Blake Stephens of BLET Division 863 (left) helps Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Ben Wright get up close and personal with a western diamondback rattlesnake at the Texas Capitol.
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Some people equate lobbying activity with snake handling. Blake Stephens does both. The BNSF engineer is the Legislative Representative of BLET Division 863 (Brownwood, Texas). He’s also a member of the Sweetwater (Texas) Jaycees, which sponsors the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup.
The Rattlesnake Roundup is a West Texas Tradition that began in 1958 as a way to control the local rattlesnake population. The event has grown over the years into a major festival that draws thousands of visitors each year and has become an important part of Sweetwater’s economy.
Along with some fellow members of the Sweetwater Jaycees, Stephens recently brought a few reptilian specimens to the Texas Capitol to both promote snake safety and the Rattlesnake Roundup (see photo above).