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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Winnie are gathering at the Texas Rice |
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Festival in Winnie-Stowell Park on October 4, 2025, for the |
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dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker from the Texas |
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Historical Commission recognizing this venerable annual event; and |
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WHEREAS, First cultivated locally around 1900, rice has long |
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been essential to the regional economy; in 1968, farmers from |
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Chambers, Liberty, and Jefferson Counties joined together to |
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celebrate the rice harvest with a festival, and they obtained a |
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charter for the event in October 1969; the inaugural Rice Festival |
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was held in Winnie on October 3, 1970, and the event has taken place |
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nearly every year since, interrupted only by three hurricanes and |
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the COVID-19 pandemic; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the decades, the festival has become a |
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tremendous success, promoting the industry by drawing thousands of |
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attendees with attractions that include parades, street dances, |
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rice cooking contests, youth pageants, livestock shows, carnivals, |
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art displays, and the recognition of area Farmers of the Year; in |
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addition, crowds have been entertained by the likes of Jerry Jeff |
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Walker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wayne Toups, Blake Shelton, Lee Greenwood, |
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Mickey Gilley, and the U.S. Navy Band, and the event has hosted such |
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notable guests as Governors Mark White and William P. Clements Jr. |
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and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd M. Bentsen; moreover, the |
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festival has demonstrated its support of the community by |
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contributing more than $1 million in scholarships, donations, and |
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other investments to the area; and |
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WHEREAS, For 55 years, the Texas Rice Festival has brought |
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together residents and visitors alike for a fun-filled weekend of |
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food, music, and entertainment, and the placement of a marker will |
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allow future attendees to further appreciate the community's rich |
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heritage of rice farming; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the dedication |
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of an Official Texas Historical Marker for the Texas Rice Festival |
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and commend all those involved in securing this designation for |
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their efforts; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the festival organizers as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |