The inaugural ceremony of Texas Agriculture Memorial Day in Austin on Monday allowed Texans to honor the lives of farmers and ranchers and their agricultural pursuits.
The Nov. 21 ceremony at the state Capitol included a proclamation by Governor Greg Abbott designating the day as Texas Agriculture Memorial Day.
“At this time, I encourage my fellow Texans to honor the men and women who have died or been injured in agricultural pursuits. The mission of these Texas farmers and ranchers and their contributions to our great state must never be forgotten,” stated the governor’s proclamation.
Honored at the ceremony were:
Agriculture Memorial
John Paul “Johnny” Dineen IV
Steve D. Jones
Jay V. Snook Jr.
Cassidy Jones
Jerry Cordell
Jason Block
Dennis Martinek
Paul Chelius
Terry Warren Townsend
Agriculture Honor
Levi Francis
Life of Agriculture Service
Hugo Wehmeyer
Jim Billie Bonner Jr.
Gerald L. Proctor
Robert “Clifford” Hamilton
Dennis Horak
Marvin Borders
Gregg Loftis
Jim Loftis
Joe Frank Kapavik
Marvin W. and Mattie F. Aday
J.H. Sims
Family representatives of the honorees were presented a certificate signed by Gov. Abbott.
“I’m very pleased and very happy and honored to have been a part of it and facilitator, if you want to call it that,” said John Paul Dineen III of Waxahachie, whose son “Johnny” was among those honored at the inaugural ceremony. “So many different avenues and things that had to all connect for everything to come together, and it did, very nicely. We’re very blessed.”
There is a year-round nomination and application process to add names of honorees to the memorial. The memorial list is for those who have lost their life while engaged in agricultural-related pursuits such as working livestock, transporting agricultural goods or operating or in the vicinity of machinery. The honor list is for those who have had a severely debilitating accident—loss of eyesight or limb(s), paralysis or deafness—while engaged in agricultural-related pursuits.
Those who lost their life in a non-agricultural accident but had an active role in an agricultural operation are honored in the memorial service category. This includes individuals who farmed, ranched or had a career in agriculture but passed away due to natural causes or fishing and ATV accidents.
Nominations for the three categories are being accepted online via the Texas Agriculture Memorial Day Facebook page and at https://goo.gl/forms/CrdSDoLGxJodgpLv1.
Future plans for the Texas Agriculture Memorial Day include a website and an interactive kiosk located in the Agricultural Museum in the state Capitol. The kiosk will include a list of the honorees, as well as safety education and accident prevention information.
To help with the project, individuals can contribute tax-deductible donations. The Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation will collect funds on behalf of the Texas Agriculture Memorial. Checks should be made out to TFB Agriculture Research and Education Foundation. Texas Agriculture Memorial should be noted on the check and sent to the attention of Cyndi Gerik, Texas Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Waco, Texas 76702-2689.