have for horses and what horses can teach you. and um Yeah, changed the trajectory of my career. I moved into youth development. My end all, be all goal is to have a halfway home with kids and horses. um And then shortly after college, yeah found the perfect opportunity with a a boss that was just like the perfect foundation for anyone's career. ah Jeff Schaub, you're the man.
00:12:01
Speaker
And um yeah, and so there I just kind of was his right hand man basically. And then we were outsourcing a lot of our marketing functions like social media, graphic design, photography to an agency and that's expensive for a startup. And so it's like, well, I'm scrappy. I can learn these things and kind of combined the analytic mind with the creative mind and went to YouTube University, taught myself everything marketing that I could get my hands on.
00:12:28
Speaker
ah fell in love with it, and here I am today. I can't imagine a different career, so. Isn't that crazy yeah how it all, we all go to college thinking, well it's actually crazy, because you spend 12 years of your life saying, this is what I want to be when I grow up, and then you go to be it, and you're like, whoa, yeah this is not.
Unexpected Career Paths
00:12:43
Speaker
This is not how it's... I can't imagine my life as an equine vet. I respect them. I love our equine vets. They are super, super important. And I just, I literally cannot picture my life doing that. And that was so dead certain on. So pretty wild. You just got to kind of trust the process.
00:12:58
Speaker
And there was something about chickens in there, wasn't there? Yeah, I was a poultry science major for a brief month and a half between those two. Yep. Which is so fun. Did you learn anything? Do you remember anything from a short time? I mainly just remember being in a class with Von Miller, which was pretty cool. Fun fact. I like chickens. That's what I remember. Somewhere I was listening. Oh, believe it or not, Carrie Underwood, of all people the other day, on a podcast I was listening to said, you just can't have enough chickens. So maybe you can take your one-month of knowledge.
00:13:27
Speaker
Are you fighting for chickens? Do you want chickens? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I have chickens and goats. OK. Next on the list. We keep getting up. I mean, we see what happens when we get together and champion for things. So we can definitely help a sister out on that one. For sure. No, that's so cool. And I love that about both of you guys. Same for me. I didn't ever think I was going to be in marketing specifically. So it's so cool that.
00:13:48
Speaker
Everything works out the way that it's supposed to, and now we're getting to sit here and have this conversation. I was actually just talking with Tyler, my husband, um about like how we're alive during the same time as like so many legends. carrieot ah Carrie Underwood, um George Strait, Reba MacIntyre, so many, the list goes on and on. And that's just crazy to think, like out of all the years on Earth that people lived, cavemen and all, we're here
From Friendship to Professional Growth
00:14:10
Speaker
now. And so that's really cool. um So thank you for taking the time to be here and talk about it. yeah But one thing too that I want to talk about since this is a podcast that um we're all about storytelling and personal growth and um your journey in the industry. um One thing that we had to work through very on and I don't even say work through it was like we set the stages really good was um we were friends first.
00:14:30
Speaker
And then we went to being, OK, now Jess is my boss. Because Emily and I were good. like We can be co-workers. That's fun. Friends, whatever. But Jess was my boss. And so um we I remember having like a conversation of, like please, don't be afraid to be mean to me or like say things that need to happen, which you'll see Jess's face right now. She's like, OK, I can't do that. But I don't know. What's your best piece of advice there of like something that you experienced in growth from like you had to step up into this manager role as well?
00:14:57
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I'd say initially um I always struggle with imposter syndrome of like, well, who am I to lead this team? ah But I have had some really great leaders in my life. um Jeff is one of them. And then my my current boss, John, who treat people rather than as a report, someone that reports to you as human. And part of that is friendship and just making sure that you have the boundary of, hey,
00:15:20
Speaker
We're going to take this friendship hat off for a second, have a conversation. And I think it's for your benefit. It's for the brand's benefit. It might be uncomfortable in the moment, ah but it's because I see the potential in you. And so being able to kind of step back, do that. And honestly, that's exactly what friends are for, is to build you up and make you better. And so I would say that's kind of how I approach management. And that's that's what makes our team so great, is we're all our individuals. And we lean on those strengths and each other for that.
