Jon Means to receive National Golden Spur Award on Oct. 19

By the National Ranching Heritage Center —

Jon Means, of Jeff Davis County, will receive the 36th annual
National Golden Spur Award on Oct. 19. The award will be presented
during a dinner program preceded by a reception beginning at 6:00 p.m.
at the National Ranching Heritage Center, 3121 Fourth Street in Lubbock.

The only national award of its kind, the Golden Spur recognizes
outstanding contributions to the ranching and livestock industry.
Besides honoring an individual, the award spotlights the humanistic and
scientific contributions of the livestock and ranching industries to
society.

The Golden Spur is a joint recognition by some of the industry's
leading organizations, among them the American Quarter Horse
Association, National Cattlemen's Foundation, Ranching Heritage
Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas
Cattle Feeders Association and Texas Farm Bureau.

Means' ancestors settled in the Davis Mountains of West Texas in
1884. He is the fourth generation of his family to ranch in that area
and is grooming the fifth generation to follow the family tradition. He
and his wife, Jackie, own the Means Ranch Company and reside at the Moon
Ranch near Van Horn.

Means is very active with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers
Association (TSCRA), serving in leadership positions culminating with a
term as president from 2007-2009. He has also served extensively in
various ranching and livestock industry organizations at the local,
state and national levels.

While serving as president of TSCRA, Means was challenged by the
destruction to ranchland and livestock occurring in southeast Texas
resulting from Hurricane Ike.

Under Means' leadership, TSCRA spearheaded the relocation of more
than 12,000 cattle. Personally, Means helped locate pasture around the
state for distressed ranchers in the affected area. For his efforts, he
received commendation by the Texas governor and commissioner of
agriculture.

Dedicated to preserving Means Ranch Company, Means has carefully
implemented natural resource conservation efforts in the Trans Pecos
region's challenging and fickle climate. With a keen sense of the land's
strengths and limitations, he has sustained Means Ranch Company's
ability to produce quality beef, while protecting and enhancing the
natural resource base.

True to his roots, Means volunteers each summer to help with the
weeklong Camp Meeting of his relatives and other ranching families in
the Fort Davis area.

This annual event gives him and his family an opportunity to connect
with the heritage that is such a vital part of their ranching
operations and daily life.

It can be said that Means is a rancher's rancher.

Golden Spur Award recipients are selected annually by a committee
representing each of the sponsoring organizations. Those honored have
included individuals from across the United States and represent
virtually every aspect of the livestock and agribusiness industry.

Individual tickets to the Golden Spur dinner and award program are
$100 each, $75 for members of the Ranching Heritage Association.
Reserved tables seating eight are $1,250. Reservations are required in
advance. Contact Vicki Quinn-Williams at 806-742-2498.

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