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.