00:15:51
Speaker
Definitely. And I know that I've said those words, hey, can you just take your boss hat off for a second? Or like, hey, can you take your friend hat off for a second? I don't know that I actually said that, actually. I think I said like, this is a friend conversation, not a boss conversation. That probably happens more times than not, but. Yeah. But it is so handy to have, you know, someone along the way. So um I guess let's talk your guys a story. So i've I've told everyone out there how I got here. But your guys, the story is kind of funny because you were hired on along the same point in time. Right. Yeah. And then and then you got Covid.
00:16:22
Speaker
Well okay so my now husband's little sister she got COVID and she lived with us and it was so funny because literally I think Nick had left the Sunday before I was supposed to start to go on vacation and he went to Colorado for a fun side-by-side trip and I was supposed to start and then his sister got COVID so he was gone so he was good he was away from the house but I had to stay home for two weeks and I was just by myself Nick on vacation.
00:16:48
Speaker
but Excited about a new job about a new job that I couldn't start so we were actually supposed to start the same day But then I ended up starting about
Memorable Experiences at Justin
00:16:55
Speaker
two weeks later. Yeah. Yeah, and you guys have been here now three issues Okay, I knew it was like a year or so before me. So that's only August for you early September for me Okay. Wow. yeah So just happened for both of you. Well, anniversary, we didn't celebrate. So sorry about that. Um, but along the same lines, what has been your, both of you, we'll start with you, Emily. What has been your favorite part about your time here at Justin? Favorite memory. That's a hard one.
00:17:20
Speaker
um Because this is probably like my favorite job that I've ever had um I mean, I think the people we work with and I know that's such a common answer that and you get from people that work at Justin But truly everyone that works here has a story. There's so many people that have been here so long 50 60 years and it's just so many cool people to learn from that have cool backgrounds Cool parts of the Western industry. I didn't grow up in the Western industry. So I you know, I'm kind of learning as I go um but just I can't even express, just like the coolest people, the kindest hearts, um just everyone treats each other with so much kindness, so much respect. So it's hard to pick like a ah specific memory just because you know marketing does get to do a lot of fun things, but there's also you know a lot of nitty gritty work we have to do, but the people make it worth it. so
00:18:09
Speaker
I don't know. Kind of cheesy answer,
National Day of the Cowboy Boot
00:18:11
Speaker
but the people. But true. Memory wise. Yeah, yeah. The camaraderie. Yeah. That's big. Jess, how about you? What's been your favorite memory? um I mean, all the photo shoots, they always jump to mind, specifically one out in Joshua Tree that we did for one of our other brands. And we're working with a ah really talented photographer and stylist and really awesome models. and ah just doing a Western flair and kind of a fashion, more a fashion environment. So it really challenged us creatively, which was really fun. ah But yeah, I mean, I think my favorite thing about being here is, like Emily said, it's the people, everyone here is so passionate about their specific niche and yes they've been here for decades upon decades. And that screams volumes about the company and the leadership that ah the Justin family really established here. And I think just getting to play
00:18:59
Speaker
ah tiny little portion of that brand ah These brands have been around way longer than we have and they're gonna way outlive us ah but just to be a little blip on that Justin radar and have have ah Hopefully a positive influence on where these brands are headed and how they can help people connect with cowboy boots in the Western way in different ways is just Very very special. I feel like I have to pinch myself often Yeah, for real. No, that's, we can definitely relate to that. Like an out of body experience. I mean, sitting here, who would have thought that yeah we'd be having a podcast with friends, you know, we're just getting to sit and talk. Thanks for inviting me. that's very You guys are welcome back anytime, please. I'm sure we'll see more of you. Um, no, and I, I did know both of those, but I also think, um, particularly when we get to bring our dogs or involve our dogs, like oh yeah it's always chaotic, but it's so fun. yeah yeah We always look for excuses too. Like animal people around here. Yeah. Yeah, in fact, we might start a petition. We can have everyone sign. We have to bring our dogs to work every day. No, that would be seventy too much. but That would be a lot. That would be fun. So, okay, so, the reason why we're here is because yesterday was a really big day for us. Who wants to do the honors? Emily, do you want to tell us what yesterday was? Well, yesterday was National Day of the Cowboy Boo, which will now be celebrated every year on October 8th. So,
