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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Stock Horse of Texas Association is celebrating |
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| 6 | 7 | | its 20th anniversary in 2017, and this milestone in the |
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| 7 | 8 | | organization's history provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on |
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| 8 | 9 | | its many contributions to the economy and culture of ranching; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Prized for their versatility and athleticism, stock |
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| 10 | 11 | | horses are bred, raised, and trained to help ranch hands and cowboys |
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| 11 | 12 | | handle and manage cattle; recognizing the significance of these |
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| 12 | 13 | | invaluable animals, a group of horsemen, ranchers, and educators |
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| 13 | 14 | | from across Texas met in Stephenville on March 7, 1996, to establish |
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| 14 | 15 | | the Stock Horse of Texas Association; the organization began |
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| 15 | 16 | | registering its first members in 1997, and by the end of the year, |
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| 16 | 17 | | roughly 100 individuals had officially joined its ranks; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Today, the SHTX boasts more than 1,000 members |
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| 18 | 19 | | throughout the state and offers a number of educational clinics, |
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| 19 | 20 | | competitions, and other events each year; the first collegiate |
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| 20 | 21 | | stock horse competition was held in 2006 at Texas Tech University, |
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| 21 | 22 | | and the event now regularly draws entries from such institutions as |
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| 22 | 23 | | Texas A&M University, Tarleton State University, Sam Houston State |
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| 23 | 24 | | University, and Stephen F. Austin State University; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, In addition, the SHTX has become a model for many |
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| 25 | 26 | | similar associations; in recent years, the organization has entered |
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| 26 | 27 | | into an industry alliance partnership with the American Quarter |
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| 27 | 28 | | Horse Association, the world's largest equine breed registry, and |
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| 28 | 29 | | the two groups work in tandem for the benefit of the industry; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Horses and horsemanship are fundamental to the rich |
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| 30 | 31 | | heritage of the Lone Star State, and for the past two decades, the |
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| 31 | 32 | | Stock Horse of Texas Association has been an essential part of the |
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| 32 | 33 | | state's equine and ranching industries through its efforts to "help |
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| 33 | 34 | | people ride a better horse"; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 35 | 36 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Stock |
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| 36 | 37 | | Horse of Texas Association and extend to its members sincere best |
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| 37 | 38 | | wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 39 | 40 | | prepared for the Stock Horse of Texas Association as an expression |
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| 40 | 41 | | of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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