Texas Farm Bureau highlights successes, thanks county Farm Bureaus and members
(FRISCO, Texas)—The grassroots of Farm Bureau were the engine that powered the passage of Proposition 1 on the November ballot to protect the right to farm and ranch in Texas, according to Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) President Russell Boening.
Boening, a full-time farmer and rancher from Wilson County, highlighted the 79% support by voters of the constitutional amendment during his annual address to about 1,000 farmers and ranchers gathered in Frisco at the organization’s 90th Annual Meeting.
“History will study how the campaign was won. The answer is right here in this room,” Boening said. “You and your county Farm Bureaus are the ‘how.’ Your commitment to the Proposition 1 effort was unprecedented. Never in the 90-year history of Texas Farm Bureau have county Farm Bureaus given so much in support of an advocacy campaign.”
He said county Farm Bureaus supported the Proposition effort with contributions to the campaign. They also purchased and distributed promotional cards and signs, mailed postcards and purchased billboards, newspaper ads and radio ads.
He said county Farm Bureau leaders spoke at numerous meetings and shared graphics and information on social media.
“You were the face and voice of the campaign. You were the passion behind the right to farm and ranch message. Authentic. Credible. And honest,” Boening said. “The voters responded. It was almost a clean sweep across every Texas county.”
Boening grows feed grains, cotton and wheat, as well as operates a dairy and a beef cattle operation with his brother near Floresville. The fourth-generation farmer was first elected president of TFB and Affiliated Companies in December 2014.
Boening thanked county Farm Bureaus and leaders for helping TFB achieve its 23rd consecutive year of membership growth. TFB completed the membership year with 554,048 member-families.
He said Farm Bureau is equipped and ready to take on the challenges facing Texas farmers and ranchers, such as proactively addressing those who claim to represent agriculture but spew misinformation and damage public trust about food, fiber and fuel.
“I use the word ‘We’ when I talk about Farm Bureau. We must focus on our mission. We must focus on what we are about,” Boening said. “We are the Voice of Texas Agriculture.”
For more information about TFB’s 90th annual meeting, visit texasfarmbureau.org/annualmeeting.