00:20:17
Speaker
And so what is National Day of the Cowboy Boot? You ask? Yes. So um National Day of the Cowboy Boot was created just to honor the Western heritage and the history behind the cowboy boot. It starts long before us. There's a lot of history with that, especially in Hispanic culture. um So timeline wise on why it was created was it was about last year during September, which if you didn't know, September 15 through October 15 is also um Hispanic Heritage Month. So something I kind of try and do with social media is I pay attention to what holidays are coming up, what can we relate to. There's some that we don't like National Cappuccino Day, like ah cool we can maybe get a cappuccino before coming to work but it might not be something that we talk about or really celebrate. So I was just kind of looking into you know what what goes on in the western culture that we can talk about you know there's National Day of the Cowboy, National Day of the Cowgirl and those are really wonderful things. I think that history is really important but there's a lot of history behind the cowboy boo and it's
00:21:17
Speaker
You know, it's something that we talk about a lot with the heritage and the tradition of our brand, um but it's not just us. So I think it should be celebrated, you know, industry wide, western industry wide on, you know, the cultures that came together to create the cowboy boo, um how our history is involved in it. So it was just I was just like, why don't why you know, why don't we have this? So I talked to Taylor and Jess and was like, hey, maybe, you know, we should look into this, you know, what is this about?
00:21:43
Speaker
Um, so reached out to the National Day Archives and kind of was like, Hey, you know, what's the process of creating this? And so it's kind of a month long thing. But also if you read the, I wish I brought the book, but the standard of the West is a really good book about the Justin history. We have a copy way back there that you guys can't see, but yes. Standard of the West, who is it by? Standard of the West, the Justin story. That's the title of it. um But it talks about the creation of, you know, Justin Boots, H.J. Justin, and it doesn't have a specific date, but it talks about fall. So I was like, okay, October 8th, It's a fun day. It's also National Justin Day, the name Justin. So I thought that was got out to all the Justins out there. Hope you had the best day. Yes. um So kind of playing on that, it was also within Hispanic Heritage Month, which I think is super important to the history of the cowboy boo. um But in the book, it just says fall. Fall was the start of the Justin Boo Company. We don't have a specific date. And with it being our 145 years, it's like,
00:22:42
Speaker
Okay, let's celebrate something else. Add something to the docket because it's there's so much history in Twine. I mean, that's why we're here. So kind of long winded story of how it came about, why it
Cultural Significance and Storytelling
00:22:53
Speaker
came about. But um just kind of this initiative, I think our whole team has really grasped onto of talking about the history, talking about the cultures that it came from. And um it's just super exciting. i'm I'm really glad that we have it now.
00:23:07
Speaker
Oh, yeah. It's even exciting from a content standpoint. It was fun getting the sales reps involved and things that they don't normally get to get involved in for the social media video. And our endorsee is starting to post about it. And it kind of really did make everyone here at the company kind of take a second and be like, oh.
00:23:23
Speaker
Okay, yeah I learned something new from the history or whatever yeah, yeah, and just for you. What was it like kind of leading a team that? um Took you know thought about it a year in advance planned it and then we had to keep it quiet for so long What was it like for you? Just tell us about your perspective of National Day the cowboy boo Yeah, I mean, I think it's really important um when I think about, yeah, like she said, the history and everyone at this company, but, you know, our endorses beyond that, the rodeos we work with, ah Billy Bob's, Miss Rodeo America, all these different partners, the American Quarter Horse Association, Texas Rangers, I mean, the list goes on.
