Bill Text: TX HR83 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the induction of Biggs Ranch into the Texas Department of Agriculture Family Land Heritage Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [HR83 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR83-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 83 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The prosperity of the Lone Star State has been | ||
| greatly influenced by family farming and ranching, and Biggs Ranch | ||
| in Carson County is being recognized for its role in this proud | ||
| tradition with its induction into the Family Land Heritage Program | ||
| on October 18, 2023, at a ceremony at the State Capitol; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, | ||
| the program honors farms and ranches that have been in continuous | ||
| agricultural operation by the same family for a century or more; | ||
| since 1974, TDA has recognized over 5,000 families whose proud | ||
| Texas legacy has passed from generation to generation and who have | ||
| served as dedicated stewards of their land; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Biggs Ranch traces its origins to 1907, when George | ||
| Davis Biggs, his wife, Ella Guttrey Biggs, and their son, Vaughn | ||
| Davis Biggs, moved to the Texas Panhandle from New London, | ||
| Missouri; the family settled in the town of Panhandle, and from 1907 | ||
| to 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Biggs raised cattle and wheat on the 640 acres | ||
| they had purchased in Carson County; Vaughn Biggs acquired the | ||
| property in 1913, and the land was passed on to his wife, Nola | ||
| Ellis, following his death in 1952; she operated the ranch for | ||
| several years before gifting equal portions to her five children, | ||
| Harold, Raymond, Virginia, Myra, and Jimmy; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The eldest son, Harold Davis, bought a half section | ||
| from a sibling and raised livestock on the acreage; when he died in | ||
| 2002, the land was inherited by his wife, Vivian O'Neal; she passed | ||
| away in 2003, at which point the property was inherited by the | ||
| couple's son, Jerry Davis Biggs; he purchased two of the remaining | ||
| half sections from family members, and today, he and his wife, Judy, | ||
| oversee a cow-calf operation on the ranch with the help of their two | ||
| sons, Ryan Davis and Richard; and | ||
| WHEREAS, For well over a century, Biggs Ranch has played an | ||
| important role in Carson County while helping to preserve the rich | ||
| agricultural history of Texas, and it is indeed fitting that the | ||
| members of the Biggs family be recognized for their outstanding | ||
| stewardship; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the induction | ||
| of Biggs Ranch into the Texas Department of Agriculture Family Land | ||
| Heritage Program and extend to all those associated with the ranch | ||
| sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the ranch as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Price | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 83 was adopted by the House on | ||
| November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
