By Julie Tomascik
Editor

County Farm Bureaus can earn prizes and bragging rights through the 2024 Golden Buckle Awards Program.

“This is Texas Farm Bureau’s most coveted award for county Farm Bureaus,” Bryce Moore, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) director of Field Operations, said. “It highlights the counties’ efforts to promote membership and agriculture in their communities.”

The program will run concurrent with TFB’s membership year Nov. 1, 2023 through Oct. 31, 2024.

The Golden Buckle Award is designed to document, incentivize and reward county Farm Bureaus for participating in purpose activities.

“This program is designed to be a program of work that, if the county follows the guidelines, they’re going to have a really good year because this program touches every aspect of Farm Bureau,” Moore said.

Purpose activities include membership drives or events, legislative advocacy efforts and local agricultural promotion. It also includes attendance or participation in TFB events and conferences, as well as Young Farmer & Rancher programs and educational and urban outreach activities.

County Farm Bureaus will receive points for attendance or participation by county leaders.

“The Golden Buckle Award recognizes counties that excel in agricultural promotion, membership growth and Farm Bureau involvement throughout the entire year,” Moore said.

Montgomery County Farm Bureau received the inaugural Golden Buckle Award in 2023. The runners- up were Lampasas County Farm Bureau and Smith County Farm Bureau.

“We received many strong applications last year,” Moore said. “Our top three winners and district winners really shined in their applications. Those county leaders were active, promoted Farm Bureau, highlighted agriculture and took time to build relationships within their communities. We’re excited to see what counties do in 2024.”

County Farm Bureaus must complete and submit the awards program worksheet and one short answer question by Nov. 6.

The winning county Farm Bureau will receive $10,000 and an appropriate prize package. The first runner-up will receive $5,000, and the second runner-up will receive $2,500.

In addition to the state Golden Buckle Award, there will be category winners and runners-up named.Categories will be based on membership: Under 800

members, 801 to 1,500 members, 1,501 to 2,475 members, 2,476 to 3,999 members and over 4,000 members. The category winners and runners-up will receive $1,000 for 2024 TFB Annual Meeting expenses.

For more information on the program, contact Moore at bmoore@txfb.org or call 254-399-5028.