The Next Realtree Generation: Interview with Tyler Jordan
OutdoorHub 10.11.11
Tyler Jordan practically grew up on Realtree Farms in Columbus, Georgia. Hunting, exploring the land and spending time with his father, Bill Jordan. He’s truly a lucky man and he cherishes every moment of his life. Outdoor Hub got to know Tyler a little better, discussing his relationship with his father and the rest of his family and his life on camera. He’s had some of his biggest and best moments filmed, but also the flukes, which he details in this clip. Also hear him discuss the Facebook aspect of Realtree and his future with the company.
This article is part of a series of interviews and videos surrounding Realtree and Bone Collector. Interviews are available with: Nick Mundt, Travis (T-Bone) Turner, David Blanton, Tyler Jordan, Bill Jordan’s CEO to CEO and NASCAR.
Additional videos include: Friends, Family and the Outdoors, Behind-the-Scenes and BLOOPERS.
Interview Transcript:
Agnieszka Spieszny: We’re here on Outdoor Hub.com doing a featured interview with Tyler Jordan, son of Bill Jordan – founder of Realtree camo. Tyler, thanks for joining us today.
Tyler Jordan: Oh thank you for having me. Looking forward to it.
AS: Awesome, so you have a most exciting life having grown up on the the Realtree farms and being the son of Bill Jordan. Can you tell us a little bit about what that’s like, having grown up here on farm?
TJ: I tell you, we’ve had this farm for probably, I guess since about 2001, and you know a very cool place to come to, a lot of my friends come up here. Whether it’s just to hang out or hunt, I spend a lot of time with family and friends. I tell you it’s been a blessing, it really has, it’s been a lot of fun.
I got my first turkey when I was eight, I got my first deer when I was nine actually, but you now, my dad’s always been there for me. I tell you he’s always had my back. And I’ll tell you, probably, my dad’s probably one of my best friends when it comes to it. We have such a great relationship and you know, I can honestly say he’s probably one of my best friends, you know he’s always been there to support me along the way and helped me with my career and I’ll tell you something cool is, I have a little sister that’s five and I have a little brother that’s two. That’s brought us closer, not just me and my dad, but me and my mom and the whole family so you know, he’s been there my whole life.
00:01:22 AS: Yeah, I’ve seen that you’ve had some of your biggest moments shot on camera. So it’s awesome to be able to look back on that, but what’s that like just having all those stages of your life on camera.
TJ: I tell ya, I’ve been so used to the camera, I mean I’ve been on camera since I was three years old. You know, the Realtree cameras have always been with me so being able to look back and you know, share those moments with hopefully my kids one day is really cool and hopefully I can do the same thing for them. You know it’s really cool to be able to look back on those moments and share them with friends and family. It’s what it’s all about at the end of the day, is looking back on those moments and cherishing those.
00:01:55 AS: So you’ve had some of the greatest moments of your life on camera but what about some of the flukes, the mistakes, the bloopers?
TJ: Well one of the most embarrassing moments I’ve ever had was probably four years ago and I shot the biggest deer of my life and I was so excited. And I was walking up on the deer and sure enough, I’m probably 10 feet away, and I fall and I bust it. I bust right in front of them. And sure enough they aired it on TV. That was probably one of the most embarrassing moments but I was so excited, I really didn’t care.
AS: Right yeah, you got the biggest buck anyway it doesn’t matter right?
TJ: That’s right, that’s right.
00:02:26 AS: So you’re actually in college right now, right? What year are you and what are you studying?
TJ: Well i’m a freshman and I just graduated high school this past spring but I’m going to take the fall off and hunt and travel and learn about the business along the way. I worked an internship this summer also. I’m going to do something probably in business. Auburn had a family business program when I went and visited this past summer. you know that’s something that’s really interesting. And working at the office, you know I worked in marketing, licensing so I haven’t really found, I don’t really know what I want to do yet and I don’t have to decide right now. You know, something in business and you know, something I can do to get more involved in the company too, so you know, time will tell.
00:03:11 AS: You’re kind of the different generation than all the other Realtree guys. You are much more accustomed to the social platform, social media like facebook, twitter, all that and stuff. Do you ever use any of that as a college student to help push Realtree forward?
TJ: Oh big time, I tell ya, facebook’s been huge, twitter I’d say we have a lot of fans and I think we have over a million followers on facebook. Your friend limit is 5,000, I reached that a long time ago. You know, it’s really cool to be able to share hunting experiences and you know, with people on facebook and connect.
00:03:47 AS: Have you noticed any different behavioral traits between hunters your generation and then the older mindset of hunters of your father’s generation? Anything with gadgets and technology even?
TJ: Technology’s big for sure, I mean, you know in today’s generation I feel like a lot of stuff is based on technology. Whether it be trail cameras, looking up weather and that’s something my dad has never really been used to. The whole trail camera thing is new to him. He prefers to do a lot of stuff the old-fashioned way, but honestly, I like to do it the easier way.
00:04:23 AS: Yeah no kidding, why not? We have the technology available. And um, so when are you taking over the company?
TJ: You know, I get asked that question probably A LOT. You know, there’s no guarantee that I am. You know, I’ve enjoyed learning a little bit about each department the past couple of years that I’ve worked there. And there’s really no telling. I’ve enjoyed licensing, that’s probably been one of my most favorite things. And that’s what our company’s based off of pretty much, is licensing our patterns out there in the market. So we’ll just see what these next four or five years hold for me and we’ll see.
AS: Well, really appreciate you for joining us in the Outdoor Hub featured interview. Tyler Jordan, the next Realtree big shot coming out of Columbus, Georgia. Thank you.
TJ: Thanks for having me.
