We celebrate the values of rural life and invest heavily in the future of agriculture...Our Youth.
County History
The DeWitt County Farm Bureau's first organized recorded meeting was held April 28, 1948, when a group of people joined to start the first DeWitt County Farm Bureau. It was decided to elect 12 directors, one from each area. The elected directors then organized the first membership drive. The membership drive was very successful with 136 new members paying $1 dues each. They still hadn't begun to scratch the surface of prospective members for this newly organized county Farm Bureau. On August 28, 1948 the first meeting was held at the DeWitt County court house and officers were elected. Carlton Mueller was elected the first president of the DeWitt County Farm Bureau.
DeWitt County Farm Bureau received its charter on January 24, 1952. Board members at that time were H.O. Angerstein, A.D. Block, Louis Dreier, Carl Hattenbach, R. A. Hingst, R. H. Jochen, Henry Koopmann, Edwin Regner, Joe Schwab, Raymond Wieland and Werner Wolf.
On August 31, 1953, DCFB held its first Queens Contest.
On June 6, 1955, the DeWitt County Farm Bureau agreed unanimously to accept the recommendations of area field representative Dee Knox that the Southern Farm Bureau Life Ins. Co., the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Ins. Co., and the Texas Farm Bureau Ins. Co. enter into a contract with Herb Warren Jr. to sponsor Farm Bureau Insurance Services in DeWitt County. Mrs. E. A. Hanke was hired February 1955 as the first full time secretary and an office was established. Car insurance and memberships were sold.
DeWitt County Farm Bureau purchased a building and property August 1965. The total loan amount was $10,797.45. On March 14, 1975, Mr. Frank Styra, Ike Rable and Bob Matthews (agency manager) secured and signed a note at Cuero State Bank to build the county office where it is today, located at 312 East Main in Cuero. While trying to raise funds to finance the building, the board sold 10-year memberships (this is where the member paid in advance for 10 years). The first county FB annual BBQ was held on October 16, 1974 at Gruenau Hall. This BBQ has become an annual event.
The DeWitt County Farm Bureau continues to grow and has had 59 years of continuous membership gain. This is the longest gain in the history of any county Farm Bureau in Texas. Our membership total for 2008 is 2,112 .
DeWitt County Farm Bureau has become a vital member of DeWitt County and promotes agriculture by participating annually in the following activities and events:
• Sponsor representatives to the TFB Annual Meeting
• Donate to the four area stock shows (Yoakum and Nordheim in January, Yorktown in February and Cuero in March)
• Participate in Food Check-Out Day in Yorktown and Cuero
• Sponsor representatives on the TFB National Affairs Trip (biannually)
• Sponsor representatives to the Youth Leadership Conference
• Sponsor representatives to the Wildlife Conservation Camp
• Sponsor our county secretaries to the District 12 Secretaries Information and Appreciation Day Banquet
• Organize the DeWitt County Farm Bureau Queens Contest and Talent Find
• Participate in the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce Tom Tom Parade
• Participate in the TFB Presidents' Conference and Summer Commodity Conference
• Sponsor a representative to the Municipal Firemen's Training School
• Nominate Young Farmers and Ranchers from our area and participate in the District 12 Young Farmers and Ranchers Tour
• Participate in the District 12 Policy Development Meeting
• Host the annual DCFB Policy Development Meeting (on Labor Day)
• Host the DeWitt County Farm Bureau Annual Convention
• Participate in Agricultural Awareness Day (during Turkeyfest)
• Participate in National Constitution Week activities
• Participate in the Cuero Turkeyfest Parade and Yorktown Western Days Parade
• Host the DCFB Christmas Dinner
• Man the exit gate and serve the public hot chocolate during “Christmas In The Park”
Commodities in
DeWitt County
Beef Cattle
Feed Grains
Forage/Hay
Horses
Nursery and
Greenhouse
Peanuts
Sheep/Goats
Swine
Wheat
Wildlife