| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Texas AgriForestry Small Farmers and Ranchers |
|
|
organization has rendered exceptional support to historically |
|
|
underserved agricultural producers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 2017, a group of socially disadvantaged farmers |
|
|
and ranchers in Nacogdoches County formed TASFR as a nonprofit |
|
|
dedicated to enhancing rural economies, conserving and managing |
|
|
natural resources, preventing the further decline of family farms, |
|
|
and improving the quality of life for minorities in rural areas; |
|
|
under the leadership of executive director Igalious "Ike" Mills, |
|
|
the organization serves communities across Texas, as well as |
|
|
Oklahoma and Arkansas, through its outreach, technical assistance, |
|
|
and research and development initiatives while promoting best |
|
|
practices in renewable energy efforts and new technology in farming |
|
|
and ranching operations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, TASFR advocates for agricultural producers at the |
|
|
local, state, and national level, and it sponsors an annual |
|
|
Agriculture/Forestry Summit, where the U.S. Department of |
|
|
Agriculture provides disadvantaged farmers and ranchers with |
|
|
valuable information on a range of important topics; currently, |
|
|
TASFR is collaborating with Prairie View A&M University, Stephen |
|
|
F. Austin State University, Brigham Young University, and Duke |
|
|
University in an effort to further support farmers and ranchers and |
|
|
to increase program participation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Providing a wide range of educational |
|
|
opportunities, TASFR offers clients visits to farms and ranches, |
|
|
surplus pine tree seedling planting assistance, agency |
|
|
coordination for topography map and soil analysis, and youth and |
|
|
community gardening programs; additionally, the organization gives |
|
|
career and scholarship guidance and facilitates workshops on such |
|
|
subjects as farm management, estate and financial planning, and |
|
|
water quality; in carrying out its work, TASFR partners with a |
|
|
number of agencies and organizations, including the Natural |
|
|
Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, and the |
|
|
Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research |
|
|
Center, among others; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, By helping historically underserved farmers and |
|
|
ranchers to achieve success, TASFR has greatly benefited |
|
|
communities throughout the Lone Star State and beyond, and all |
|
|
those associated with the organization may indeed take pride in |
|
|
their exceptional efforts; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commend Texas AgriForestry Small Farmers and |
|
|
Ranchers for its myriad contributions and extend to the |
|
|
organization sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for TASFR as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |