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R E S O L U T I O N
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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 Biggs Ranch |
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in Carson County is being recognized for its role in this proud |
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tradition with its induction into the Family Land Heritage Program |
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on October 18, 2023, at a ceremony at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, |
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the program honors farms and ranches that have been in continuous |
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agricultural operation by the same family for a century or more; |
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since 1974, TDA has recognized over 5,000 families whose proud |
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Texas legacy has passed from generation to generation and who have |
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served as dedicated stewards of their land; and |
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WHEREAS, Biggs Ranch traces its origins to 1907, when George |
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Davis Biggs, his wife, Ella Guttrey Biggs, and their son, Vaughn |
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Davis Biggs, moved to the Texas Panhandle from New London, |
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Missouri; the family settled in the town of Panhandle, and from 1907 |
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to 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Biggs raised cattle and wheat on the 640 acres |
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they had purchased in Carson County; Vaughn Biggs acquired the |
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property in 1913, and the land was passed on to his wife, Nola |
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Ellis, following his death in 1952; she operated the ranch for |
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several years before gifting equal portions to her five children, |
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Harold, Raymond, Virginia, Myra, and Jimmy; and |
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WHEREAS, The eldest son, Harold Davis, bought a half section |
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from a sibling and raised livestock on the acreage; when he died in |
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2002, the land was inherited by his wife, Vivian O'Neal; she passed |
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away in 2003, at which point the property was inherited by the |
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couple's son, Jerry Davis Biggs; he purchased two of the remaining |
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half sections from family members, and today, he and his wife, Judy, |
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oversee a cow-calf operation on the ranch with the help of their two |
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sons, Ryan Davis and Richard; and |
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WHEREAS, For well over a century, Biggs Ranch has played an |
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important role in Carson County while helping to preserve the rich |
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agricultural history of Texas, and it is indeed fitting that the |
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members of the Biggs family be recognized for their outstanding |
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stewardship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the induction |
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of Biggs Ranch into the Texas Department of Agriculture Family Land |
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Heritage Program and extend to all those associated with the ranch |
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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 the ranch as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |