H.R. No. 173
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas Agricultural Land Trust, which diligently
works to conserve our state's heritage of agricultural lands,
wildlife habitats, and natural resources, is celebrating its 10th
anniversary with a Celebratory Texas Ranch BBQ on October 12, 2017,
at the historic McFaddin Ranch; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-seven million residents are blessed to live
in Texas, a state with abundant natural beauty and biodiversity in
every corner; the Lone Star State covers a land and water area
totaling more than 268,000 square miles, the most of any state in
the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, Farming and ranching have been ingrained into the
very fabric of Texas, from the earliest settlers to the present-day
farmers and ranchers who work nearly 250,000 farms and ranches;
this is more than double the number in the second leading state,
which boasts just over 100,000 farms and ranches; Texas farms and
ranches, including privately owned forestland, total over 140
million acres and encompass approximately 84 percent of the state's
total land area; and
WHEREAS, Agricultural families produce the food and fiber
that help feed and clothe suburban and urban Texans, Americans in
other states, and many citizens of other countries; Texas is a
leader in the U.S. production of beef and several types of fruit,
vegetable, and fiber crops; and
WHEREAS, Today's family-owned farms and ranches face many of
the same challenges encountered by their pioneer forefathers, such
as severe weather, predation, and fluctuating prices; present-day
farmers and ranchers also face the challenge of the fragmentation
of land due to multiple heirs, estate taxation, and the
urbanization of Texas that has followed the rapid growth of
municipalities; farm and ranch land in the United States has been
disappearing at an accelerated pace since the 1960s, and Texas has
experienced this same trend; to address this issue, in 2005 the
American Farmland Trust brought together farmers, ranchers, and
stakeholder organizations, such as the Texas and Southwestern
Cattle Raisers Association, the Texas Wildlife Association, and the
Texas Farm Bureau; and
WHEREAS, The result of this effort was the creation of the
nonprofit Texas Agricultural Land Trust, the sole mission of which
is to promote the conservation of agricultural lands and native
wildlife habitat on privately owned lands, while also guaranteeing
each landowner's private property rights; the Texas Agricultural
Land Trust's mission is not to own land, but it instead seeks to
work with landowners who love their land and want to conserve it for
future generations through conservation easements; this voluntary
land use management tool is used to conserve land and natural
resources while ensuring that the landowner continues to own the
property and to use it for farming, ranching, and hunting; each
conservation easement is individually tailored and can also help to
lower income and estate taxes; in several instances, the Texas
Agricultural Land Trust has helped private landowners reconstitute
their once fragmented family farms and ranches to re-create the
original family tract, or one that is as similar to the original as
possible; and
WHEREAS, Governed by a board of directors made up of
landowners and managed by a staff experienced in ranch and farm
management and wildlife conservation, the Texas Agricultural Land
Trust has worked with farmers, ranchers, and forest owners across
the state to conserve more than 226,000 acres; the organization's
current board of directors is led by Chairman Clark Willingham,
Vice Chairman Bob McCan, Secretary Caroleene Hardee Dobson, and
Treasurer John Dudley; the members of the board include Perry
R. Bass II, Mark Bivins, Jim Bradbury, Charles Davidson, Norman
R. Garza Jr., Steve C. Lewis, Richard M. Lucas Jr., Larry
Mellenbruch, Rick Peebles, Robert J. Potts, Jane Richardson, Ed
Small, Julie Kelleher Stacy, and Jesse Womack; and
WHEREAS, The daily operations of the Texas Agricultural Land
Trust are ably conducted by Chief Executive Officer Blair
Fitzsimons and her team, Chief Operating Officer James Oliver,
Stewardship Director Ken Cearley, Finance Director Dina McIlhenny,
Outreach and Communications Manager Jenny Sanders, Executive
Assistant and Office Manager Lorie Talamantez, Development
Coordinator Sandra Velarde, and External Legal Counsel Arthur Uhl;
and
WHEREAS, The iconic wide-open spaces of Texas provide
immeasurable tangible and intangible benefits to this state and
constitute an essential part of its identity, and the Texas
Agricultural Land Trust is playing a vital role in preserving and
protecting this precious heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 10th
anniversary of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and extend to all
those associated with the trust sincere best wishes for continued
success in their important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Texas Agricultural Land Trust as an expression of
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Price
Straus Goldman Oliverson Straus Goldman Oliverson
Straus Goldman Oliverson
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alvarado Gooden Parker Alvarado Gooden Parker
Alvarado Gooden Parker
Anchia Guerra Paul Anchia Guerra Paul
Anchia Guerra Paul
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Arévalo Hefner Phillips Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Ashby Hernandez Pickett Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Bailes Herrero Price Bailes Herrero Price
Bailes Herrero Price
Bell Hinojosa Raney Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bernal Holland Raymond Bernal Holland Raymond
Bernal Holland Raymond
Biedermann Howard Reynolds Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Bohac Hunter Roberts Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows Kacal Sanford Burrows Kacal Sanford
Burrows Kacal Sanford
Button Keough Schaefer Button Keough Schaefer
Button Keough Schaefer
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Canales King of Parker Schubert Canales King of Parker Schubert
Canales King of Parker Schubert
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Clardy Klick Sheffield Clardy Klick Sheffield
Clardy Klick Sheffield
Coleman Koop Shine Coleman Koop Shine
Coleman Koop Shine
Collier Krause Simmons Collier Krause Simmons
Collier Krause Simmons
Cook Kuempel Smithee Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cortez Lambert Springer Cortez Lambert Springer
Cortez Lambert Springer
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Craddick Lang Stickland Craddick Lang Stickland
Craddick Lang Stickland
Cyrier Larson Stucky Cyrier Larson Stucky
Cyrier Larson Stucky
Dale Laubenberg Swanson Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Darby Leach Thierry Darby Leach Thierry
Darby Leach Thierry
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Deshotel Martinez Turner Deshotel Martinez Turner
Deshotel Martinez Turner
Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Elkins Miller Villalba Elkins Miller Villalba
Elkins Miller Villalba
Faircloth Minjarez Vo Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Fallon Moody Walle Fallon Moody Walle
Fallon Moody Walle
Farrar Morrison White Farrar Morrison White
Farrar Morrison White
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Frank Murphy Workman Frank Murphy Workman
Frank Murphy Workman
Frullo Murr Wray Frullo Murr Wray
Frullo Murr Wray
Geren Neave Wu Geren Neave Wu
Geren Neave Wu
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 173 was adopted by the House on August
1, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Goldman Oliverson
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alvarado Gooden Parker
Anchia Guerra Paul
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Bailes Herrero Price
Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bernal Holland Raymond
Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows Kacal Sanford
Button Keough Schaefer
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Canales King of Parker Schubert
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Clardy Klick Sheffield
Coleman Koop Shine
Collier Krause Simmons
Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cortez Lambert Springer
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Craddick Lang Stickland
Cyrier Larson Stucky
Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Darby Leach Thierry
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Deshotel Martinez Turner
Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Elkins Miller Villalba
Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Fallon Moody Walle
Farrar Morrison White
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Frank Murphy Workman
Frullo Murr Wray
Geren Neave Wu
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas