Lampasas, TX - Clayton Tucker responded Thursday to claims from City Boy Nate’s campaign questioning Tucker’s qualifications to serve as Texas Agriculture Commissioner:

“City Boy Nate is confusing owning land with working the land.

“I grew up working on my family’s ranch. I’ve baled hay, mended fences, worked livestock, and I still work our ranch today. The land has been in my family for almost 60 years.

“Many young farmers don’t own the land they work yet. The land might still belong to a parent or grandparent, or it might be leased. City Boy Nate is telling them their contributions to Texas agriculture don’t matter. City Boy Nate’s statements beg the question if he’ll only be the Ag Commissioner for the mega farms? Will he continue to dismiss an entire generation of farmers? 

“By arguing that you have to personally own the family land for your agricultural experience to count, City Boy Nate is telling a whole generation of young farmers that they don’t count as farmers. I reject that.

“My family has our own arrangement. I work the ranch while the proceeds help support my Mamaw, and I earn off-farm income to support myself and help pay for ranch improvements without going into debt.

“80% of farmers must have an off-farm job. Farming is expensive, and most farmers need another source of income to make ends meet. My off-farm work is in international trade, where I fight corporations who try to further rig our trade rules against American farmers and consumers alike.

“Young farmers who work their family’s land are farmers, whether their name is on the deed yet or not. Having an off-farm job is now how the vast majority of farmers make ends meet.” 

“I’ve worked on my family's ranch for the past 10 years, and I’m proud of it. I know the work I’ve done, and I stand by my qualifications to serve as Texas Agriculture Commissioner.”

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