| 1 | 1 | | 89R15173 TBO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Shofner H.C.R. No. 83 |
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| 7 | 7 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, For decades, the residents of Rusk County have |
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| 9 | 9 | | embraced the production of ribbon cane syrup as an indelible part of |
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| 10 | 10 | | the community's culture and heritage; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Boasting a long growing season, fertile land, and |
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| 12 | 12 | | ample rain, Rusk County provided early settlers with an ideal |
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| 13 | 13 | | location for farming; one of the area's most popular cash crops was |
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| 14 | 14 | | sugarcane, the primary ingredient in ribbon cane syrup, which is |
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| 15 | 15 | | named for the distinct bands of color that run along the stalks of |
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| 16 | 16 | | some varieties of the plant; just one acre of sugarcane farmland |
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| 17 | 17 | | could produce enough of the crop to make 500 to 600 gallons of |
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| 18 | 18 | | syrup; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, The process of making ribbon cane syrup required the |
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| 20 | 20 | | participation of numerous residents of the community; one person |
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| 21 | 21 | | would hook mules to a sweep that operated the sugarcane crusher, and |
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| 22 | 22 | | older children would feed sugarcane into rollers; a member of the |
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| 23 | 23 | | team would maintain the fire to heat the extracted cane juice while |
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| 24 | 24 | | another would skim the top of the syrup and move it through baffles |
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| 25 | 25 | | with paddles to prevent burning; each task was overseen by a |
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| 26 | 26 | | designated syrup master; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, The traditional syrup-making process is |
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| 28 | 28 | | demonstrated at Rusk County's annual Heritage Syrup Festival, which |
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| 29 | 29 | | was first held in 1988; taking place on the grounds of the Depot |
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| 30 | 30 | | Museum in Henderson, the popular event attracts some 31,000 |
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| 31 | 31 | | visitors to the county each year; attendees have the opportunity to |
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| 32 | 32 | | observe the full production method, with the beloved mules who |
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| 33 | 33 | | power the crusher playing a featured role; the museum also offers a |
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| 34 | 34 | | training course to help ensure that the folk art of syrup making is |
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| 35 | 35 | | passed along to future generations; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Rusk County's strong historical association with |
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| 37 | 37 | | ribbon cane syrup has long been a source of great pride for area |
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| 38 | 38 | | residents, and it is indeed deserving of special recognition; now, |
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| 39 | 39 | | therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 41 | 41 | | hereby designate Rusk County as the official Syrup Capital of |
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| 42 | 42 | | Texas; and, be it further |
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| 43 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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| 44 | 44 | | 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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| 45 | 45 | | until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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| 46 | 46 | | passed by the legislature. |
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