| Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will provide $38 million in federal funds to local units of government in Texas. These funds come from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program authorized by the federal Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations Act. Jurisdictions may use this funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Allowable projects and purchases include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment, supplies, training, travel expenses, and addressing the medical needs of inmates in local and tribal jails and detention centers. “These funds will help our local governments respond to COVID-19 and provide the resources that our communities need,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful to our federal partners for making this crucial financial support available to the state of Texas.” Examples of allowable costs include: – Personnel Overtime (Peace Officer, Jailer, Correctional Officer, Medical, and other Essential Staff) – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Supplies (i.e. gloves, masks, sanitizer, disinfectant) – Temporary Staff – Medical care for inmates that have tested positive for COVID-19 – Any other costs associated with the implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Guidance documents, specifically: Interim Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Correctional and Detention Facilities What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for COVID-19 in the United States Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Interested jurisdictions may access the Public Safety Office’s eGrants grant management website at https://eGrants.gov.texas.gov to register and apply for funding. |
Governor Abbott Announces $38 Million In Federal COVID-19 Emergency Funding For Local Governments
Increase Productivity and Workflow while Working from Home
Many people have found themselves working from home. Whether setting up shop at the kitchen table or creating a complete home office, here are simple hacks to make your new work environment comfortable and productive.
No matter what room you set up shop in, it is important to create the proper lighting and mood to avoid discomfort, eye strain and headaches but also increase productivity and workflow.
Begin by defining your workspace. Setting up on the kitchen or dining table can work — temporarily. The upside is that it’s quick and easy. But these rooms are typically high-traffic areas, leading to distractions. Plus, you might have to pack up work at mealtimes. Instead, re-purpose a small table and chair and place it in an out-of-the-way spot, such as a stairwell or bedroom corner.
Next, think about lighting. Layering light is a basic technique that should be used in every room, but especially home offices.
It is important to try to match the lighting mood in your home office to the time of day, layered lighting for the afternoon time and focus lighting during the evening hours. There are three layers of light to consider: ambient or general light, task lighting and decorative or accent lighting.
Select a location with a good source of ambient light. Natural light is ideal: it diffuses throughout the space, bouncing off walls and ceilings to cut down on glare that can reflect on the computer monitor and the shiny desk surface.
When selecting ambient light sources, the goal is to illuminate the entire space without creating undue glare and contrast, which can lead to headaches and eye strain. If possible, avoid using overhead ceiling fixtures as the primary source of lighting. If that’s the only option, use a dimmer switch to vary light levels as needed.
Positioning your workspace correctly also helps. For rooms with natural light, place your desk perpendicular to the window, ideally facing north or south so that sunlight doesn’t cast shadows at certain times of the day. If an overhead fixture is the only light source, situate your workstation so that the light shines from behind it.
Make sure your home office suits your performance under particular lighting conditions, below are some tips that can help increase productivity and workflow and performance
• Don’t set your monitor in front of the window; the bright background light shining behind the screen causes eye strain.
• Place your chair at least arm’s length from the screen so that it can be seen without reading glasses or squinting.
• Add LED tape lighting behind your monitor or under a desk for diffused light.
• Use solar shades to soften lighting and lessen heat.
After setting up a glare-free workstation, add task lighting. Use dedicated light sources such as desk lamps for tasks like paperwork and filing. Place direct task lights on the opposite side of the hand you write with to avoid casting shadows onto your work.
Finally, add accent lighting for visual appeal. Frame your workspace with desk lamps or install a permanent fixture on a dimmer switch, such as a pendant hung directly over the desk. Wall sconces can throw light on decorative objects in the room.
Lighting can make or break a home office. Be sure to set yourself up for maximum productivity and comfort.
-Statepoint
Governor Greg Abbott Announces Star of Texas Nominations
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that nominations for the 2020 Star of Texas Awards, which honor peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, are now open. Nominations must be submitted to the Governor’s Office by June 15, 2020. Nominations can also be made for private citizens who were seriously injured or killed while aiding or attempting to aid a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical first responder in the performance of the their duties.
