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History of
Fayette County Farm Bureau
"We must fight for our rights as farmers and ranchers" was the
motto of the 100 farmers and ranchers as they met in May of 1950 to organize
the Fayette County Farm Bureau. In the 50-plus years since, the county organization
has grown from
a small group to 3,433 member-families.
John Sula of Fayetteville was elected the first county Farm Bureau president.
Other officers included: Ivan Antosh of Swiss Alp, first vice president; Alfred
Frerichs of Holman, second vice president; and Lester "Buddy" Zapalac
of Fayetteville, secretary-treasurer.
The board held a membership drive in 1950 with the goal of attaining 1,260
members. County President Johnnie Sula said, "We will not be working
alone on October 10, but working together with about 8,000 or more Farm Bureau
members throughout the state of Texas who will be asking Texas farmers and
ranchers to join the Farm Bureau at the same time."
1951 Board of Directors
Front row: William E. Meyer, county service officer, La
Grange; Ivan Antosh, first vice president, Swiss Alp; Johnnie L. Sula, president,
Fayetteville; Alfred Frerichs, second vice president, Holman; Lester H. Zapalac,
secretary-treasurer. Second row: Emil Zoch, Winchester; John W. Zimmermann,
La Grange; Bernard Kruppa, La Grange; Frank Klima, Dubina; John B. Okruhlik,
Engle. Third row: Leonard Baca, Ellinger; Johnnie Naiser, Holman; Henry Lee
Fuchs, Round Top; L.A. Giese, Warda; and Roy Klump, Round Top.
To develop a strong county organization, the county was divided into
community Farm Bureaus with each community having its own officers. One
of the locals,
Swiss Alp, owns the building where meetings are held.
Swiss Alp building in August 1968
At the county level, Farm Bureau has local and quarterly meetings to inform
its
local membership, provides funds for 4-H Clubs, gives scholarships at each
high school in the county, pays costs of Firemen's Training School, sponsors
an annual "Ag Day" for fourth grade students in the county, promotes
agriculture at the
Annual Business Expo, and sends students to the Citizenship Seminar each year.
Being one of the largest membership counties in the state is due to its activity
and
the work of the board members. Fayette County will continue to be a pacesetter
to find better and new ways of serving and promoting farming and ranching
in
our county.
Fayette County is traditionally an agricultural community as a result of
its rich soils and abundant surface and groundwater. Today, agriculture remains
a large part
of the economic base, being the second highest producer of agricultural products
in its Council of Government, which is comprised of nine other counties.
The Fayette County Farm Bureau purchased its current building in 1976 and remodeled in 1984. The office has 4,000 square feet, providing nine offices, file room, kitchen, restrooms and a large Board room.
