Wednesday, January 21, 1998

Perry to recognize ag pioneers at heritage program

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

Texas Ag Commissioner Rick Perry will recognize 108 farm and ranch honorees at the 24th annual Texas Family Land Heritage Ceremony Jan. 23.

The ceremony will be at 2 p.m. in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Auditorium at the University of Texas at Austin.

Family Land Heritage Program is sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture. It honors families whose farms and ranches have been in continuous production for 100 years or more.

"These families represent the history and legacy of Texas and have built a solid foundation for today's agricultural industry," Perry said.

El Palmito Ranch and Historic Palmito Hill Ranch -- both in Cameron County -- are the two oldest properties being recognized this year. Both were founded in 1827.

Red Steagall, well known songwriter and singer, will perform at the ceremony. The Texas Legislature designated Steagall "Cowboy Poet of Texas" in 1991.

Commissioner Perry also will speak.

Farms and ranches in 61 counties will receive Family Land Heritage cerfiticates. Atascosa County has the most honorees this year with eight qualified applicants.

Several farming or ranching operations from the Abilene region will be among those honored for having been in the same family for 100 or more years.

They are:

-- Amity Valley Farms, Brown County.

-- Anderson Ranch, Comanche County.

-- Blackwell Farm, Haskel Community of Eastland County.

-- The Robertson Flatwood Farm, Eastland County.

-- The Cypert Place on Lake Creek, Haskell County.

-- Williams Lookout Mountain Ranch, Mills County.

-- John T. & Timmie Inez Baker Farm, Palo Pinto County.

-- Z.P. Gillium Families, Scurry County.

-- Dougal McGregor Farm, Scurry County.

-- Boyett Ranch, Shackelford County.

-- Snyder Ranch IV, Shackelford County.

-- J.D. Patterson Ranch, Stonewall County.

Looking for rural heroes

Entries for the Texas Farm and Ranch Safety Council's 1997 Rural Heroism Award are being accepted, says Ben Bullard, Council president.

To qualify, a candidate must have performed an heroic act of human lifesaving within Texas during 1997. The heroic deed should be related to farming or ranching.

The recipient will be announced April 6 during the Texas Safety Association's 59th annual Texas/Southwestern Conference and Exposition at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin.

Nominations must be submitted and postmarked no later than Feb. 3.

Send all nominations to the Texas Farm and Ranch Safety Council, P.O. Box 5539, Waco, Texas 76708.

The letter of nomination should include a written account of the incident along with names, addresses and telephone numbers of all persons involved. Newspaper clippings and photos should also accompany nominations when available.

The 1997 winner was Clay Nuckles of Hondo who attempted to rescue his father from a vicious attack of killer bees (Africanized bees) while clearing land with a bulldozer.

Bullard has been president of the Texas Farm and Ranch Safety Council for 21 years.

Perry receives endorsement of Cattle Feeders

Texas Ag Commissioner Rick Perry has been given the endorsement of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association in his bid to become Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

"Rick Perry came from agriculture, ran his family's ranching and farming operation and has done an exemplary job as our industry's spokesman in Texas," said Ross Wilson, spokesman for the TCFA's Political Action Committee. "Rick Perry will be an excellent choice for Lieutenant Governor to lead this state into the next century."

In addition to TCFA, Perry also has received the endorsement of the Texas Association of Dairymen and support from the Texas Sugar Beet Growers, Texas Agricultural Aviation Association and Western Peanut Growers Association.