“Each year, the State of Texas proudly recognizes the peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty,” said Governor Abbott. “These brave men and women answered the call of duty to stand between danger and the people they serve, and we are forever grateful. The Star of Texas Awards allow us an opportunity to honor the service and sacrifice of the heroes who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.”
To be eligible for the 2020 award, the critical incident must have occurred between September 1, 2003 and June 15, 2020, and the first responder must not have previously received a Star of Texas Award.
The nomination form can be accessed through the Governor’s Office website at https://gov.texas.gov/organization/cjd/star-of-texas
On This Day in East Texas History- Empresarios Receive Colonization Contracts
On this day in 1825, Haden Edwards, Green DeWitt, and Robert Leftwich received empresario contracts. The government of Mexico, which had gained independence from Spain in 1821, issued the contracts to encourage the settlement of Coahuila and Texas. The hopes of all three empresarios were frustrated. The Edwards Colony, near Nacogdoches, was plagued by conflicting land claims and other controversies which eventually caused Edwards to depart and resulted in the Fredonian Rebellion. The DeWitt Colony, on the Guadalupe River adjoining that of Stephen F. Austin, enjoyed some initial success, though DeWitt was unable to fulfill the terms of his contract by the time it expired in 1831. Leftwich’s Grant, along the Navasota River, later became known as Robertson’s colony, and was the subject of much legal disputation between Austin and Sterling C. Robertson.
DPS Ramping Up Move Over/Slow Down Enforcement
LUFKIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is continuing their enforcement efforts across the state focusing specifically on violations of the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law. These periodic enforcement operations by DPS Troopers are planned throughout the year at various locations in Texas, with several operations planned in April. One of those operations will take place in Beaumont District throughout the day on Wednesday, April 15. The Department of Transportation will be participating in a non-enforcement capacity.
The law, originally passed in 2003, requires motorists to move over or slow down when certain vehicles – including police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicles and tow trucks – are stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. As a result of the 86th Legislative Session, highway maintenance or construction vehicles under contract with TxDOT, utility service vehicles, and stationary solid waste or recycling vehicles were added to the list of vehicles that require motorists to move over or slow down.
“Our Highway Patrol Troopers and other officers risk their lives every day for the people of Texas, and their safety is particularly vulnerable while working on the side of the road, where the slightest mistake by a passing motorist can end in tragedy,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “While our officers are serving and protecting Texans, we’re asking drivers to do their part by adhering to the law – simply move over or slow down.”
Specifically, Texas law states that a driver must either: Vacate the lane closest to the applicable vehicles stopped on the side of the road (if the road has multiple lanes traveling in the same direction) or Slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit. (If the speed limit is below 25 mph, the driver must slow down to 5 mph)
Drivers should only move over if they can do so safely and legally; otherwise, they should slow down.
“In light of the numerous vehicle crashes that occur in Texas and across the nation on a daily basis, and the unfortunate fact that many still violate the state law that has been in effect over 16 years, we are increasing our enforcement and education efforts related to this law,” said Director McCraw. “In addition to complying with the law to protect those who work on the side of the
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road, we encourage motorists to show the same courtesy to fellow drivers stopped along the roadways. Let’s all get home safely.”
Violations of the law can result in a fine of up to $200; the fine increases to $500 if there is property damage. If violators cause bodily injury, they can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, resulting in possible jail time and a maximum fine of $2,000.
Data collected from 2019 shows that DPS Troopers issued more than 27,900 warnings and citations to motorists violating the Move Over/Slow Down law. Through February of this year, Troopers issued more than 4,100 warnings and citations for violations of the law.
From January 2016 through January 2020, Texas DPS Troopers have been in 65 stationary crashes where their vehicle or the Trooper was struck while performing a law enforcement duty on a highway.
The show must go on! SFA play festival turns to YouTube format
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – With artists and performance groups worldwide looking at all forms of technology to make sure the show goes on, the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present its biennial Festival of New American Plays virtually with a slightly altered schedule.
East Texans and audiences across the country can still be among the firsts to hear the newest works by three acclaimed playwrights through staged readings on the School of Theatre’s YouTube channel beginning April 22.
The biennial event showcases the work of some of the best playwrights in the nation in a festival during which each selected play is presented in staged readings by SFA theatre students, according to Jack Heifner, SFA School of Theatre’s playwright-in-residence, director of the festival and one of the featured authors.
