HR0656 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0656 LRB099 13242 GRL 37149 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in Illinois organizations; and

WHEREAS, The Woodford County Farm Bureau, headquartered in Eureka, is a grassroots organization dedicated to the propagation of the most profitable and permanent system of agriculture possible in the county; and

WHEREAS, The Woodford County Farm Bureau has been in operation for 100 years; the organization conducts business in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Association, a national organization of farmers and ranchers which includes Farm Bureaus in all 50 states and Puerto Rico; and

WHEREAS, In 1914, following the passage of the federal Smith-Lever Act, several men, including Howard Leonard, Simon E. Lanz, Tom Bratt, Joe D. Smith, Ben Schertz, and W.H. Smith, discussed the creation of a cooperative farmer organization in Woodford County; and

WHEREAS, In 1915, at least 281 Woodford County Farm Bureau membership cards were signed; a permanent organization was immediately formed and the constitution and by-laws of the new organization were adopted; one year later, Woodford County joined 11 other counties to become a charter member of the Illinois Agriculture Association; in its first year of official business, the association sold seed amounting to at least $25,495.76, one third of which was locally grown; and

WHEREAS, By 1921, the Woodford County Farm Bureau played an integral role in the development of marketing and legislative programs undertaken by the Illinois Agricultural Association and the American Farm Bureau Association; and

WHEREAS, At the annual meeting of the Woodford County Farm Bureau in December of 1934, it was reported that membership had grown by over 39% in the calendar year and that the County Service Company had a 38% increase in the volume of products handled; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Bureau President C.M. Smith in subsequent years, the Woodford County Farm Bureau played an integral role in the eradication of tuberculosis in local cattle, the permeation of pest control programs, the provision of credit facilities for member farms, cooperative initiatives for the production of agricultural products, and the expansion of Bureau facilities in the region; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of the 1950s and 1960s, the Woodford County Farm Bureau continued initiatives to cement a reputation for quality agricultural products and livestock, while investing in the community through expansion of the Farm Bureau Park in Eureka; and

WHEREAS, The Woodford County Farm Bureau has worked closely with the Illinois congressional delegation, State of Illinois officials, municipal and township governments, and the University of Illinois on matters of agricultural policy and research; and

WHEREAS, While the Woodford County Farm Bureau prepares for its centennial celebration, the Bureau is stronger than ever with significant commitments to farming households and agricultural education through classroom presentations, local 4-H programs, scholarships for higher education, and its Young Leader program; and

WHEREAS, The Woodford County Farm Bureau currently boasts over 4,000 active members in the cooperative; the organization is led by President Denny Pfanz, Vice President Dick Moritz, Secretary Kent Hodel, Treasurer Craig Moritz, and Directors Troy White, Sean Arians, Dennis Gibbs, Wayne Blunier, Dale Wyss, Loren Zimmerman, Daryl Hodel, Janet Hodel, and Ralph Noe; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the Woodford County Farm Bureau on the occasion of the organization's 100th anniversary and commend the Woodford County Farm Bureau family's vision, dedication, and hard work throughout the years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Woodford County Farm Bureau as an expression of our esteem.