McFaddin-Ward House Museum Lecture Series Bites into History of Texas Citrus Industry on Feb. 19

Beaumont, TX; Feb. 2, 2026 – The McFaddin-Ward House Museum will present “The Juicy Story of the Texas Citrus Industry,” a free public lecture by Dale Murden on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Visitor Center Lecture Hall (1906 Calder Avenue, Beaumont).

Murden, current president of Texas Citrus Mutual, will highlight the rich history, current farming practices, and promising future of Texas citrus orchards.

Dale Murden

“I’ll be covering a complete history of the Texas citrus industry from a to z,” Murden said. “I’m curious how many people even know Texas has a commercial citrus industry. If you’re a Texan, and you’re proud to be a Texan, you should know about the Texas citrus industry. The climate in south Texas allows for citrus to be grown in that area. We produce a grapefruit developed by Texas A&M scientists that is redder and sweeter than pretty much anything in the world.”

A fifth-generation Texan, Murden developed his “pure love” of the land and farming while growing up on his grandparents’ farm in Santa Rosa, Texas. He began his career in citrus right after high school and continued in the industry through devastating freezes, uncertainty, and change.

“Farming is a freedom you can’t find in an office,” Murden said. “The ability to grow something and help feed a population is one of the most honorable things you can do. When you’re passionate about something and you love something, why not stick with it? I’ve had a lot of trials and a lot of tribulations – you can’t control the weather; you can’t control the prices – but I’m doing what I love.”

Murden has held numerous positions within the citrus industry, including farm manager and general manager at Rio Farms, Inc. and general manager of Precision Orchard Services and Bob Smith Grove Care Companies. For 15 years, he worked with commodity groups, universities, USDA, and growers to serve agriculture through research and demonstration projects.

In 2014, Murden became president of Texas Citrus Mutual and its subsidiaries, Valley Ag Insurance, Texas Citrus Producers Board, Citrus Foundation, and Texas Valley Citrus Committee, where he continues to passionately serve agriculture farmers and ranchers.

“It’s rewarding working to solve problems for hardworking people,” Murden said. “I’ve learned that anywhere I’ve traveled in the world, farmers are all the same. We love what we do. We share a common bond, regardless of race or nationality.”

McFaddin-Ward House Museum lectures are admission-free and open to the public, but space is limited. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, call 409-832-2134.

For those unable to attend, the full lecture will be available for viewing on the museum YouTube Channel (youtube.com/@mcfaddinwardhouse), Facebook (facebook.com/McFaddinWardHouse), and website (mcfaddin-ward.org/about/videos) after the event.

Completed in 1906, the McFaddin-Ward House is a fully restored Beaux-Arts Colonial-style mansion and historic landmark in Beaumont, Texas, that offers a vivid glimpse into the lives of the prominent McFaddin family and their enduring contributions to the economic, social, and cultural history of the region. The museum offers admission-free tours of the historic home, carriage house, and gardens, as well as educational programming and year-round events.