The 2020 festival highlights new works by Heifner; Dallas-based writer, actor, director and SFA theatre alum Matt Lyle; and Caroline Aaron, television, stage and film actress most recently known for her role as Shirley Maisel in the TV series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
The challenge this year, Heifner said, has been “to wrap our heads around the technology.” CC Conn, associate professor of theatre, has been busy learning the intricacies of Zoom and YouTube platforms and teaching herself how to livestream, with the help of Theunis Oliphant, technology coordinator in SFA’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
“In order to provide better stability to our performance, I have found myself doing many things to obtain and provide ethernet cables and adapters to students, as relying on Wi-Fi causes a lot of glitches in the video,” Conn said. “And we certainly do not want students to undertake expenses or risk going into the public to remedy this situation. So I have been ordering cables and adapters as needed and getting them mailed to the students as quickly as possible. But it has all been very challenging and exciting.”
And students are embracing the challenge, Heifner said.
“We have wonderful student actors scattered all over Texas, and we come together for rehearsals on Zoom,” he said. “It’s been like having them back in the Fine Arts Building again. The challenges are enormous, especially with sound and Wi-Fi lags, but we are experimenting all the time.
“The Festival of New American Plays has been a highlight of our season every other year since 1998,” Heifner added. “The students are thrilled we are continuing the tradition. I have not heard one person complain. It’s all about ‘let’s do it.’”
Student leaders are Production Stage Manager Ash Whiting, Deer Park junior, and Assistant Director Gareth Phipps, Dallas senior, plus three stage managers. “The casts have been so eager, so happy to do this, so excited that they can act again this semester for an audience and also to do these wonderful new plays by Caroline Aaron and Matt Lyle,” Heifner said.
The festival will feature “The Curse of Plenty,” which is Heifner’s play that takes place at a dinner party where there’s only imaginary food and drink and two triangles of lovers competing for attention. Heifner describes it as “a chilling yet, at the same time, very funny view of our possible future – when greed, conspicuous consumption and human willfulness have, at last, plundered the planet and reduced the circumstances of human life to a subsistence level.”
Lyle’s “The Texas Devil” is an outrageous comedy about a small-town attorney, her football coach husband and her teenage son all trying to cope with instant celebrity, Sean Hannity, Fox News and a visiting Satanist.
Aaron’s “Such a Pretty Face” is a play about many types of women as they confront issues about their appearance, the ideas of “beauty” as shown in the media, and the constant bombardment of programs designed to make people lose weight, the playwright explains.
“The play is funny and touching in its examination of how we see ourselves, how we think others see us and how we want to be seen,” Heifner said.
Livestreams are at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeXFQChOdCd8zf094sQ0jXg with “Curse of Plenty at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22; “The Texas Devil” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23; and “Such a Pretty Face” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 24. The readings will be lightly edited then published on theatre’s YouTube channel April 27 through May 3. Matt Reynolds, assistant professor of lighting, sound and video design at the University of Alabama, is assisting Conn in creating the visual details of the edited videos. There will also be a live-streamed question-and-answer session with the playwrights at 2 p.m. Friday, April 24. The plays are recommended for mature audiences.
Heifner is the author of more than 30 plays and musicals produced in New York, Los Angeles and theatres around the world. He is best known for the play version of “Vanities,” which ran for five years in New York and became one of the longest-running plays in Off-Broadway history. His musicals include “Leader of the Pack” on Broadway and “Vanities – A New Musical” in New York and London. He has also worked in television and film.
Heifner has been playwright-in-residence at SFA since 1997. Each spring, he teaches playwriting and screenwriting and has directed many SFA shows. He founded The Festival of New American Plays in 1998, and over the years, the school has presented the new works of Beth Henley, James McLure, Carol Hall, David Ives, Tina Howe, Constance Congdon, John Cariani, Getchen Cryer, William M. Hoffman and many others. Heifner is a member of The Dramatists Guild, The Writers’ Guild of America and Actors Equity Association, and he has been inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters and The Texas Playwriting Hall of Fame.
