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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas AgriForestry Small Farmers and Ranchers |
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organization has rendered exceptional support to historically |
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underserved agricultural producers; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2017, a group of socially disadvantaged farmers |
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and ranchers in Nacogdoches County formed TASFR as a nonprofit |
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dedicated to enhancing rural economies, conserving and managing |
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natural resources, preventing the further decline of family farms, |
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and improving the quality of life for minorities in rural areas; |
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under the leadership of executive director Igalious "Ike" Mills, |
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the organization serves communities across Texas, as well as |
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Oklahoma and Arkansas, through its outreach, technical assistance, |
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and research and development initiatives while promoting best |
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practices in renewable energy efforts and new technology in farming |
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and ranching operations; and |
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WHEREAS, TASFR advocates for agricultural producers at the |
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local, state, and national level, and it sponsors an annual |
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Agriculture/Forestry Summit, where the U.S. Department of |
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Agriculture provides disadvantaged farmers and ranchers with |
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valuable information on a range of important topics; currently, |
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TASFR is collaborating with Prairie View A&M University, Stephen |
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F. Austin State University, Brigham Young University, and Duke |
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University in an effort to further support farmers and ranchers and |
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to increase program participation; and |
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WHEREAS, Providing a wide range of educational |
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opportunities, TASFR offers clients visits to farms and ranches, |
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surplus pine tree seedling planting assistance, agency |
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coordination for topography map and soil analysis, and youth and |
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community gardening programs; additionally, the organization gives |
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career and scholarship guidance and facilitates workshops on such |
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subjects as farm management, estate and financial planning, and |
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water quality; in carrying out its work, TASFR partners with a |
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number of agencies and organizations, including the Natural |
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Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, and the |
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Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research |
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Center, among others; and |
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WHEREAS, By helping historically underserved farmers and |
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ranchers to achieve success, TASFR has greatly benefited |
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communities throughout the Lone Star State and beyond, and all |
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those associated with the organization may indeed take pride in |
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their exceptional efforts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Texas AgriForestry Small Farmers and |
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Ranchers for its myriad contributions and extend to the |
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organization sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for TASFR as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Manuel |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 336 was adopted by the House on March |
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8, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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