Texas Farm Bureau reports from statewide convention
TEXAS FARM BUREAU
Farming PAC sets policies for next year

From left, Cherokee County attendees are: Joe Parsley, president of CCFB, Vice President John Griffith holding his daughter Presley and wife Kimberly.

Voting delegates from Cherokee County Farm Bureau recently participated in the 73rd annual Texas Farm Bureau convention December 2-4 held in Arlington.

Attending the event were Joe Parsley, president of CCFB along with his wife, Martha, and John Griffith, vice president of CCFB, with his wife Kimberly and daughter Presley.

Policies directing the state’s largest farm organization were adopted by more than 1000 delegates from 207 organized Farm Bureaus.

Approved recommendations on national policies will advance to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting to be held in January in Utah.

Addressing the delegates were Kenneth Dierschke of San Angelo, TFB president; Albert Thompson of Martinsville, secretary-treasurer; and Vernie Glasson, TFB executive director.

The last order of business was the election of the president, Kenneth Dierschke of San Angelo, for his fifth term.

Bureaus recognized for membership excellence

County Farm Bureaus from across the state recognized for membership achievements in a variety of categories at the Texas Farm Bureau annual convention.

“An active membership is the lifeblood of our organization, ” said Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke. “We are proud of the efforts of these county Farm Bureaus to continually grow and improve the Farm Bureau organization. ”

The county Farm Bureaus signing the most new members included the following: Collin, 1,813; Jefferson, 1,429; Fort Bend, 1,290; Harris, 1,076; Brazoria, 1,065; Ellis, 899; Bell, 898; McLennan, 812; Parker, 713; and Kaufman, 688.

The highest membership renewal percentages were achieved by: Martin, Montague, Val Verde, Mason, Castro, San Saba, Dickens, Crosby, Mills and Collingsworth.

County farm bureaus reporting the largest membership gain included: Jefferson, Parker, Collin, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Nueces, Hopkins- Rains, Bowie, Cherokee, and Jasper.

Nacogdoches youth wins speech contest

A 17-year-old Nacogdoches native and 16- year-old Hidalgo County youth walked away with top honors at the 2006 Free Enterprise Speech Contest held during the annual state convention in Arlington.

Logan Warren, son of Kim and Chester Smith of Nacogdoches, delivered the winning speech on America’s unique economic system, topping high school students from across the Lone Star State. He received a $4,000 scholarship.

Warren is a homeschooled junior who plans to attend Texas A&M University and double major in engineering and political science/international studies. That way, he said, “I can have a job to start my career and later move into politics.”

He is active in the Home School Speech and Debate Club, shows animals and participates in photography contests within 4-H Club, and is working toward his Eagle rank within the Boy Scouts of America.