Friday, March 14, 1997

Spring Trail Ride for Rehab slated for April

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

Get ready to head 'em up and move 'em out.

The "Spring Trail Ride for Rehab" is April 19-20 at the Chadbourne Ranch in Coke County near Bronte.

Registration begins April 18 after 3 p.m., and resumes at 8 a.m. April 19.

Mac Sayles, Kelly Gill, and Thomas Hicks are volunteer Trail Ride Chairmen.

The weekend will feature a day-long ride on April 19 and a shorter ride on April 20.

Three meals will be served.

First aid and restroom facilities will be available.

On the evening of April 19, Sam Davis will entertain the group of trail riders. Davis is a cowboy poet from Abilene.

Davis also will lead a worship service on Sunday morning.

In addition to all of that, weekend activities will feature a number of auction items.

Scenic location for drive

The Chadbourne Ranch sprawls across the picturesque hills of Coke County and is the site of historic Fort Chadbourne.

Established in 1852, Fort Chadbourne was in use until 1864.

Shortly after the American Civil War, G.G. Odom settled in the area and founded the Chadbourne Ranch at the site of the fort.

Chadbourne Ranch is still owned by his descendents.

Participants' donations to help Rehab

Expenses for the event are underwritten by Lawrence Hall Chevrolet, which means that participants' freewill donations will go directly to treatment services at West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene and San Angelo.

Gill says to keep in mind that as of January, health regulations of the Texas Animal Health Commission require a negative Coggins test within the past 12 months for horses to be part of any trail ride, show, fair, competition or other event where equine are gathered.

To sign up for the trail ride, or for more information, contact John Thomas of Abilene at (915) 691-7290; Ellen Brown at San Angelo, (915) 949-9535; or Mac Sayles after 7 p.m. at Tuscola, (915) 554-7884.

National Agriculture Week

The contributions that Texas agriculture has made to preserve and nurture the environment will be celebrated during National Agriculture Week March 16-22 and also National Agriculture Day on March 20.

Concern for the environment, which appears strong among urban America, is equally reflected in the agricultural sector.

Just as urban families recycle stuff like glass, newspapers, and aluminum cans, the farmers in this country are recycling chemical containers, feed sacks, and food by-products.

In Texas agriculture, the efforts go well beyond recycling programs.

There are satellite seminars dealing with air quality and programs focusing on how to prevent soil erosion.

Dozens of agricultural associations and organizations - including the Texas Farm Bureau - have created programs and seminars to deal with environmental needs in areas such as air quality, water purity, and soil erosion.

"Environmental concerns are just as high a priority among farmers as they are among the population as a whole," says Bob Stallman, president of the Texas Farm Bureau. "Farmers and ranchers are 'original environmentalists' - maintaining and improving the soil and natural resources to pass on to our future generations."

Technology has given producers good tools to protect the environment. Contour farming and the planting of crops around hillsides - instead of up an down the hills - keep soil from washing away. About 26 million acres of U.S. farmland now are managed in such a manner.

Farmers and ranchers are producing the widest variety of top quality food ever.

A pork tenderloin now has only one more gram of fat than a skinless chicken breast. Biotechnology is helping to produce tastier fruits and vegetables that last longer.

So when you eat a hamburger, get dressed in that new outfit, or wrap up in a warm cotton towel during the week of March 16, give a thought to the farmers and ranchers who produce your vital food and fiber.