Muleshoe to Star on National Network

Guest Blogger, Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner of Rural Economic Development

Besides having immediate name recognition, the city of Muleshoe, Texas, also has promoted itself as a tourism destination through the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN Rural Community Program.

Last June, the Food Network visited Muleshoe to film an "Ace of Cakes" episode called "Slow Mules and Fast Cars." Chef Duff Goldman and his crew experienced true Texas hospitality as they enjoyed a potluck dinner, complete with savory Texas brisket and homemade ice cream. The bakers even got to ride authentic Muleshoe mules.

More than 200 people, including TDA Rural Economic Development staff, eagerly awaited the Muleshoe-themed cake made by Chef Duff and his crew. The cake was in the shape of a mule-riding hat (6” brim) - not to be confused with a cowboy hat - sitting on top of two mule shoes. Christian, the mule ridden by Chef Duff, even sampled some cake.

The episode will air Thursday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m. CST on the Food Network. The national exposure for the city of Muleshoe is another step city leaders are taking to promote Muleshoe and its quality of life. The city also is currently working on its GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community application, which helps Texas communities market themselves as tourism and retirement destinations.

I applaud the leaders of Muleshoe for taking steps get the city's name out there.

Rural Texas Communities Going the Extra Mile

Guest blogger: Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner for Economic Development

Rural tourism throughout Texas is a growing trend. Whether shopping for antiques or visiting a farm or ranch operation, Texas offers plenty of opportunities for getting away.

Some rural Texas communities are going the extra mile to attract more tourists.
Levelland, for example, is a certified GO TEXAN Rural Community that is breaking ground on a new event center. The Mallet Event Center & Arena will host events such as rodeos, fairs and conferences that are sure to bring extra tourism dollars to Levelland.

On Wednesday, July 28, the public and community leaders will hold a groundbreaking for the new center. Below is a photo of what the event center will look like once it's completed. Congratulations to Levelland for promoting rural tourism.


For more information on becoming a GO TEXAN Certified Rural Community, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov and click on Retire in Texas.

USA Today Article Highlights TDA's Effort to Increase Broadband Access in Rural Texas

A recent article in USA Today focused on broadband access to rural Texas. According to the information provided, “Currently, about 57% of urban households and 60% of suburban households subscribe to broadband. In rural areas, only 38% do, according to a report by the Communications Workers of America.”

You can see why we at the Texas Department of Agriculture have begun teaming with stakeholders and service providers to maximize federal stimulus funds for Texas. We recently partnered with the Public Utility Commission and are currently seeking proposals from telecommunications companies to map the state of Texas for broadband availability, which will help provide service to those areas lacking high-speed Internet connectivity.

Farm-to-Market is more than the name of a road. It is the lifeline that enables our state’s farmers and ranchers to provide us with the food, feed, fuel and fiber that is the cornerstone of our economy. They need access to the latest technology to move their quality goods to willing buyers and to compete in the global market.

It is essential our families, rural schools, hospitals and small businesses have fast access to the information superhighway if we are going to maintain a competitive advantage in Texas.

TDA gives urban students a rural experience

On Wednesday morning, I met with a group of students who have been selected to be the first participants in TDA’s new Texas Rural Internship Program. The program, which officially starts on June 1, will provide much needed connectivity between urban and rural Texas, and help develop some of today’s talented college students into tomorrow’s leaders.

Rural Texas faces many challenges and we must be proactive in developing leadership and finding solutions to the dilemmas facing our communities that in many cases preserve the heritage of this great state. Job growth, community planning and relationships between rural, suburban and urban Texas are essential to the future prosperity of the Lone Star State.

We are grateful to Dr. Gene Theodori, director for the Center for Rural Studies at Sam Houston State University, who helped us spearhead this unique internship project giving the following six SHSU students an outstanding opportunity in rural Texas:

Left to right: Raven Payour, Katie Goodwin, Lauren Robinson, Mercadi Crawford, Mercy Lane and Brittany Dennis.

The communities taking part in the internship program are Brady, Hamilton, Levelland, San Juan and Van Horn. The Texas Rural Internship Program is a pilot initiative this year; our goal is to expand the program to serve more students and rural communities in 2010.

Not your typical highway

Your town may soon have a new highway running through it – but don’t worry; this isn’t your typical highway. We’re talking about an information superhighway.

Today, the FCC released a report detailing a plan that provides the foundation for policy development that will assist in the delivery of broadband services to rural America.

Earlier this month, we announced an effort here at TDA to help map Texas for broadband service availability. Once the state is mapped, we can better determine which areas need high-speed Internet services.

I applaud our federal partners for taking a great first step in connecting rural communities to the tools they need to enhance economic development and assist with their area’s future prosperity.

Appearance on FOX News Channel

Watch my appearance on FOX News Channel talking about how the drought is affecting Texas ranchers and farmers:

Rural Texas Agriculture Keeps the Lone Star State Prosperous

I met with a talented group of House and Senate members called the Rural Caucus this week, who are dedicated to promoting and preserving the heritage of this great state by ensuring policy initiatives that allow for rural areas to continue to grow and prosper.

The meeting served as a reminder that agriculture doesn’t stop at the borders of rural Texas. Whether you live in a rural, suburban or urban part of the Lone Star State, we all depend on the production of our state’s farmers and ranchers for the food we eat and the clothes we wear. The potential for bioenergy also grows every day in the agriculture industry as new technology is developed and economically implemented.

As Texas’ population grows, rural Texas still packs quite a punch. In fact, the population of rural Texas is greater than the populations of Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming and the District of Columbia combined! And if you haven’t visited rural Texas in a while, check out our GO TEXAN Rural Community Program for a listing of all the great places to see.