Nick Welch returns for Part 2 with more stories from nearly five decades in the land business, from sulfur well water in rural Tennessee to missing deeds in New Mexico shoeboxes. Along the way, he talks acquisitions, title work, land grants, stacked land contracts, courthouse wisdom, and the humility it takes to keep learning after 47 years in the field.

This episode is full of the kind of stories only a career landman can tell, along with the lessons behind them: respect the landowner, listen before you assume, and never underestimate the little old lady at the courthouse.

In this episode of The Landcast, Brandon and Jeremy sit down with Nick Welch, owner of Welch Abstract & Title, to explore an incredible 47-year career spanning oil and gas, coal, commercial title, telecom infrastructure, right-of-way acquisition, and land management. Nick shares how he got his start as a 19-year-old landman, the mentors who shaped his career, and the industry crashes that forced him to adapt and reinvent himself time and time again. Along the way, he worked across the country on everything from mineral title and coal mining projects to fiber optic networks and major commercial developments. The conversation includes:

• How Nick got started in the land business
• Lessons learned from nearly five decades in the industry
• The 1986 oil crash and its impact on land professionals
• Running title in oil and gas, coal, and BLM lands
• The transition from landman to business owner
• Why history and detective work are essential skills for title professionals
• Memorable courthouse discoveries and land stories
• The evolution of right-of-way and acquisition work
• What makes a great landman today

Plus, Nick shares fascinating stories involving abandoned coal mines, early oil booms, commercial title projects, and even an unexpected connection to Elvis Presley.

In this episode of The LandCast, Brandon and Jeremy sit down with Neil McCrary, owner of Scout Check Report, one of the Illinois Basin’s longest-running oil and gas publications.

Neil shares his unique journey from horse racing at Churchill Downs to managing oil production operations and ultimately purchasing Scout Check in 2024. The conversation explores the rich history of oil production in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, including the story of a 110-year-old Indiana oil well that is still producing today.

They discuss how Scout Check tracks drilling activity across the Illinois Basin, the evolution of oil scouting from binoculars and courthouse records to modern technology, and the challenges of reporting accurate industry information in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Neil also offers his perspective on the current state of the Illinois Basin, industry consolidation, oil prices, and why he remains optimistic about the region’s future.