Lyle’s plays have been produced across the U.S. His plays, “The Boxer,” “Hello Human Female,” “Barbecue Apocalypse” and “Big Scary Animals” all garnered DFW Theater Critics Forum Awards for “Outstanding New Play.” “Barbecue Apocalypse” was nominated for an American Theatre Critics Association Steinberg New Play Award. Lyle has been commissioned by Theatre Three, Dallas Theater Center and Audacity Theatre Lab. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild and the Playwright’s Center and was honored as the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus of the SFA School of Theatre. His work is published by Broadway Play Publishing.
Aaron made her debut in motion pictures with a small part in Robert Altman’s “Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” in 1982. Since, she has built her acting career as a character actress and has worked with some of cinema’s most significant directors, including Woody Allen and the late Mike Nichols. She has appeared in numerous TV series, among them “Madam Secretary,” “Grey’s Anatomy,“ Desperate Housewives,” “Modern Family” and “2 Broke Girls.” She had a recurring role in “The Young and the Restless” and appeared in movies “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street,” “Our Family Wedding,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Working Girl” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” among others. She stars on the hit series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
“Caroline and Matt have been with us all the way,” Heifner said. “Whatever we’ve proposed, they are all for it. I only wish we could all be together in person. However, this is the next best thing, and we are giving it our best. I truly hope our friends who’ve supported the festival all these years will join us. The tradition continues, and the plays are wonderful, and so are the students.”
The plays are recommended for mature audiences. Visit the School of Theatre at theatre.sfasu.edu.
Two TFCL Lakes in Top 12 List
A place as big as Texas surely holds countless adventures. And, with the many lakes and rivers that Texas has. It will be no surprise if you find most of them in the water.
We aren’t joking when we tell you that Texas is a home for giants. Here, landing a massive fish is quite common. If you don’t believe us, you only have to check the State records. Once you do, you will feel the urge to cast your rod over and over again on Texan waters! But beware, set your gear accordingly, because you are on for the fight of a lifetime.
Lake Fork and Sam Rayburn Reservoir are among the best places to fish in the State. These waters are something else. First of all, both are artificial lakes. But they have a natural, authentic beauty that will leave you breathless. Additionally, there are plenty of side activities for you to do when you get tired of fishing. Thus, both of them are great options if you are planning a family trip.
Secondly, the waters are full of fish! And that is no surprise; these waters are a year-round fishing spot. Therefore, many anglers from all around the U.S, and the world, come to either lake for an unforgettable fishing experience.
Regardless if you are a beginner or seasoned angler, you have a place here. The high number of Sunfish and Crappie that inhabit the waters of both lakes are great for beginners. They represent an easy catch, and you can learn the basics while you are targeting them. As for the giants, well, better let the master anglers handle them; for now.
But what makes these lakes so attractive? That question is a little tricky. For instance, the weather favors fish activity. Additionally, these waters are thriving with life. Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Walleye, and Sunfish are the most common species found in these lakes. Furthermore, there is enough room in these bodies of waters to hold some massive fishes!
We are not lying; according to the Bassmaster group, both lakes are among the top 10 best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. Furthermore, 15 out of 20 State record fish were caught in Lake Fork. Amazing right?
As an angler, fishing in a new place is always a challenge. You must read the waters, weather, and the structure. Then, set up your gear accordingly. But the story is different here. Lake Fork and Sam Rayburn Reservoir are so massive and full of structure that you will need a new approach depending on the exact place that you are fishing.
The creeks, side channels, near the dam, shoreline, the shallows, and deeper water, it doesn’t matter, you have plenty of options to cast your rod! And you will have a different experience in each one of them and a different reward. We highly recommend bringing enough tackle to fish in more than one place. Otherwise, you won’t be able to exploit the lakes’ full potential.
If we peaked your interest, and you wish to know more about these lakes, we invite you to check them out in our 12 Best Fishing Lakes in the U.S article.
Healthy Habits for Eating Well During COVID-19
As I write this, I don’t know what day of the week it is and only have a vague understanding that it might be a working day rather than the weekend. For someone who operates a small business from my home (when I am not at the gym…and I’m not), I consider myself a self-disciplined and driven person. But somewhere vaguely back in March, my hard-won routine quarantined itself far and away from me. I‘ve been left alone to pick up the pieces.
