In consideration of their constant vigilance during one of the most dangerous droughts in Texas history, every fire department in Fannin County received a hearty thank you from Fannin County Farm Bureau and a check for $1,333.34, with the state board contributing $1,000 and the local board tossing in $333.34.
"It's Farm Bureau's way of saying 'thank you' for what you do," said Dusty Baker, one of the board of directors of Fannin County Farm Bureau.
Checks were handed out to fire departments Saturday night, September 17 at the Annual Fannin County Farm Bureau Convention and Dinner held at Finley-Oates Elementary School cafeteria.
Farm Bureau is an independent organization of farm and ranch families committed to the advancement of agriculture and prosperity for rural Texas.
This event is an annual rite of passage every autumn and the dinner is free for Fannin County Farm Bureau members. The crowd Saturday night was the largest in recent memory and for a very good reason: 204 new members joined during the past year.
Fannin County Farm Bureau President Jerry Magness welcomed the overflow crowd and expressed his appreciation to Finley-Oates Principal Mary Lou Fox for use of the facility, as well as to Hickory BBQ for catering the dinner.
Magness also welcomed Texas Farm Bureau Field Representative Mike Barrett and gave much of the credit for Fannin County Farm Bureau's recent growth to office manager Jerry Bob Reed.
In late 2011 or early 2012, the Fannin County Farm Bureau office will be relocating to a convenient location on Hwy. 121 North in Bonham.
"We will have a great location with plenty of parking and lots of room to grow," Magness told the audience. "This really is a big step for Fannin County Farm Bureau."
