Three community funding priorities supported by Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas’ 13th District have been incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. According to information released by Jackson’s office, the initiatives are intended to reinforce emergency response capabilities and strengthen agricultural support systems across the Texas Panhandle.
Jackson’s office emphasized that the measures are expected to improve public safety, expand workforce training opportunities, and support long-term water reliability for rural producers. The projects span municipal infrastructure upgrades as well as university-led agricultural development efforts.
The first project, a rehabilitation plan for the City of Canyon Fire Station, received $1.4 million. The funding is designated for significant interior and operational upgrades, including expanded sleeping quarters for personnel, dedicated physical training areas, updated storage for protective firefighting equipment, new command staff office space, and an air tank filling station. Local officials have noted in the past that the aging facility has struggled to keep pace with modern service demands, and the improvements are expected to increase both capacity and safety for emergency responders.
West Texas A&M University will receive $1 million for the construction of a Feedlot Educational Training Facility. The facility is designed to provide hands-on instruction for workers entering feedlot and feed mill operations—industries that remain central to the economy of the Texas High Plains and Panhandle. Supporters of the project have described the initiative as an effort to create a more consistent pipeline of trained personnel for agricultural employers, while also expanding the university’s role in rural workforce development.
A separate $2 million allocation is set aside for the university’s Mobile Desalination Unit project. This effort aims to develop portable systems capable of converting brackish groundwater into usable supplies for livestock and crop operations. It also includes hydrological testing tools intended to help producers better assess water quality and availability. As water scarcity continues to challenge agricultural regions, the mobile technology is expected to give producers more flexibility and resilience during dry periods.
Taken together, the three projects represent a coordinated effort to address long-term infrastructure, education, and resource needs within the district. The Agriculture Appropriations Bill will continue through the congressional process before final approval, but the inclusion of these projects marks a key step toward securing federal support for local and regional priorities.