Luckily for me, picking up pieces and putting them together to form a healthy lifestyle is exactly what I do for a living. Now, don’t get me wrong. It has not been easy, and I find I’m learning as I go along, but I also tend to have a positive outlook on life. Instead of seeing this time as something to shrink back from, I find myself embracing it as an opportunity to make healthy habits a priority.
Here are some tips on building healthy habits around eating well during the chaotic (yet oddly slow-mo) time that is the COVID-19 pandemic:
● Self-Awareness ○ So, self-awareness is all about knowing yourself and being honest about your motivations. For example, right now I say aloud that I am relaxed, not stressed at all, I am handling things well. I GOT THIS. But deep inside, everything I do is fueled by a low-level uncertainty that causes me to feel continuously restless. Do you feel this way? If so, you need to have a nice, positive talk with yourself and lay down some quarantine ground rules. If you think this has nothing to do with what you choose to put in your mouth, you and yourself might as well be quarantining on separate continents.
● Routine ○ Structure is key! Likely when you were living your normal life, you followed some type of routine, though you may not have been aware of it at the time. Try to find this again. The more you stick to a routine, the more likely you are to form a habit. One of the ways you can do this is by setting an alarm on your phone for mealtimes. Kitchen adventures are only allowed when a scheduled mealtime alarm has rung.
● Timing ○ Turn your thoughts to food timing for maintaining healthy eating habits, along with a healthy weight. Forays into chronobiology have shown consistently that when you eat is just as important as what you eat. Dr. Michael Greger suggests in his most recent book, How Not to Diet, to eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. Basically, the later we eat, the more likely our bodies are to turn our meals into fat rather than fuel. And since the gyms are closed…
● Stocking Your Kitchen ○ Everyone seems to be Spring Cleaning for a lack of better things to do. When was the last time you did this for your fridge and pantry? If you are truly invested in eating a healthy diet, your kitchen should reflect that. The term “Quarantine Snacks” has become pervasive! Tempting, ultra processed, high-fat and calorie-dense foods should be banished. Foods should be as whole and unprocessed as possible. Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are relatively easy to get right now. Let’s try eating less out of boxes, packets, and take-out bags.
● Cooking At Home ○ In our enthusiasm to support the local restaurant business, we can easily shoot ourselves in the foot health-wise. I recommend scheduling one restaurant meal or indulgence a week and to cook at home most days. As a Certified Health Coach, I find that people who enjoy cooking and cook often are the most successful when attempting to be healthy. These people are not only saving money, they are being creative, which makes the journey more engaging. If you’re a beginner or don’t feel confident in
your cooking chops, what better time to learn? Pinterest is my go-to for easy recipes. You can look up my “Recipes” board by searching “Brittany Hall, Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach.”
Following these basic tips can promote a healthy lifestyle, if only you are willing to accept the challenge. And it will be challenging, make no mistake, because times are uncertain. But that makes the reward so much sweeter, right? Now, moving on to relearning the days of the week.
Brittany Hall is the owner of Brittany Hall Certified Personal Training and Health Coaching LLC. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer (ACE-CPT), ACE Certified Health Coach (ACE-CHC), and ACE Mind Body Specialist, all earned with the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She also holds an advanced certification with the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) as a Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES). She was an attendee at the Active Lives: Transforming Our Patients and Ourselves conference presented by The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as the IDEA World Fitness Convention presented by the IDEA Health and Fitness Association. Her latest venture is as a POP Pilates instructor.
COVID’s Effect on Tourism in Texas, Nationwide
With declining travel threatening to wipe out 5.9 million jobs by the end of April and the tourism industry greatly impacted by social distancing, WalletHub today released its report on the States Hit Hardest by COVID-19’s Impact on Tourism, along with accompanying videos.
To identify the states where tourism is most affected by COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 10 key metrics. Our data set ranges from share of businesses in travel and tourism-related industries to travel spending per travel employee and presence of stay-at-home orders. Below, you can see highlights from WalletHub’s report and a Q&A with WalletHub analysts.
