Ranchers and farmers once were enemies here, but they are united these days against a common foe - a proposed bullet train that would whisk riders across vast stretches of rural Texas at 200 mph.
The rail system would link Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, fencing in 600 miles of land to make way for trains that would run day and night."It's going to destroy people's whole lives," said Kenneth Johnson, who raises ostriches on his central Texas ranch.
"Farmers have a tough enough time as it is," complained Heather Morris, a second-generation farmer from Dawson, about 60 miles south of Dallas.
Johnson and Morris were among several opponents who spoke out against the proposal during a recent hearing in Corsicana. The hearing is one of 39 being held to help develop a report on the train's environmental impact.
A century ago, Johnson and Morris could have been on opposite sides. Ranchers once fought to keep the range open for their grazing cattle while farmers fenced in their land to protect crops.
These days, there is no such split. Many, such as Gary Murphy, consider themselves both farmers and ranchers. The division is between agricultural interests and the railroad.
"I've got cattle and am concerned about how the noise is going to affect milk production," said Murphy, who is from Dawson. "We feel the market value of our land is affected. The proposal's already hurting it, and it's certainly going to if it goes through."
Clint Miller, an executive with the company running the hearings, says rural Texans are worried that the bullet train could change their way of life. Some of the meetings have drawn more than 300 people.
Miller is a bit bemused by the reception he's gotten. "Other than being threatened to be chased out of town with a stick, things are going very well," he said.