By Mike Barnett

Fighting for truth, justice and the Texas way.

Sounds like a job for Superman!

And the Man of Steel answered the call. But he wasn’t wearing blue tights and a red cape. Adorned in jeans, boots and a cowboy hat, this superhero took on a government juggernaut, mired in its rules and regulations, in a battle over private property rights. His name is Tommy Henderson.

Tommy didn’t flex mighty muscles to win a battle over the rights to his land. He used a shrewd mind. A willingness to cooperate. And the tenacity of a bulldog to achieve his goal: reclaim 94 acres he lost to the federal government in the 1980s.

This Texas Agriculture Talks post was originally published on Jan. 21, 2013.

By Mike Barnett

Cowboys: Real deal or pseudo? How do you tell?

I thought about that over the weekend as I settled on the movie Urban Cowboy while flipping channels on the tube.

“Are you a real cowboy?” Sissy, played by Debra Winger, asked.

“Well, that depends on what you think a real cowboy is,” answered Bud, portrayed by a young John Travolta.

By Russell W. Boening
Texas Farm Bureau President

From drought to drenched.

In May, 13.5 trillion gallons of rain fell across Texas. Enough to cover the state in eight inches of water and setting the record for the wettest May in the Lone Star State.

The rain came in waves, testing the resolve of Texas farmers and ranchers. It flooded crops and pastures, tore down fences and destroyed roads. But it filled stock tanks, brought renewed life to drought-stricken land and replenished reservoirs.

A mixed blessing for Texans.

By Billy Howe
State Legislative Director

As the final days of the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature come to a close, this is when your influence can have the greatest impact.

This is the time when a bill either lives or dies by a single action of the legislature because there isn’t time for a miraculous resurrection.

It is the time of session when our organization, with over 500,000 member families, can greatly influence the success or failure of legislation.

By Mike Barnett

Family farm. Two words Americans love. With good reason.

Family means many things. Loving. Caring. Nurturing.

All apply to the family farmers I know. Too bad there are many misconceptions about what family farms are and aren’t.

Could be many of us are far removed from farm life. Some think of family farms as idyllic—a small place where the sun always shines, with chickens and cows, a patch of corn and a vegetable garden.