SWEETWATER REPORTER (Texas) 29 January 08 Jaycee rattlesnake demonstration is planned at Capitol

State Rep. Susan King’s office announced Monday that she will be honored to have the Sweetwater Jaycees at the state Capitol building in Austin on Feb. 4, 5, and 6 to demonstrate the techniques used by the members to handle rattlesnakes.

The demonstration will be held in the outdoor rotunda in the Capitol Extension.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the “World’s Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up.”

Last year, the Jaycees were a huge hit at the Capitol during the 80th legislative session as state legislators, staff, and visitors came out to learn more about the Jaycees and the World’s Lar-gest Rattlesnake Round-Up.

King introduced the members of the group and their snakes on the House floor when House Resolution 203 was read to honor the Jaycees and their work.

Since 1958, the World’s Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up has been held in Sweetwater and sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees. The Round-Up is held annually on the second weekend in March at the Nolan County Coliseum.

The project was originally conceived by a group of area farmers and ranchers as an attempt to rid the abundance of Rattlers that were plaguing them and their livestock. The event has grown over the past 50 years to become the World’s Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up.

The Sweetwater Jaycees, in cooperation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, have collected valuable biological data and other pertinent information about the Western Diamond-back Rattlesnake. This information was gathered by a random sampling of rattlesnakes brought to the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-up held the second weekend of March.

The snake handlers are Jaycees trained in the proper technique of weighing, measuring and sexing the snakes. This is dangerous, tedious and labor intensive work so the Jaycees are to be commended for their efforts.

They are also to be commended for their genuine concern about the future of the Western Diamondback Rattle-snake.

The Jaycees have cooperated fully with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M University to determine whether commercial roundups have any adverse impact on the future of rattlesnake populations.

Their interest in the future of this natural resource is also reflected by changing the thrust of the event to an educational experience.

Since 1974, proceeds from this event have benefited the Sunshine Inn for the mentally handicapped, The Boy and Girl Scouts, youth programs and activities, Special Olympics, Tri-County Children’s Advo-cacy Center, The American Red Cross, MHMR client Christmas party, Labor Day Rest Stop, trash pick-up, Thanksgiving Day feast for the homeless, scholarships, rodeos and livestock shows and many more.

In addition, the local non-profit club makes donations to other organizations throughout the year.
Jaycee rattlesnake demonstration is planned at Capitol

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