The Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA) recently presented its annual President’s Award to Mitchell Harris of Lubbock, Texas, for his work on behalf of the grain industry and his farm advocacy efforts in the nation’s capital.

The award is given each year to a person or group that has demonstrated extraordinary service to the council and to agriculture in general.

Harris, who is the chief executive officer of AgTexas Farm Credit Services, serves on the SWCA Board of Directors as one of two financial institution representatives.

Dee Vaughan, SWCA president, said Harris was commended in part for his service and efforts supporting the Texas grain indemnity fund, which protects producers in the event that a grain buyer becomes bankrupt.

“If it is important to the producer, Mitchell wants to be involved, he wants to get the job done, and he stays with it ’til the job is done. He has been and continues to be a strong supporter and worker for the council and agriculture,” Vaughan said.

He also acknowledged Harris’ willingness to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators to lobby for sound farm policy.

The award was presented during the SWCA’s 2011 annual meeting, held July 21-22 in Lubbock.

The Southwest Council of Agribusiness is an alliance of more than 100 agricultural organizations, financial institutions and businesses from throughout Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. It was established to advocate strong agricultural policy and promote economic opportunity in the southwestern region of the country.

For more information, visit www.southwest-council.com.