[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 75 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF MS. JULIE WILLIAMSON

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                          HON. DAVID D. PHELPS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2000

  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize one my district's 
finest teachers, Ms. Julie Williamson. A first grade teacher at the 
Pioneer School in Neoga, IL, Ms. Williamson recently received the award 
for ``Illinois Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year'' by the 
Illinois Farm Bureau. She was chosen as the recipient from a group of 
more than 1000 Illinois teachers.
  Ms. Williamson's method of teaching allows students to learn about 
and appreciate the benefits of agriculture. She teaches her students 
where the products come from and how the products reach them in their 
everyday lives. She wants children to understand the connection between 
the farm and the table. Ms. Williamson believes that people need to 
understand where their food originates in order to be more appreciative 
of the people who supply it. Some of the activities that she brings 
into her classroom are: bread making, field trips to local farms and 
orchards, and honey-making with live bees. Ms. Williamson's next step 
will be to attend the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Ag in the 
Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I say congratulations to Ms. Julie 
Williamson on her excellent accomplishment. Due to her dedication to 
her students and community, it is clear that Ms. Williamson is an asset 
to Illinois and the educational system.

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