Bill Text: TX HCR83 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Designating Rusk County as the official Syrup Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Signed by the Governor [HCR83 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HCR83-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 83 | ||
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| WHEREAS, For decades, the residents of Rusk County have | ||
| embraced the production of ribbon cane syrup as an indelible part of | ||
| the community's culture and heritage; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Boasting a long growing season, fertile land, and | ||
| ample rain, Rusk County provided early settlers with an ideal | ||
| location for farming; one of the area's most popular cash crops was | ||
| sugarcane, the primary ingredient in ribbon cane syrup, which is | ||
| named for the distinct bands of color that run along the stalks of | ||
| some varieties of the plant; just one acre of sugarcane farmland | ||
| could produce enough of the crop to make 500 to 600 gallons of | ||
| syrup; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The process of making ribbon cane syrup required the | ||
| participation of numerous residents of the community; one person | ||
| would hook mules to a sweep that operated the sugarcane crusher, and | ||
| older children would feed sugarcane into rollers; a member of the | ||
| team would maintain the fire to heat the extracted cane juice while | ||
| another would skim the top of the syrup and move it through baffles | ||
| with paddles to prevent burning; each task was overseen by a | ||
| designated syrup master; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The traditional syrup-making process is | ||
| demonstrated at Rusk County's annual Heritage Syrup Festival, which | ||
| was first held in 1988; taking place on the grounds of the Depot | ||
| Museum in Henderson, the popular event attracts some 31,000 | ||
| visitors to the county each year; attendees have the opportunity to | ||
| observe the full production method, with the beloved mules who | ||
| power the crusher playing a featured role; the museum also offers a | ||
| training course to help ensure that the folk art of syrup making is | ||
| passed along to future generations; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Rusk County's strong historical association with | ||
| ribbon cane syrup has long been a source of great pride for area | ||
| residents, and it is indeed deserving of special recognition; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate Rusk County as the official Syrup Capital of | ||
| Texas; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
| passed by the legislature. | ||
| Shofner | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 83 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 0, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 83 was adopted by the Senate on May | ||
| 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
