The importance of AGRICULTURE Local Farm Bureau begins to send out message

(Seguin) – Next Friday marks the official recognition of Texas Food Connection Day in Guadalupe County. This week, however, representatives with the Guadalupe County Farm Bureau are starting the fanfare a little bit earlier by sharing why all families need to understand and support the agriculture industry.

The observance has been earmarked for years, with farm bureau members grilling and selling $1 hamburgers in the local Farm Bureau office parking lot. Now although that is still the plan next week, Larry McKee, a member of the farm bureau’s board of directors, says it was vital that they begin this critical message earlier, especially in this day and age.

“The Texas Food Connection Day was established to connect farmers with their consumers and spark conversation about agriculture and food related issues including affordability, nutrition, animal welfare, profitability, and productivity. It’s about sharing what we do on our farms and our ranches to grow our food, fiber, and fuel. We want to share the stories of our family farms and ranches to everyone in our community and surrounding areas. Guadalupe County Farm Bureau members would like to invite the county commissioners to join us in the connecting with the community,” said McKee.

He says the local Farm Bureau office works to ensure this message is spread year-round, especially to those critical audiences.

“I don’t know if some of you are aware but out at the Red Barn, twice a year, spring, and fall, we have school children coming out there – third and fourth graders usually. Last year, I think we had 250. I was informed the other day that in the spring, we’ve already got 700 lined up. These come from bordering counties. Last year, the furthest was Goliad County and all the local county farm bureau’s pay a small fee for their kids and stuff to come but we cover a lot of this. We teach farming, gardening, electrical safety, nutrition, a pecan deal that we’ve got out there – a lot of things that we’ve got going on to where we... Farm, pg. 3

Farm, continued.

“...can promote where our food comes from. I was very surprised last year. There was a schoolteacher from New York City and she told her class that there’s kids that have never seen a real tree, never have touched real grass and that live in the concrete jungle of New York City and I use that in my teaching deal out there. It astonishes kids because what we take for granted every day, those kids have never seen,” said McKee.

He says the Farm Bureau plays a vital role in continuing to grow the agriculture industry. However, he says often, it is only assumed that farmers and ranchers will be around.

“We also, through all the schools all over Texas, Farm Bureau will help schools to start a garden program to show kids where their food comes from and help grow it and we have a lot of schools over the state of Texas and right here in Guadalupe County that are participating in that. So, it’s a very important issue to get out, especially this day and time,” said McKee.

Never hiding his support for farmers and ranchers is Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher. Kutscher says it is important for the county also to join the farm bureau’s efforts in promoting the industry.

“Just want to say to the Farm Bureau thank you very much for what you do for the farming ranch community. Thank you also for being here today to help bring awareness to the public. We’ve got the

4H programs, Red Barn, I mean so many efforts and resources to try to open peoples’ eyes and Larry is right. It is increasingly more important to bring awareness to where food comes from in this region now more than ever because of how fast we are growing. Everybody driving all over this county sees farm and ranch land go away every single day and people think and have this overwhelming sense that it will come from somewhere. Right? Well, this used to be the somewhere until they started buying up 300 acres places, putting houses up on them. I understand it’s a natural progression but growing up on a family farm and understanding what it takes to operate a place like that, it takes a tremendous amount of time, resources, effort and when it’s gone, you never get it back. So, if we are going to end building on every square inch of farmland, I’m telling you in a really nice way expect to be paying $25 for a hamburger soon,” said Kutscher.

McKee’s comments were made during Tuesday’s Guadalupe County Commissioners Court meeting. Joining McKee before the court was Yolanda Martinez, the farm bureau’s office manager. During the meeting, the court approved the reading and signing of a proclamation declaring Friday, Feb. 17 as Texas Food Connection Day in Guadalupe County. On that day, the Farm Bureau will again sell its $1 hamburgers at noon. Chips and soda will also be $1. The Guadalupe County Farm Bureau office is located at 325 S. State Highway 46.

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“...do have childcare so moms and dance can just dance, grandmas and grandpas can dance. We really want families to come and experience this really great sound that you are going to hear,” said Norton.

Norton says folks will not only enjoy a delicious meal but also have an opportunity to walk away with a great prize.

“We actually have food being provided by Next Door Catering. We also have silent auction items provided by a lot of our small businesses here in Seguin. There’s a lot of businesses that are part of the Downtown Business Alliance that will be providing auction items for people to present. We will also be raising money for our Seguin and Navarro students so that’s going to be the biggest takeaway and then we also have some really great pictures being taken with Blue Horizon

Media. Crossroads Church will be doing childcare. It’s just going to be really really great to see how our community comes together to support our Seguin and Navarro students,” said Norton.

Clarkson says the uniqueness behind its scholarship program is only one of the reasons why this event is heavily supported.

“We have two scholarships going on. We have merit scholarships, but we also have the Dream Scholars and what that was something that we came up with years ago and what that was was a scholarship that would go to a freshman. Yes, that’s what I said, a freshman in high school. People think we are crazy but the reason we did that was to keep those kids in school to graduate high school. That was the whole intent of it and so, we give it to them when they are a freshman, and they work through it, and they have to stay a good student. They have to stay a good citizen and then graduate and as the money grows over those four years, that’s what they end up getting from us to be able to go off and start off their career whatever it may be,” said Clarkson.

Tickets are $50 a person. Guests are encouraged to attend in their best red, black or white attire. Those wishing to purchase a table or tickets are asked to call 210-834-1240. A link for tickets can also be found on the Seguin Sunrise Rotary Club’s Facebook page. The Big Red Barn is located at 390 Cordova Road.