Why join Farm Bureau?
Benefits, programs offered through membership
By CHARLENE RUZICKA Farm Bureau member

Farm Bureau is an independent organization of farm and ranch families who have joined to solve their problems through united action. Polices that guide the organization originate at the grassroots level with each member given an opportunity to participate. Policies are adopted after discussion and exchange of ideas at county, state and national conventions.

Farm Bureau members get action on policies by expressing their desires to their elected representatives. Legislative staffs in Austin and Washington, D.C., inform lawmakers on Farm Bureau's position and call for membership action when necessary.

Farm Bureau is working to obtain high net income for farmers and ranchers; to ensure the right to own and control private property; to develop, expand and protect foreign markets; to reduce the ad valorem tax burden; to improve public relations for agriculture; to improve economic services to members; protect agricultural water rights; and to restrict burdensome regulations on agriculture.

Lampasas County Farm Bureau has had a busy year since the last membership drive. Activities have included Ag Day at Kline Whitis Elementary School with the Farm Bureau Mobile Learning Barn, a miniature cotton gin, live chickens and other agricultural products important in daily life.

Lampasas County Farm Bureau supports the youth of our county by offering scholarships to high school seniors seeking a career in agricul- ture. Christine Groves continues to organize and promote the Miss Farm Bureau contest, Talent Find and Speech contests to help students earn scholarships at the district and state levels.

Sara Jackson, as Miss Farm Bureau for Lampasas County, along with local Talent Find winner Rachel Wolfe and Trevor McGuire, speech contest representative, each advanced from first place in district competition to the state convention in December. There, Miss Wolfe won first place in the state Talent Find.

At the county level, Little Miss and Little Mister contests are held in conjunction with the other contests.

The local Farm Bureau also sponsored a float in the Spring Ho Grand Parade last July, with FB Queen Sara Jackson on board.

In February 2008, Lampasas County Farm Bureau observed Food Checkout Week by preparing a healthy, farm-fresh breakfast, open to the public for $.45 -- about the amount a farmer receives for his products. Proceeds were donated to the Lampasas County Youth Livestock Association.

In regard to issues and policies facing farmers, ranchers and other citizens around the state, Farm Bureau continues to promote eminent domain legislation as its top priority to make the process more fair to

Another concern of members is the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor. The taking of so much agricultural land may be their main objection, but also the idea of contracting with the Spanish company Cintra to develop, build and collect tolls on the superhighway is a negative factor.

Also of concern about the Trans- Texas Corridor is the comprehensive agreement that contains a non-compete clause that says the state is prohibited from constructing new facilities that compete with the tollway over a 50-year period.

What can individuals opposed to the TTC do to stop it? We should let State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock and State Senator Troy Fraser know how we feel.

Also, we should attend town hall meetings conducted by TxDOT and hearings on the environmental impact of TTC to ask questions and express our opinions.

Why join Farm Bureau? In addition to providing helpful products and services such as Farm Bureau Bank and various insurance programs, members also can participate in Farm Lead, Ag Lead, training for rural firemen, Young Farmers and Ranchers, Leader Development and others.

Benefits for members include discounts on amusement parks, hotels and motels, and satellite Internet service.

The organization promotes agriculture and serves as a larger voice in government.

We all need to be interested and concerned about agriculture -- either as producers and/or as consumers.