President Boemer welcomed all members and guests. Charles Neal gave the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation for the evening. A steak dinner with all the trimmings was prepared and served by the Bee County Farm Bureau directors. A total of 186 were served and 175 voting members were in attendance.
State Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, who represents District 35 in the Texas House of Representatives, which is comprised of Atascosa, Bee, Goliad, Jim Wells, Karnes, Live Oak and McMullen counties, was one of two guest speakers. Rep. Toureilles’ topic was on Protect Private Property, Prop. 11, to be voted on Nov. 3. Rep. Toureilles reminded the members that it is important to protect the agricultural industry.
Billy Howe, Texas Farm Bureau associate legislative director, was the next speaker. Howe worked in the Texas House of Representatives as a legislative aide and chief committee clerk before joining the Farm Bureau.
Howe also stressed the importance of voting yes on Prop. 11 and to support the Texas Farm Bureau Agfund which aids in fighting for all rights as Farm Bureau members.
Those directors nominated and approved to serve for the new term are James Blackburn, Rodney Butler, John B. Hensley Jr. Gery Herod, Ellis McKinney, Tryne Mengers, Herman Rose and Jess Staples. Directors with one-year terms left to serve are Ernest Boemer, Lynn Broadway, Paul Looney, Jr., Ricky Maguglin and Randy Walls.
Bee County Farm Bureau sponsored and participated in several events and programs this year. They gave three $500 scholarships to Bee County high school seniors Audrey Jones, Jace Rothlisberger and Ashley Scott. They donated to Bee County Livestock and Homemakers Show, The Vineyard to help with National Food Check-Out Day, 4-H Safety Camp and Project Graduation.
Directors sponsored Normanna Volunteer Fire Department fireman James Tawater, enabling him to attend the TFB Fireman’s Training School in College Station, donated to the Bee County Wildlife Association Scholarship Fund and sponsored Randee Corrigan, enabling her to attend the Texas Wildlife Conservation Camp.
Directors will be holding the annual Ag Day Event on Nov. 12 for all Bee County 4th-grade students.
President Boemer thanked everyone for being a Bee County Farm Bureau member and turned the meeting over to Director Walls to present and address the adoption of proposed county resolutions. The resolutions are as follows:
(1). Health Care Reform: Bee County Farm Bureau urges Texas Farm Bureau to adopt strong resolutions to aid in the health reform as follows: Health care is the responsibility of the individual, end-of-life counseling is not a government role, any bill that increases the cost on any taxpayer is not acceptable, increase competition among insurance companies, only U.S. citizens may have access to the programs, maintain Medicare and increase the benefits for the retired, no rationing of care, doctors should determine patients needs-not insurance companies, make all health care premiums itemized deductions for the individual as well as business.
(2). Property Tax. Bee County Farm Bureau recommends that Texas Farm Bureau research and compile all available information on all facts of the Texas property code and how it is applied to both the Texas State budget and the local government budget. The agricultural producers of this state need a comprehensive effort from TFB, much in the same manner as the TFB has conducted for eminent domain the last several years. With all the prospective initiatives issued by the federal government cap and trade, water bills, etc., and the ever increasing property tax, small agricultural producers are being put out of business.
The goals for the tax paying property owners in this endeavor are listed below, but are in no way finite:
Seek new funding mechanisms for government that will reduce (or eliminate) property taxes and that will tax everyone (resident or non-resident) more equitably, counties need to elect their own chief appraisal officer, property owners need to have local venue for redress, this “state” system leaves the property owner completely out of the loop, only real property owner must also reside in the election area to be eligible to vote.
(3) Veterinary. Bee County Farm Bureau urges Texas Farm Bureau to enact strong policy to ensure future needs for food animals veterinarians are met.
The American Veterinarian Medical Association estimates the food animal veterinarian shortage to be 4%. While this number seems small, the fact is that the remaining 96% are unable to fill the needed shortfall. The most prevalent reasons given are full schedules and travel distances. There are only 28 American Veterinarian schools to fill the needs of the federal, state and private industries requiring veterinarians. The AVMA lists about 2,500 graduates per year, but only approximately 10% enter food animal practice. Most graduates choose small animals because of the money factor. The AVMA estimates the average debt for the graduate is $120,000. The graduate can earn more by treating small animals ($7,000 per year) and normally does not have the facility, time and travel expenses as that of a large animal veterinarian.
Some possible solutions are incentives to the various veterinarian schools to graduate more large animal vets, debt forgiveness programs within the federal income tax structure, education repayment and the expanded use of veterinary technicians.
All the above resolutions were submitted, voted on and approved by the membership. There were no resolutions submitted from the floor.
Director Walls thanked everyone for their participation and turned the meeting back to President Boemer.
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