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Texas Agriculture Archive

January 3, 2003

Building a better Farm Bureau
It's time to focus on issues that define our mission...

By Kenneth Dierschke
President

Texas Farm Bureau

This is my first column in Texas Agriculture as president of Texas Farm Bureau. I've been involved in agriculture all my life and this opportunity is very exciting, and humbling, because of the enormous challenges faced by all of us in Farm Bureau.

I appreciate the confidence of the Texas Farm Bureau voting delegates in electing me president of the largest and most effective agricultural organization in Texas. I will be talking about my goals for the organization in this space of our publications in the future. For now, let me say that I want to build upon the accomplishments of our past leaders. It was Sir Isaac Newton who talked about "standing on the shoulders of giants." We must now tackle the many problems of agriculture with a foundation of tradition and principle, and also with an open mind to new ideas and new approaches.

In Texas Farm Bureau, the shoulders we stand upon include S.M. True, Bob Stallman and Donald Patman as well as those who came before them. We owe a debt of gratitude to these past presidents and the special brand of leadership they brought to this organization. I want to thank Donald Patman, in particular, for his leadership of the past three years, and for his generous offer of support as I begin my own time as your president.

We must focus now on the many issues that define the mission of our Farm Bureau. We have to prepare for the American Farm Bureau Federation convention, and work to implement the policies established by our voting delegates here in Texas. The Texas Legislature will be returning to Austin in a few short weeks. They have a big job to do, especially in balancing the state budget. Farm Bureau will be there, too, to protect the interests of Texas' farm and ranch families.

In Washington we have unfinished business. We will be involved in the implementation of the farm program. We will push for less regulation and tax cuts. We will take an active role to see that the Federal Estate Tax is eliminated.

As your president, I want the Texas Farm Bureau to be at the table wherever and whenever the interests of the agricultural industry and our members are concerned. I pledge my full devotion to the task of improving net income for farmers and ranchers and to maintain private property rights.

I have asked for what I know is a big job, but I take comfort and pride in knowing that the leaders and members of Texas Farm Bureau are behind me. Together, as we've always done, we will build a better Farm Bureau, and use it to improve the lives of rural Texas families.