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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 802
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WHEREAS, The prosperity of the Lone Star State has been |
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greatly influenced by family farming and ranching, and the |
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Justiss family of Morris County have been officially recognized |
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as heirs to this proud tradition with the acceptance of the |
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Justiss Ranch into the state's Family Land Heritage Program in |
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2018; and |
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WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, |
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this program honors farms and ranches that have been in |
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continuous agricultural operation by the same family for a |
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century or more; established in 1868, the Justiss Ranch is |
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currently owned and operated by Sheila Justiss and Madron Justiss |
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Hartley; and |
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WHEREAS, John W. Justiss was a native of Georgia who |
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traveled to California by way of Panama, took part in the Gold |
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Rush, and eventually settled in Texas; in 1868, he and his wife, |
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Rachel Yancey Justiss, bought 146 acres in northeast Texas, where |
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they raised cattle and sheep as well as sweet potatoes, corn, and |
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sugar cane; and |
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WHEREAS, The land was handed down to John and Rachel's son |
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Joe Justiss, who raised 11 children there with his wife, Willie |
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Johnson Justiss; the family grew sweet potatoes, and Justiss Yams |
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became a popular brand throughout East Texas and as far afield as |
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California; Joe's son Lloyd Justiss went on to become president |
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of the Texas Sweet Potato Growers Association; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Joe's son Adron Justiss became owner |
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of the land and turned it into a successful cattle ranch, and he |
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and his wife, Mae Copeland Justiss, were active in the Northeast |
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Texas Hereford Association; today, the ranch is overseen by |
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Adron's daughters Sheila and Madron, who have continued to |
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skillfully manage the family's herd of Registered Polled |
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Herefords and Registered Black Salers; and |
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WHEREAS, In preserving their property as a working ranch, |
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Ms. Justiss and Ms. Hartley are making their own contribution to |
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their family's legacy, and it is indeed fitting that they be |
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honored for their outstanding stewardship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby congratulate Sheila Justiss and Madron |
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Justiss Hartley on the induction of the Justiss Ranch into the |
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Texas Department of Agriculture Family Land Heritage Program and |
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extend to them sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Justiss and Ms. Hartley as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas Senate. |
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Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 22, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |