photo by Samuel Waive
American Country
July 1986
Willie Nelson leaned his farming lessons from W. B. Shepard, his Vocational Agricultural Instructor at Abbott High School. Willie attended high school in Abbott, Texas 1947 through 1950. He was a member of the FFA Chapter all four years. Willie won the FFA District award “Sweetheart of Talent” in 1949, recalls Shepard.
Shepard was interviewed May 6 at his farm and his pride and joy — the Outpost, a combination old fashion trading post, general store, salvage market.
One of six children, Shepard has four brothers and one sister. All are farmers. The Shepard Farm and the Outpost are located one mile north of Abbott, eight miles south of Hillsboro on the east side of I-35 on a gravel road between I-35 and the Willie Nelson Road. The exit for the Outpost has no name but there is a large, vacant OGY service center on the west side of I-35 at the farm to market road.
Shepard refers to Willie Nelson as a “good student.” He remembers how Willie was an all around athlete, who played football, basketball and was good in track.
Shepard said he gets calls often from people asking about Willie Nelson. Only a year ago a Sports Illustrated reporter was working on a story about track and called him about Willie.