TEMPLE—Joe Freeman of Llano was elected on May 7th to serve on the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB).
Freeman represents TSSWCB Area 2, which consists of 50 counties in the western to trans-Pecos, encompassing, 43 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).
“I am honored to be elected to serve on Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board to continue the admirable work of the agency and its mission to encourage the wise and productive use of natural resources across the state,” said Freeman.
He has been a director on the Llano Soil and Water Conservation District since 2015, where he currently serves as secretary.
In other areas of leadership, Freeman currently serves as Founder and President of the Cowboy Christmas for Kids Charity and a member of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and American Quarter Horse Association. He has previously served as the President of the Hill County Livestock Raisers Association, President of the Llano County Farm Bureau as well as the President of the Llano County A&M Club.
Freeman is a 5th generation rancher that runs a cow-calf operation in Llano County. He and his wife of 46 years, Carol, have two children, Ross and Sarah. He also has four grandchildren.
Established in 1939, TSSWCB administers Texas’ soil and water conservation law and delivers coordinated natural resource conservation programs through the State’s 216 soil and water conservation districts. Additionally, TSSWCB is the lead agency for planning, implementing, and managing programs for preventing and abating agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint sources of water pollution. TSSWCB also works to ensure that the State’s network of 2,000 flood control dams are protecting lives and property by providing operation, maintenance, and structural repair grants to local government sponsors.
The TSSWCB consists of five elected members and two gubernatorial appointees who must be actively engaged in farming or ranching. The five TSSWCB members are chosen in a convention type election by SWCD directors in the Area in which the TSSWCB member represents.
