H.C.R. No. 42
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, For over half a century, Winnie has been known far
and wide as the host of the Texas Rice Festival, a celebration of
the local rice harvest and the integral role that the rice industry
has played in the area's history, development, and culture; and
WHEREAS, First cultivated locally around 1900, rice has long
been essential to the regional economy; the Texas Rice Festival
originated in 1968 as a special event held by St. Louis Catholic
Church of Winnie to commemorate the conclusion of the growing
season; its popularity stirred further interest among area farmers,
and they banded together to establish the Texas Rice Festival and
obtain a charter for the celebration in October 1969; Winnie was
selected to be the host town before the inaugural Rice Festival was
held on October 3, 1970, and the event has continued to be organized
each year around the first weekend of October; and
WHEREAS, Five years after the first Rice Festival took place,
the board of directors recognized the need for more space to
accommodate the growth of the event, and the decision was made to
relocate it from downtown Winnie to Winnie-Stowell Park on LeBlanc
Road; initially a one-day affair, it has since expanded to multiple
days of activities, including parades, musical performances, car
and livestock shows, photography and art exhibits, and a barbecue
cook-off; the festival also features a slate of pageants, where
youth of all ages compete for such titles as Senior Queen, Miss
LaPetite, and Little Rice King; moreover, awards are presented to
honor the Farmer of the Year and other deserving members of the
community; and
WHEREAS, The enduring popularity of the Texas Rice Festival
is a testament to the pride that local residents take in the rich
agricultural heritage of the Winnie area, and the town's connection
to the festival and to the tasty and versatile grain that inspired
it is indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate Winnie as the official Rice Capital of Texas; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
passed by the legislature.
Leo-Wilson
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 42 was adopted by the House on May
2, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 2, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 42 was adopted by the Senate on May
17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor