Liberty County Judge Jay Knight will be the guest speaker on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at the quarterly meeting of the Liberty County Historical Commission. The program will begin after a short business meeting at 6 p.m. in the A.J. “Jack” Hartel Building, 318 San Jacinto Street, Liberty, Texas. Meetings are open to the public, and county residents and guests are encouraged to attend.
Recently, area citizens may have noticed that the old American Rice Growers dryer complex in the center of Dayton has been demolished. Our area was once a thriving rice farming community with a rich history. The Dayton dryer served as a hub for rice farmers and was used to dry and store rice from all over this region.
Judge Knight’s father, Joe Audway Knight, ran the dryer from 1949 until 1982 and returned on two other occasions in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. There was not a more beloved businessman in this part of Texas, nor one with more integrity.
Judge Knight had a firsthand seat growing up in this industry and will relate the history of early farming in Liberty County, including the transition from cotton farming to rice farming and, later, soybeans. He will talk about the formation of the American Rice Growers Co-Operative Association, its early members, and its board. The history will include Mr. Knight’s “coming back to Dayton” after World War II and college, his work at a local bank, and how he became involved with American Rice Growers.
How did such an important industry in this part of Texas vanish overnight? Judge Knight will share this interesting and sad chapter of rice farming history in our area.
As the once-prosperous industry disappears in our county and the beautiful fields, once abundant with crops, fade into history to make way for real estate development, let us listen, learn, and remember the importance of this industry and the farmers and businessmen who made it thrive for so many years.
You are invited to attend! For more information, please email lchc318@gmail.com or text/call 936-334-5813. Save the date: Monday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m., 318 San Jacinto, Liberty.