00:23:56
Speaker
but even just our customers being able to say, you know, where, when you put these boots on in the morning, where are they going to take you? Are they going to take you to adopt your first child? Are they going to take you down the aisle to marry your husband? Are they going to take you to visit someone in the hospital? And that's a really important moment. Are they taking you to start this business you've always been dreaming about? Um, and so I think that there's this like romantic allure with the cowboy boot and everyone always feels way cooler when you're wearing boots. So being able to invite them into that story and hopefully um let this be a snowball effect of a certain day where everyone is celebrating these cowboy boots and where they take us. But yeah, I mean the team as usual approaches everything full of passion, excitement, and we all kind of have our own little flair of how we approach things and
Admiration for Jenna Paulette
00:24:43
Speaker
ideas. And so that's what makes this like such a great think tank as we come together and
00:24:48
Speaker
certain people will have an idea that I would have never even thought about. And then vice versa. And then that we can build on that. um And that energy really feeds some really great storytelling. Definitely. And you can speak from experience. Having the job that I had before, you're really big on storytelling. yeah And so I can't help ask this. is I didn't prepare you for this question, so I'm sorry. But what has been your favorite story to tell while you've been at Justin? Because you got to do some pretty cool things with Mike Caprone, Fly by Night Ranch, Jenna Paulette. So tell us what's been your favorite story.
00:25:19
Speaker
Yeah, I'd probably say Jenna Paulette, if I had to choose, um just because I've seen personally how hard she's worked to build up her her name and what that brand means, ah but she's done it in such a humble way. So I think that that is the perfect example of cowboy yeah um and west the Western way. ah She's really marketed herself well, worked hard. um She's had to deal with some punches along the way. ah But she did it with such grace and empathy and humility that it's like, OK, that's cowboy. That's exactly what we're all about here at Justin. um So that one was particularly fun. And um I'm just her biggest cheerleader. So it's always it's always easy to write a story about someone you admire.
00:26:02
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's so true. That's awesome. And kind of going back to National Day, the cowboy boot really quick. um What does it mean for you guys personally to know that we are, I mean, you kind of already touched on this a little bit in your answer, but um ah personally, what does it mean to be a part of something that's
Contributing to Cowboy Boot Legacy
00:26:17
Speaker
happening? Like we are part of the team that established it, kind of talking about we're at the live at the same time as other people in the world. What does that mean for you as a person? I know you're, as a worker, it's cool, but as a person too. No, um I mean, it's loaded Team Mac. I know loaded getting deep you kick your boots up you stay a while and the boots are up the boots are up um no I mean I think I look back at just like my career short lived I haven't I mean i've I've been working since I was 13 but big girl career it hasn't hasn't been a long time um so just
00:26:52
Speaker
kind of the what you're talking about being alive at the same time as other people, just like everything lining up to be able to work here, to come here. I actually applied for Jess's job, which is now your job. um And then I was reached out to um on LinkedIn by our recruiter and he was like, hey, what about social media? And I was like, well, that's what I was actually wanting to do, but that wasn't available. So it just, just like little things like that, like they just line up and they just, they just work out. So.
00:27:17
Speaker
I mean, to be a part of it, I mean, it's way bigger than me.
Reflecting on Career Decisions
00:27:20
Speaker
It's way bigger than the marketing team. You know, it's as big as H.J. himself, I would say. You know, every little thing we do is our team is very focused on the heritage and tradition of the brand. um it It's a big part of our story. I mean, now it's become a part of my story. um You know, my first pair of boots were Justin, so it's just kind of like little me is just like really excited and really giddy you know just like that little girl's really happy i didn't think it was what i was gonna do but it's what i ended up doing and i think god really put me here for a purpose and so something similar to um you know national day the cowboy boot it's it's it's a small little piece of the history but it's it's fun and it's I don't even remember what the question is. I just don't know what the answer is. But yeah, no, it's just it's ah it's great. And then I'm really excited about little things like that that just kind of add up and we all get to kind of play together at work. Yeah. And it is. I'm so glad you said that about your first pair of boots because we all have like a tie to Justin that we didn't know that we had. And so we start digging and finding all that stuff. But even. string um If you guys are listening or if you've already seen the podcast episode from Christmas last year go back and watch it um because we talked to Shelby Tidwell who's a designer here and She said that she always wanted to be a cowboy boot designer and ended up working out of a crazy Justin You know, it's just so crazy how so for you having your first pair of boots being Justin That's so awesome and special and I think that does help like add an extra level of passion Oh, should we keep talking about is like ah
Advice for Industry Opportunities
00:28:46
Speaker
that too. So I Okay, so for you, you've already answered it, but please feel free to weigh in again or a new thought that's come to hit to mind of like, what does it mean as a person to be a part of this and you're like alive at the same time? Yeah, I mean, I think it's just kind of being along for the ride and hopefully this is something I get to tell my grandkids someday.
