County Farm Bureaus boost membership in 2015
(ARLINGTON, Texas)—County Farm Bureaus across the Lone Star State were recognized for membership achievements during the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) 82nd annual meeting Dec. 6 at the Arlington Convention Center.
“This was another great year for Texas Farm Bureau membership—the folks in rural and urban parts of the state who make our organization a family. It was all thanks to the efforts of our county Farm Bureaus,” TFB President Russell W. Boening said. “Our grassroots organization has attracted many new member families across the state, bringing more voices to support agriculture and the rural lifestyle.”
Statewide, Farm Bureau membership showed a gain of 4,750 for a total of 518,502 member families. Of the 206 organized county Farm Bureaus, 144 counties recorded a membership gain this year.
County Farm Bureaus signing the most new members included the following: Brazoria-Galveston County, 1,936; Collin County, 1,893; Fort Bend County, 1,458; Harris County, 1,449; Jefferson County, 1,303; Bell County, 1,113; McLennan County, 1,084; Ellis County, 1,067; Grayson County, 1,024; and Kaufman County, 884.
County Farm Bureaus reporting the largest total membership gain included the following: Brazoria-Galveston County, 598; Grayson County, 430; Bell County, 347; Harris County, 324; Bowie County, 187; Polk County, 181; Guadalupe County, 180; Smith County, 173; Wilson County, 169; Atascosa County, 154; and Wichita County, 154.
The highest membership renewal percentages were achieved by the following: Mason County, 94.73 percent; Yoakum County, 94.71 percent; Crosby County, 94.5 percent; Kimble County, 93.95 percent; Fayette County, 93.62 percent; San Saba County, 93.61 percent; Knox County, 93.55 percent; Llano County, 93.52 percent; Wilson County, 92.56 percent; and Washington County, 92.53 percent.
County Farm Bureaus with the largest membership include: Collin County, 14,091; Brazoria-Galveston County, 12,114; Fort Bend County, 10,896; Jefferson County, 10,108; Harris County, 9,157; Ellis County, 8,652; McLennan County, 7,846; Bell County, 7,149; Kaufman County, 6,923; and Nueces County, 6,918.
County Farm Bureaus with the longest continuous gain in membership include: DeWitt County, 66 years; Franklin County, 35 years; Erath County, 29 years; Live Oak County, 29 years; Henderson County, 26 years; and the following were recognized for 24 years: Atascosa County, Bell County, Blanco County, Comal County, Gillespie County, Hill County, Medina County, Navarro County and Tyler County.