In 1948, as Shelby County’s farm income declined because of competition from West Texas cotton and South Texas tomatoes and watermelons, five local leaders worked to establish a poultry industry as a new source of revenue. County Agent John Moosberg, Martin Middleton of Middleton Milling Company, Jack Motley, president of Farmers State Bank, and Malcolm and Martin Weaver of Weaver Brothers Lumber Company studied poultry operations in Gonzales, Texas, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, then concluded that the business suited Shelby County. Middleton began the first broiler feed operation in East Texas and arranged bulk feed trucks and chicken transport. Motley financed the purchase of baby chicks, feed, medication, and poultry equipment. Martin and Malcolm Weaver, with Arch Price of Ralston Purina, designed the first long-style poultry house of its kind, measuring 20 by 120 feet and holding 3,000 chicks, then built and financed it for Willie Cordray, who raised the first batch of chickens. Moosberg coordinated the effort, which produced an 11-week broiler grow-out time and a net profit of $537. This launched rapid growth in regional broiler production and made Shelby County the birthplace in Texas and Louisiana of the commercial broiler business in the long-style poultry house; Shelby County remains the largest poultry producer in Texas.