| 1 | 1 | | 84R3431 JGH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Sheffield H.C.R. No. 39 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Proud residents of Hico celebrated the city's 11th |
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| 7 | 7 | | annual Texas Steak Cookoff in 2014, and the continuing success of |
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| 8 | 8 | | this popular festival makes the community deserving of designation |
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| 9 | 9 | | as the official Steak Capital of Texas; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Under the leadership of then Mayor Stan Bundy, the |
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| 11 | 11 | | city staged its first steak cook-off in May 2004, with 15 |
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| 12 | 12 | | participating cookers; the following year, the Hico Economic |
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| 13 | 13 | | Development Corporation took over management of the event, and by |
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| 14 | 14 | | year three, the festival had grown to include five professional |
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| 15 | 15 | | chefs, 16 backyard cooks, a number of vendors, and several |
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| 16 | 16 | | wineries, drawing some 2,000 guests; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, By 2008, Hico's cook-off had nearly doubled in size |
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| 18 | 18 | | from its start, and the gathering was featured on the Food Network |
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| 19 | 19 | | cable channel; since then, the festival has grown steadily, and it |
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| 20 | 20 | | now attracts more than 100 cookers, 15 wineries, 70 vendors, and |
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| 21 | 21 | | over 6,500 guests each year for a variety of activities that include |
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| 22 | 22 | | a wine tasting and VIP dinner, as well as the signature contest to |
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| 23 | 23 | | choose the cooker of the "Best Steak in Texas"; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, The proceeds from the Texas Steak Cookoff directly |
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| 25 | 25 | | benefit the community, helping the Hico EDC support such notable |
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| 26 | 26 | | organizations and initiatives as the Civic Club, the Memorial |
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| 27 | 27 | | Scholarship Foundation, and construction of an outdoor stage in the |
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| 28 | 28 | | city park; the festival has also attracted corporate sponsors, and |
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| 29 | 29 | | the weekend results in a 12 to 14 percent rise in retail sales for |
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| 30 | 30 | | local businesses each year; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, In hosting the largest event of its kind in the |
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| 32 | 32 | | state, the city of Hico brings together talented professional and |
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| 33 | 33 | | amateur chefs in a spirited competition enjoyed by residents and |
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| 34 | 34 | | tourists alike while highlighting the ongoing importance of beef to |
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| 35 | 35 | | the economy and culture of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be |
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| 36 | 36 | | it |
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| 37 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 38 | 38 | | hereby designate Hico as the official Steak Capital of Texas. |
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