January 7, 2000

Pride, because it is with no doubt in my mind that Texas Farm Bureau is the best organized and most blessed with volunteer leadership of any association in Texas. Humility, because I know from where Texas Farm Bureau has come. As great as things are for this organization as we close out 1999, we remember that things were also once great with another organization called the Texas Farm Bureau Federation, some 70 years ago. And, because of lack of attention to the importance of "membership," and because the organization was not well-founded in some basic organization principles, that same organization exited out of existence just four years later, and it ceased to be no more.

But out of necessity for agriculture and the sheer determination for agricultural producers to speak for themselves, the new Texas Farm Bureau—then known as the Texas Agricultural Association, arose from those ashes as the voice of Texas agriculture.

As we enter a new decade, new century, and new millennium, we should take stock of not only what has been accomplished in 1999, but that we take a look back on our 66-plus year history to see what has made Texas Farm Bureau what it is today. That look back might also provide a reflection of what is necessary to keep Farm Bureau strong into our "Y2K Future."

This look back tells us, first, that things were not easy for those early pioneers who were determined to build a farm organization. The decade of the 1930s was a difficult one for farmers and ranchers generally—and for the Texas Agricultural Association (TAA) specifically, "a near-empty purse" is how the organization finances were chronicled back then. But it was during that time that two basic organization principles were established.

The organization had to collect dues if it was to operate on sound footing. Thus, a membership dues base became a fixture—to not allow the organization to become totally dependent on finances from any other entity.

The organization had to have a process that would assure it was being run by its members. Volunteer elected leaders became a fixture.

Both of these 1930’s principles continue as we enter our next century and should be maintained. They are part of our formula for success.

The 1940s led the organization into establishing "affiliations" with related and non-related entities to provide specialized services and products that farmers and ranchers needed. In that process—and almost coincidentally—a stable resource base of dues-paying members was established for the organization to grow, to provide additional resources to serve those members, and to promote agriculture. Once that base of providing "services-to-members-only" was laid, it has enabled the organization to grow in membership for 50 out of the past 54 years. This principle of providing whatever service an affiliate provides, it provides to members only is, too, well-established in 1999 and is important to remember for future success.

The 1950s and 1960s were an introspective period for the organization. They were decades during which we grew from infancy into young adulthood. Virtually every mainstay function and department within the organization—including the legislative and information departments—was established during this time. It was a time when Farm Bureau first hired professionals who learned to work together with farm and ranch volunteer leaders for the benefit of Texas agriculture. That, too, is a well-established principle that carries us into Y2K.

The 1970s were "boom years" in terms of membership growth—a decade during which our membership numbers more than doubled. It was then that the TFB voting delegates set the tone for how the organization would operate that carries over today. It took on a more "mature" look at working with other agricultural associations and commodity groups. We became "comfortable with ourselves" as an organization and began to more clearly recognize the nature of a general farm organization and to allow producer members to focus on commodity interests and to give them a place of priority in the actions of the organization. These principles continue as a valuable part of our tradition.

The 1980s saw Texas Farm Bureau "come of age," as the saying goes. Aggressive, common-sense leadership that in essence said "Farm Bureau will push when we need to...or we’ll pull if that’ll get the job done." Whatever it took, Farm Bureau began to more effectively use its resources and to work with others in agriculture to promote the interests of the industry. This important principle of working with others in agriculture to promote our industry is another principle that we take with us into the new century.

And what about the decade of the ’90s? As we look back, how should we characterize this decade that we close out with this convention, and what do we take from it as we move into our new decade?

The ’90s in many ways have been difficult days—perhaps early on a little unsure of ourselves as we began to "spit and sputter" with membership losses that began in the late 1980s. We experienced a painful retrenchment in some of our service programs as our affiliates had to rebuild what had become a financially weakened system. Similar to our member service programs, Texas Farm Bureau was experiencing weakened political clout. Texas had become a metropolitan, urban, and suburban state as result of one-man/one-vote legislative redistricting in 1980 and more so in 1990. Even with vast rural acreages of agricultural production, farmers and ranchers were in a clear minority. So, perhaps we might characterize the ’90s as "rebuilding years," where we have firmly re-established an effective grassroots political network; expanded our service-to-member programs with the "value-added" rebates, discounts, and direct services; and significantly rebuilt the financial strength of our key affiliated companies.

