Friday, March 29, 2024

Farm Bureau provides a voice for agriculture

Posted

While many people may associate the Texas Farm Bureau with insurance, the organization is first and foremost involved in protecting and promoting agricultural endeavors across the state.

That was the message that Cody Archie, a local rancher and the president of the Coryell County branch of the Farm Bureau, shared during a presentation to the Gatesville Lions Club on Jan. 18.

Archie, a lifelong county resident and 1998 graduate of Gatesville High School, has strong ties to local agriculture, and is also an outspoken supporter of the Farm Bureau.

"Our mission is to be the voice of Texas agriculture, and each county has its own board of directors," he said. "Here in Coryell County, we have about 3,700 to 3,800 members who pay dues every year. One of the member benefits is that they are able to purchase (Farm Bureau) insurance."

There is also an extensive list of discounts available to members on a wide range of products, many of which are not directly related to agriculture.

Archie said the Farm Bureau started in 1933, and it has grown to more than 540,000 members across the state. The Texas Farm Bureau is one of several state farm bureaus across the nation, and one of the biggest.

"It was started to protect the rights of farmers and ranchers," he said. "Somebody needed to stand up for people who worked in agriculture. They are advocates, and they also teach children about the importance of agriculture and where food and products come from through mobile learning barns. The Farm Bureau shows kids different types of animals and it also does a lot of agricultural education for the general public.

"It's important to let people know where their food, fiber and fuel come from and to let them know it is grown efficiently and effectively," he said.

"People see the sky-high prices in grocery stores and some think that farmers must be getting rich because everything costs more. We let people know that farmers only get about 10% of the cost they pay when they buy things at the store."

One of the big legislative wins for the Farm Bureau was helping protect the property rights of landowners so that those putting pipelines on their property "couldn't give them low-ball pricing," Archie said.

"We protect water rights, property rights - anything that protects you and farmers and ranchers. We don't just look out for you in Austin, but also in Washington, D.C."

The Farm Bureau also has a program that allows teachers who are not involved in agriculture to learn and to later share those experiences with their students.

"We also provide a lot of scholarships," Archie said. "We are there to take care of the next generation and make sure they are going the right direction."