By Miller                                              H.R. No. 570
         77R9613 MJS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Steve Manning has been named Man of the Year in
 1-2     Texas Agriculture by Progressive Farmer magazine for his notable
 1-3     efforts to preserve endangered species of birds while also helping
 1-4     cattle producers continue to practice their livelihood; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Vice president of the Central Texas Cattleman's
 1-6     Association and a Gatesville rancher, Mr. Manning and other members
 1-7     of the organization faced a possible cattle grazing moratorium on
 1-8     their land and an end to their way of life when black-capped vireos
 1-9     and warblers were being displaced from their nests and killed off
1-10     by the brown-headed cowbirds that follow cattle for forage; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Mr. Manning was aware of a successful cowbird
1-12     trapping initiative taking place at Fort Hood and proposed an
1-13     initiative on private land to augment that effort; and
1-14           WHEREAS, He garnered widespread support to carry out his
1-15     plan, enlisting students at 11 area high schools in five counties
1-16     to build large cages and encouraging landowners to voluntarily
1-17     monitor the cages, dispatching the cowbirds and releasing other
1-18     birds caught in the traps; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The result of his plan is that fewer than 13 of
1-20     every 100 vireo nests are being robbed on Fort Hood, and the
1-21     population of these endangered species of birds is rising; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Mr. Manning's innovative solution helped to unite
1-23     such diverse organizations as the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Wildlife
1-24     Association, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association,
 2-1     Environmental Defense, and several Texas Audubon chapters in a
 2-2     cooperative agreement to expand the program throughout the Hill
 2-3     Country; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, This civic-minded gentleman is now working on other
 2-5     seemingly unsolvable problems and is exploring the development of a
 2-6     regional landowner incentive program that rewards landowners who
 2-7     selectively clear cedar in the name of water conservation; his
 2-8     immeasurable contributions to agriculture were also recognized by
 2-9     Texas Monthly magazine, which named him one of the 20 most
2-10     impressive, intriguing, and influential Texans to watch; and
2-11           WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has reaped the benefits of Steve
2-12     Manning's vision, hard work, and acumen, and it is a privilege to
2-13     honor him at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-15     Legislature hereby congratulate Steve Manning on his selection as
2-16     Progressive Farmer magazine's Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture
2-17     and extend to him best wishes for continued success and happiness;
2-18     and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20     prepared for Mr. Manning as an expression of high regard by the
2-21     Texas House of Representatives.