By Counts H.R. No. 212 75R6411 JHS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will be 1-2 held in Sweetwater on the weekend of March 7-9, 1997; and 1-3 WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees since 1958, this 1-4 internationally acclaimed event has attracted thousands of people 1-5 to this modest Texas town; many of the 35,000 annual visitors come 1-6 to participate in the snake hunt, although most are there for the 1-7 thrill of seeing live rattlesnakes and the chance to taste this 1-8 Texas delicacy; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Conceived by a group of area farmers and ranchers 1-10 plagued by an abundance of rattlers, the event has grown to become 1-11 the world's largest round-up, with more than 100 tons of western 1-12 diamondback rattlesnakes turned in to date; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Among the highlights of this three-day affair are 1-14 the Rattlesnake Run, the rattlesnake review parade, and the Miss 1-15 Snake Charmer beauty contest, in which contestants compete for 1-16 college scholarships donated by the Jaycees; proceeds from the 1-17 round-up go toward the support of local charities and youth 1-18 programs and help fund the Sunshine Inn, a learning center for the 1-19 mentally handicapped; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The round-up also offers visitors the opportunity to 1-21 see experienced snake handlers demonstrate the various milking 1-22 techniques used to extract the snakes' dangerous venom; this toxic 1-23 substance is beneficial to cancer research and can be used as an 1-24 antidote to snakebite; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The Rattlesnake Round-Up has generated a great deal 2-2 of publicity for the city of Sweetwater and its fine citizens, and 2-3 the Sweetwater Jaycees are truly deserving of special legislative 2-4 recognition for their sponsorship of this popular event; now, 2-5 therefore, be it 2-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-7 Legislature hereby commend the Sweetwater Jaycees on their 2-8 sponsorship of the World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up and extend 2-9 to the Jaycees best wishes for success with this year's event; and, 2-10 be it further 2-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-12 prepared for the Sweetwater Jaycees as an expression of high regard 2-13 by the Texas House of Representatives.