A meeting designed to help local farmers, ranchers and property owners learn more about feral hog management was recognized by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB).

Austin and Washington County Farm Bureau (CFB) collaborated to host a meeting and invited community members to learn about managing feral hog populations and various strategies for curbing their proliferation.

For these educational efforts, Austin and Washington CFBs were recognized by TFB during the organization’s 91st annual meeting Dec. 6-8 in Round Rock. The award, County Activities of Excellence, recognizes unique, volunteer-driven programming by county Farm Bureaus.

The counties were also among the 24 county Farm Bureaus nationwide to receive a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

“Like most areas across the state, feral hogs are a major problem, and with Kaput being approved and released, we thought it was a good time to invite our producers in our county to come out and learn about the new bait and other options like traps,” Allen Kaminski, Austin CFB president, said.

About 75 farmers and ranchers from both Austin and Washington counties were in attendance.

“Feral hogs are a problem everywhere, so we opened the meeting to everyone, members and non-members,” Kaminski said. “As a grassroots organization, collaboration between counties helps events like this to become successful and show other resources Farm Bureau provides.”

Conversations and presentations on feral hog management helped participants gain better understanding of resources, and the meeting allowed farmers to connect and discuss options with others in the area who are facing damages from feral hogs, as well.

“Feral hogs are very damaging to agriculture, but they’re also causing damage to other properties in communities,” Washington CFB President Larry Winkelmann said. “Events like our feral hog meeting present an opportunity for farmers, ranchers and community members to connect and learn together on how to manage this growing population.”

Austin and Washington CFBs displayed a booth at the TFB 91st Annual Meeting in Round Rock. The county organization was also recognized on stage and received a $1,250 cash award and a County Activities of Excellence plaque.

Titus CFB will also be highlighted during AFBF’s Annual Convention and Trade Show Jan. 24-29 in San Antonio.