And it is, perhaps, the principle of "continuing to build" the organization that we should take from the 1990s. We must never stop building this organization.

Before we look ahead, let’s look briefly at our 1999 accomplishments. We had a successful year, and it was by design—as your board of directors developed an aggressive Program of Work. The 1999 program of activities was more than 90 percent accomplished.

Farm Bureau’s Program of Work is adopted annually by the state board of directors, and it guides our activities throughout the year.

It is our "track to run on," so to speak. From the Program of Work, we develop our budget. These board directives dictate our Texas Farm Bureau activities.

There is a list on Page 5—and it is only a partial listing—of our 1999 accomplishments. I think you will find it impressive. Your organization is active, involved, and working hard on behalf of Texas agriculture. But 1999, the ’90s, and this century are almost behind us. They will be gone in a few weeks. And you should know that Texas Farm Bureau is Y2K ready—for the challenges we face and for the changes that will quickly come. We are prepared.

The great General George S. Patton, in that famous 1944 speech to his troops, said, "I don’t want any messages saying we’re holding our position. We’re advancing constantly, and we’re not interested in holding onto anything..."

For 2000, Texas Farm Bureau is in much the same situation. We have much to do to advance the position of agriculture. With your approval of Project 2000 last year, and the state board’s plan for implementation, Farm Bureau is prepared to advance agriculture’s position in Texas.

Those plans that you adopted at last year’s convention are already at work to increase Farm Bureau’s efforts to tell agriculture’s story in Texas. The six agriculture program coordinators are employed and now in place to assist our County Farm Bureau leaders with the massive job of working with urban school districts, the Agriculture-in-the-Classroom program, Spokesman Training efforts with civic clubs, working with the media, and establishing positive relationships with legislators—things that are important to do in the major cities and suburbs for farmers and ranchers all across Texas.

We’re updating and improving our Agriculture-in-the-Classroom materials, and intensifying our public relations efforts.

We are increasing our Internet capabilities, and I think you will like what you see and hear about during 2000 (computer technology is becoming more and more affordable—let me encourage you to consider getting a computer and getting "on-line").

We’ve established an excellent Agricultural Marketing Education Program that will help producers better understand how to market their commodities in these very trying times.

We’ve budgeted for our new Legal Defense Fund and have several efforts underway to defend agricultural producers in the courts. President Stallman mentioned our case, which is underway to prevent USDA from releasing the names and addresses of ranchers who are licensed to use the livestock protection collar. Unfortunately, it appears there will be many opportunities to use the legal defense fund, both now and in the future.

In addition, we continue to add more Farm Bureau member service and benefit programs. The quality will continue to improve.

The new Farm Bureau Bank received its charter in July of this year and offers new opportunities for services to members.

The new partnership with Dodge for a $500 member rebate program is positive, and Texas has joined with some 45 other state Farm Bureaus, as well as the American Farm Bureau Federation, to have a very strong program for members for 2000 and beyond. These programs are all part of Texas Farm Bureau’s long-range plan and will help us cope with the changes that are taking place.

Project 2000 clearly pointed out those changes in Texas agriculture. The Project 2000 long-range plan is an important and timely addition to the Farm Bureau in Texas.

I’m reminded of the young woman who was preparing a ham dinner. After she cut the end of the ham off for baking, her daughter asked her why she cut the end off? She said, "We’re supposed to—because my mother always did." Later, when talking to her mother, she asked why she had always cut off the end of the ham before baking. Her mother replied, "That’s the way my mother always did it." A few weeks later she was visiting her grandmother, and she decided to ask her why she cut off the end of ham before baking. Her grandmother replied, "Well dear, it never would fit into my baking pan."

Texas Farm Bureau is much like that family. We now have four generations as members of this organization. We have many new sizes of baking pans. And just as we have ready-cooked hams, microwave ovens, and other gadgets, we have a generation that expects instant communication and immediate answers. I am pleased to report to you that Texas Farm Bureau is prepared to be "the organization" for all generations of farmers and ranchers.