Check out our latest podcast …. Agriview with Rick Hirsch. This week, Rick talks about fall lawn care.
Category: Agriculture
4-H National Shooting Trophy
4-H students presented the National Shooting Sports trophy to Commissioners’ Court Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Celebrating 100 Years of the Cooperative Extension Service
Extension Service press release
This May, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service joins other Cooperative Extension services around the United States in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the federal Smith-Lever Act on May 8, 1914. This act provides for cooperative agricultural extension work at the nation’s land grant colleges — and county governments are a vital partner in that work. As part of the celebration, AgriLife Extension representatives will present Extension’s “Building a Better Texas” award to every County Commissioners’ Court for decades of cooperation and support. County Extension offices are located in 250 of Texas’ 254 counties, and Extension serves every county.
“We want our county government to know how much we appreciate the partnership we have developed over the years,” said Extension Agent Rick Hirsch. “Without their support, we would not have been able to serve the people of Henderson County as well as we have, and many Texans would have missed opportunities to benefit from the practical, university-based information that Extension offers.” Continue reading “Celebrating 100 Years of the Cooperative Extension Service”
3 Thoughts on the Farm and Ranch Tour
The 51st Annual Athens Chamber of Commerce Farm and Ranch Tour and luncheon was held yesterday. Ken McGee, Jr. was named the Agriculturalist of the Year, which you can read about here.
In addition, here are three quick thoughts:
1. We may have computers in our pockets and access to the world at our fingertips, but Henderson County is still a rural community. Don’t believe me? According to information released yesterday, the agriculture industry generates over $125 million in annual income in the county.
2. This year’s event attracted a huge crowd. There were more than 200 people who took the tour in the morning and that number ballooned to nearly 400 for the luncheon at the Cain Center. That’s a lot of interest in local agriculture.
3. Keynote speaker Ronnie McDonald was outstanding. He is a former county judge of Bastrop County and Tuesday he was more like a motivational speaker, clipping on microphone under his bow tie and coming out into the audience to give his speech. His talk on “sowing and reaping,” and how agriculture believers understand the work that is necessary to make that process work, resonated very well with the audience.
Ken McGee, Jr. Named Agriculturalist of the Year
They share a name and now they share an award.
Tuesday afternoon, Ken McGee, Jr., was named the winner of the 2014 Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturalist of the Year Award. His father won the award in 1993.
“I always try to follow in his footsteps,” McGee said after receiving the award.
The Agriculturalist of the Year was presented by Julie Moore and Rick Hirsch at the Athens Chamber of Commerce 51st Annual Farm & Ranch Tour luncheon, held at the Cain Center.
“This means a lot to me because I’ve put my whole life into Henderson County Agriculture,” McGee said. “Through my job, my education, my work and the livestock show.”
The following is taken from the introduction speech read by Julie Moore: Continue reading “Ken McGee, Jr. Named Agriculturalist of the Year”