Texas Coastal CattleWomen Make Donation to TSCRA Disaster Relief

Texas Coastal CattleWomen (TCCW) presented Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) President Carl Ray Polk with a check for $10,000 to help fund the TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund, which is aiding cattle raisers affected by the Texas panhandle fires.

“Many of us are ranchers and members of Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers, and they kept us informed of the crisis in the panhandle,” said Outgoing President Claudia Wright.

“They’ve been hands-on with ranchers, first responders, and the families that have lost so much. It was the logical place to make a donation where we know our funds will be used wisely for our ranchers and friends in need.”

TCCW hosted the annual Fundraiser Luncheon and Style Show on September 24th where it honored cattlewomen, Texas ranchers, and raised money for scholarships and beef awareness through donations. The event was successful and facilitated TCCW’s ability to make the generous donation.

“We will continue to monitor the needs and possibly make another donation,” Wright said. “You never know when or where the next disaster might strike, though we all hope there is not one. It will take years for these families to recover. While there were spring rains, you can’t replace livestock, homes, barns and fences overnight. Unfortunately, some families may never recover. There will be a continual need in that area, and we will keep abreast of it.”

The majority of TCCW members live on the Gulf Coast and have also been affected by natural disasters that affect herds, destroy homes, fences and facilities make sustainable ranching challenging. The panhandle fires burned more than 1.2 million acres, the largest wildfire in Texas history. Numbers of cattle killed topped 15,000, and the fires destroyed 130 homes and businesses.

“There is really no timeline of when the needs of these ranchers will be met,” said Wright. “The ranching community is one big generous family. Here on the Gulf Coast, we have experienced the hurricanes, we know what it is like to lose everything, the devastation, the years of recovery. There are really no words to describe that helpless feeling. However, it is not unusual for strangers and fellow ranchers to help by sending an 18-wheeler full of hay and feed. Often it would appear from someone you do not even know. It’s just what we do in a time of need.”

TCCW works to raise funds that elevate their mission of education and creating awareness of beef, the best protein. beef. The organization has raised and gifted millions of dollars toward that goal through scholarships and donations of beef since its inception in 1983. Wright said that TCCW members will stay aware of needs and consider future donations.

“The Texas Coastal CattleWomen began in 1983, and since then, more than a million dollars has been raised and gifted to agriculture majors in college while also focusing on promoting beef,” said Sarijane “Sassy” Stanton, TCCW president. “We are honored to provide funds that will go directly to aid our fellow ranchers.”

For more information, visit texascoastalcattlewomen.com. Follow the association on Facebook at facebook.com/texcoastal/ and on Instagram at @texascoastalcattlewomen.