[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              EXCEPTIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN CONSERVATION

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 22, 1997

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two families 
in my district for their exceptional accomplishments in conservation of 
our resources. Harold and Virginia Schlenvogt are receiving the 
Menominee Conservation District's 1997 Conservation Farmers Award and 
Tom and Pat Schloegel are receiving the 1997 Conservation Forestry 
Award.
  Harold and Virginia Schlenvogt own and operate a farm that has been 
in their family since 1932. The Schlenvogt farm is typical of the farms 
in Menominee County. It is 280 acres, with 150 acres cleared. There is 
a milking herd of 50 Holsteins and a herd of 40 young stock. The barns, 
silos, and sheds were all built by Harold, and a new home stands next 
to the site of the original farm house.
  While the farm may be typical, the commitment of the Schlenvogt 
family to the task of farming and to community service is something 
special. In addition to full-time farming, Harold has served on many 
local boards and commissions, as well as church building and Sunday 
School boards. Harold and Virginia have passed along their strong 
family values. One son, Steve, has his own farm just down the road, and 
another son is serving the county as a member of the road commission.
  The Schlenvogt's are now planning to retire and enjoy their 3 
children and 10 grandchildren. While Menominee County still has some 
300 producing farms, we will truly miss Harold and Virginia's 
agricultural contributions.
  The second couple being honored for their conservation efforts is Tom 
and Pat Schloegel. The Schloegel's moved to Menominee in the mid 1960's 
to escape the pace and development of Chicago and to raise their family 
in God's country. One of their early investments was in a 280 acre 
parcel of property with many dilapidated old buildings and woods that 
were in need of sensible forestry management.
  Over the past 30 years, Tom, Pat, and their children have harvested 
wood from the property and planted thousands of trees as part of the 
Forest Stewardship Program. When the Schloegel's four boys were in 
school, Tom sent saplings to their classes on Arbor Day to encourage an 
early education of the importance of forest stewardship in our youth. 
Tom and Pat's son Scott Schloegel is my chief of staff here in 
Washington and recalls many weekends spent with his family on the 
property working their garden, planting trees, and harvesting select 
trees that were marked for removal to allow healthy growth of the 
forest. Now every time Scott gets home to see his parents it includes a 
trip to ``the farm'' to monitor progress of the plantings and reminisce 
about the great times spent with the family over the years.
  The Schloegel's continue their efforts to encourage stewardship today 
by planting trees to honor their grandson, constructing ponds for 
wildlife and giving Global Relief shirts to their children which say 
``Cool the Globe, Plant a Tree'' on them.
  Mr. Speaker, it is because of families like the Schlenvogt's and the 
Schloegel's that we in northern Michigan are able to enjoy such a high 
quality of life. I thank them for their conservation efforts and 
congratulate them on receiving their awards from the Menominee 
Conservation District.

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