By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

State FFA vice presidents led the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem during the ceremony. Pictured with Ag Commissioner Susan Combs (far right) are Brandon Callis of Corpus Christi, Derek Dunlap of Onley, and Kacey VanDeaver of Bogata. -- Staff photo by Taylor

March 30, 2006 - “There is so much rich Texas history here in this room … I personally thank you for your dedication to your land,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs at the 31st Annual Family Land Heritage Ceremony at the University of Texas in Austin on March 12.

Speaking to a full house in the university’s Lyndon B. Johnson Auditorium, Combs noted, “Your ancestors dreamed of building a life better than the one they left behind. You are proof that they succeeded!”

The Family Land Heritage awards are presented to Texas farms and ranches that have been in continuous operation for at least 100 years.

Neal Spelce, a national awarding-winning journalist, news director and anchor in Austin, served as master of ceremonies. Spelce recognized 104 farms/ranches that qualified for the 100-year award, and 15 that received the 150-year-plus year awards. The properties represented over 70 Texas counties.

The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem were led by three, state area FFA vice-presidents: Brandon Callis of Corpus Christi, area 10, and a freshman at Kingsville A&M University; Kacey VanDeaver of Bogata, area 6, and a freshman at Texas A&M University in College Station; and Derek Dunlap of Olney, area 4, a freshman at Tarlton State University.

Dunlap, VanDeaver, and Callis had each received the Lone Star Degree in FFA, the highest honor in Texas FFA.

During Combs’ address, she told the room full of producers and families that “… agriculture is not an easy way of life, but it is uniquely rewarding.”

The second largest industry in Texas, agriculture is producing food, horticulture and fiber for consumers across the world, she cited. With weather changes, modern technology and the expense of keeping land in families, Combs said that ag is “largely a family endeavor, and is usually passed from parents to children to grandchildren,” as was represented in those who received awards.

Dan Roberts, country singer and songwriter, performed “crowd-pleasing” music for the audience and received great applause from the crowd. Roberts spent 18 years in Nashville writing songs, and opening a world tour for Garth Brooks in 1996 and 1997. He and his family live on a ranch outside of Fort Worth. (Entertainer Red Steagall was scheduled to appear at the celebration, but had to withdraw due to illness.)

In closing, Combs congratulated all of the award recipients on their accomplishments in agriculture and wished them well as they “continue with the next chapter in their historical operations.”

(For information concerning applying for the Texas Family Land Heritage awards, contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at  www.agr.state.tx.us or 512-463-7476.)