| 2 | 3 | | |
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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, Family farms and ranches have long been essential to |
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| 6 | 7 | | the economy and culture of the Lone Star State, and the Graham Ranch |
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| 7 | 8 | | in Henderson County has been recognized for its role in this proud |
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| 8 | 9 | | tradition with its acceptance into the Family Land Heritage Program |
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| 9 | 10 | | in 2020; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, |
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| 11 | 12 | | the Family Land Heritage Program honors farms and ranches that have |
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| 12 | 13 | | been in continuous agricultural operation by the same family for a |
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| 13 | 14 | | century or more; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, The Graham Ranch traces its origins back to January |
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| 15 | 16 | | 8, 1869, when its founder, Shadrack Weaver Green, purchased 71 |
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| 16 | 17 | | acres of land in Henderson County; he acquired an additional 169 |
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| 17 | 18 | | acres in 1871, and 10 years later, he sold 93 acres to his |
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| 18 | 19 | | son-in-law, William Hugh Graham; Mr. Graham subsequently passed |
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| 19 | 20 | | down 77 acres to his son, Arthur Graham, and in 1973, Arnold Graham |
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| 20 | 21 | | acquired 27 acres; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Stanley and Charlotte Graham procured the title to |
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| 22 | 23 | | Arnold Graham's 27 acres in 2000, and they added their son, Kevin |
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| 23 | 24 | | Graham, to the deed in 2015; over the years, the Graham's property |
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| 24 | 25 | | has grown to encompass an additional 500 acres of land, and the |
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| 25 | 26 | | family continues to run cattle and bale hay; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, For the past century and a half, the Graham Ranch has |
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| 27 | 28 | | played an important role in Henderson County and helped to preserve |
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| 28 | 29 | | the rich agricultural heritage of Texas, and it is indeed fitting |
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| 29 | 30 | | that the members of the Graham family be recognized for their |
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| 30 | 31 | | outstanding stewardship; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 32 | 33 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the induction |
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| 33 | 34 | | of the Graham Ranch of Henderson County into the Family Land |
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| 34 | 35 | | Heritage Program and extend to all those associated with the ranch |
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| 35 | 36 | | sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 37 | 38 | | prepared for the Graham family as an expression of high regard by |
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| 38 | 39 | | the Texas House of Representatives. |
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