Swapping Dirt tells the compelling story of the Middleton family’s pioneering journey to West Texas, their instrumental role in founding Lubbock, and the first ranch sale of 1920.
In this memoir, Sam Middleton shares his experiences working alongside legends like Boone Pickens and Ann Marion, while reflecting on his own involvement in the sale of some of the most iconic ranches in the country. Sam Middleton, owner and supervising broker at Chas. S. Middleton and Son, LLC, is a lifelong resident of Lubbock, Texas. Reluctantly following in his father’s footsteps, he joined Chas. S. Middleton in 1971, eventually earning his real estate broker’s license in five states and becoming a certified appraiser in three states.
The book traces Sam's family history, from his grandfather’s westward migration to West Texas, to his father’s hard-earned lessons during the Great Depression, and finally to Sam’s own rise in the ranch real estate business. Along the way, he recounts his work with legendary ranches, including the Matador, Mesa Vista, UU Bar, Four Sixes, and W.T. Waggoner Estate Ranches.
"Swapping Dirt" is available now at the Ranching Heritage Center or by contacting our office at (806) 763-5331. You can also visit us at 5016 122nd Street, Lubbock, Texas to pick up a copy. Each book is available for $50, and all proceeds benefit the Ranching Heritage Association at Texas Tech University.
