DeWitt County Farm Bureau reached a record milestone this year— 75 years of continued membership growth at the local level.
The county’s leadership was recognized on stage before the nearly 1,200 Farm Bureau members in attendance at the Texas Farm Bureau 91st Annual Meeting in Round Rock this month.
“Agriculture has changed a lot over the past 75 years and so has Texas,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “We’ve gone from a largely rural population to a majority urban population, with fewer people involved in farming and ranching every year. But the leaders in DeWitt County have remained dedicated to keeping people engaged in agriculture and growing their membership the entire time.”
DeWitt County Farm Bureau membership has grown every year since 1949. That 75-year streak is likely the largest of any county Farm Bureau in the nation.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts,” DeWitt County Farm Bureau President Joseph Warwas said. “Our leadership has made membership growth a goal for decades, and we are proud to continue that.”
DeWitt County Farm Bureau leaders and other members are involved in recruitment because people in the area know what explosive urban growth can mean in a rural community, Warwas said.
“DeWitt County is a great place to live,” he said. “But we’re growing more urban every day, and that makes Farm Bureau even more important. The organization works for agriculture at the county, state and federal levels. But there’s more for members in addition to the advocacy efforts. Members can take advantage of leadership programs, youth activities, young farmer events, scholarships, member benefits and so much more. Farm Bureau truly has something for everyone.”
The membership gains wouldn’t be possible without the county’s administrative staff and former board members and presidents who placed so much importance on continuous growth, he noted.
“It takes all of us working together over the years to keep this trend going. It’s pretty special to be the only county in the nation with this record,” Warwas said. “We won’t stop until every person in DeWitt County is a member.”