00:29:03
Speaker
ah you know we're We're part of this ah this day that started as just an idea in a meeting and it became something way bigger, a cultural movement or um something that everyone is looking forward to celebrating each year. Just saying, hey, I was there. and We talked about that and watched it unfold like it did in the generations past.
00:29:21
Speaker
so And it's been so cool to looping in the partners. You mentioned them earlier, but even with Maddie Parker, you know, the mayor of Fort Worth proclaiming it. That's really cool too. That's a cool element that like, whoa, we got to be there and see that and witness in that and stuff. So very, very cool. And we're almost out of time, but before we go, I can't help but ask you guys each specifically what is your best piece of advice for someone that's wanting to get into the industry or like maybe take their next step in the industry, anything industry, what's your best advice? We'll start with you.
00:29:51
Speaker
um I would say my best piece of advice is to just try new things. I mean, I think because I wasn't in the Western industry, I just joined FFA. So that's what started my love for the Western industry. And then in college, I just got a job at the radio station and did social media. So it's just kind of taking these little leaps of faith and trying different things you might normally not go for. um and Just try it. just Just take that leap of faith, kind of go into it blindly and just learn as much as you can because You might make a career out of it. That's true. That's good. That's good. Just for you. What's your best piece of advice? Yeah. I mean, I'd say it's just showing up, working hard, um staying, staying at a drama. and I say it a lot with the team is we have a bunch of small egos around here on a big mission. ah So we just try to keep.
00:30:38
Speaker
that ego out of the way.
Closing Remarks and Engagement Encouragement
00:30:40
Speaker
um But asking questions, ah not being afraid to reach out to somebody who is ahead of you in their career and saying, hey, I want to take you to coffee. And if there's ways that you can bring value to them, that's going to go a really long way. And just honestly, just being a good person. If you're a good person and you respect the the people around you, your dependable opportunities are going to come your way.
00:31:01
Speaker
Well said. I couldn't agree more to both of that. And speaking of respect and kindness and all of this, thank you guys so much for being on the podcast. This has easily been one of my favorite episodes. can You can hear it in my voice. I'm like, don't cry, don't cry. oh But truly, this has been fun to actually get to share with the rest of the world, my friends, coworkers, the people that I do daily life with. And I will say, we have been on our best behavior. We have not been too crazy. We're normally full of laughter and fun. And I think that's what keeps the energy of the, of the group. So yeah I'm so thankful for you guys individually for your friendships. And then as a team, so thankful for the camaraderie shout out to all the marketing team, Juan behind the camera too. He's gotten to be a part of this but wanted to podcast queen.
00:31:45
Speaker
No, but thank you everyone for listening to the Kick Your Roots Up podcast. If you have more questions about National Day of the Cowboy Boot, feel free to head on over to our website. Check it out. You can learn more. um And then as always, we got to give a shout out to social media so you can find us on social media at JustinBoots. I think Instagram is at JustinBoots underscore. Yep. And feel free, like, subscribe, share this with your friends. If you have questions about individual fields, whether that be social media or even just management or marketing at all in the industry, please comment below. We'll get back with your comments and we're so excited that you're listening. Thanks again for kicking your boots up with us. Thanks for joining us on Kick Your Boots Up. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams, and we can't wait to share the next story of the West. Until then, feel free to like, subscribe, and leave us a review. Follow us on social media at Justin Boots to keep up with our next episode, and we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up.