By Jessica Domel
News Editor
Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of our nation’s capital, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall was recently treated to a Texas-sized experience in the Hill Country.
The Georgia farmer took a special tour of the historic Hillingdon Ranch in Comfort by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) members Robin and Carol Giles.
One of Duvall’s goals as the new AFBF president is to visit farmers and ranchers in all 50 states so he can familiarize himself with the people who make up Farm Bureau and the issues that impact them the most.
“It’s probably the best part of my job,” Duvall said. “I spend about half of my time in Washington, D.C. taking care of policy and building those relationships so we can make a difference in people’s lives, but it’s important for me to get out in the countryside to meet the grassroots of this organization, talk to them about the issues that are affecting them, their farms and communities so that when I’m in Washington, I can bring that reality to Washington.”
The Giles family showed Duvall, who was accompanied by former TFB President Kenneth Dierschke, their goats, sheep, bulls and everything in between.
“We just showed him how we make a living off this type of country,” Robin said. “We had a lot more in common than we didn’t.”
The family also treated Duvall to a home-cooked meal and presented him with a book about the historic ranch.
“It makes me feel good to meet him and see someone so dedicated and so energetic working for us,” Robin said. “I think it helps him to know the families out here. Everyone needs to know that most production is done by families—big and small. Our farmers are still family.”
Robin and Carol also shared the extensive history of their ranch with Duvall.
The ranch is run by the couple, their son Grant and his wife Misty, and belongs to the 250-or-so heirs to the Hillingdon estate, named for a suburb of London where the ranch’s founder was from.
“I think it’s good for all people to know that there’s people that hold the land together, produce the land and preserve the land all at the same time,” Robin Giles said. “We’re not only preserving the land for its environment, but we’re also preserving a family lifestyle. It’s easy to keep a close family lifestyle in a place like this because we work together all the time.”
Working together for a common goal isn’t something these TFB members do solely on their ranch. They’re also a part of the TFB family and work with fellow farmers and ranchers for the betterment of Texas agriculture as a whole.
“The Farm Bureau is probably the best voice for agriculture,” Robin Giles said. “They’ve got the better people in Farm Bureau to represent farm people. I can identify with Farm Bureau better than any other organization. They include everybody. It’s a democratic operation.”
During his visit to Texas, Duvall also met with TFB members and spoke at the 2016 County Presidents’ and Summer Conference in Horseshoe Bay.