COVID-19 Impact on Tourism in Texas (1=Most Affected, 25=Avg.):
- 32nd – Share of Travel & Tourism Industry Generated GDP
- 40th – Share of Businesses in Travel & Tourism-Related Industries
- 31st – Share of Employment in Travel & Tourism-Related Industries
- 1st – Default Probability on Loans of Businesses in Travel & Tourism Industry
- 35th – Travel & Tourism Consumer Spending per Capita
- 39th – Travel Spending Per Travel Employee
- 31st – Share of Consumer Expenditures on Travel
To view the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-hit-hardest-by-covid-impact-on-tourism/72974/
Billy Bob’s Texas to Host Free, Donation-Based Virtual Concert to Benefit Texas FFA Foundation
| Two TEXAS icons come together with some incredible TEXAS musicians to support the future of TEXAS agriculture. You’re Still Farming & We’re Still Singing A Virtual Concert presented by Billy Bob’s Texas & Cavender’s Benefitting the Texas FFA Foundation Saturday, April 25 | 7 PM CST at facebook.com/BillyBobsTexas The full lineup will be announced throughout the week, beginning today, Tuesday, April 14 at 10 AM on Billy Bob’s Texas Instagram stories – @billybobstexas. All of the performers are proud to call the great state of Texas their home and several of them have a personal history and connection with the FFA. The virtual benefit concert will be the second for Billy Bob’s Texas. The club celebrated 39 years on April 1, but instead of a concert at the 100,000 square foot honky tonk, the concert was streamed online in order to uphold the Tarrant County stay-at-home declaration intended to limit the spread of COVD-19. “This opportunity to continue to involve our yearlong Billy Bob’s Partners in a virtual concert for an organization that is benefitting kids in this western and agricultural industry is wonderful. It is such a creative way for this tight-knit group to all stay connected and supportive as a community during this time apart,” said Katherine Kolstad Laramore, Corporate Partnerships at Billy Bob’s Texas. “The agriculture industry is as important as ever as it continues to fuel and feed America. The FFA is shaping the leaders of tomorrow and we at Cavender’s have pledged to lift them up. We have a 55-year history of supporting the communities where we have stores and this is a unique opportunity to support the future leaders of the great state of Texas,” said Jennifer Green, Public Relations and Special Events at Cavender’s. “We are very excited to be part of this event. We love to support Texas country music and the FFA. There really couldn’t be a better combination for Cavender’s,” said Clay Cavender. The concert is free to enjoy, but donations will be accepted to help provide scholarships and leadership development opportunities for students and agricultural science teachers. “Texas is blessed with three vital and renewable resources: youth, agriculture, and leadership,” said Aaron Alejandro, Executive Director, Texas FFA Foundation. “Our program empowers the dreams of our members today, ensuring they are dynamic influencers in the future. Together we will help our students be resilient today, so they will be stronger leaders tomorrow. Your support is helping make Texas a better place to live, work, and raise our families.” The Texas FFA Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Charitable Contributions to the Texas FFA Foundation are deductible for federal tax purposes. About Billy Bob’s Texas: Located in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, Billy Bob’s Texas opened in 1981 and has since become known worldwide as The World’s Largest Honkytonk. This iconic entertainment venue hosts over ½ million guests and 300 live music events annually. Boasting over 100,000 square feet, with a capacity of 6000 fun-loving folks, Billy Bob’s contains a restaurant, private event spaces, and even real bull riding inside the Texas-sized venue. www.billybobstexas.com About Cavender’s: Cavender’s is a family-owned and operated western wear retailer based in Texas with 85 stores located across 12 states. Founded by James R. and Pat Cavender in 1965 in Pittsburg, Texas, Cavender’s remains a family operation, with sons Joe, Mike and Clay Cavender involved in the day-to-day operations. The family lives the western lifestyle, operating three working ranches in Texas with registered Brangus and Charolais cattle. To find store locations or to shop online, visit cavenders.com. About The Texas FFA Foundation: The Texas FFA Foundation currently awards more than $2.3 million in academic and award scholarships annually. More than 200,000 students are enrolled in agricultural science education courses in Texas; there are more than 137,000 Texas FFA members, 1,073 local FFA chapters, and 2,500 Agricultural Science Education Teachers. |