[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E670-E671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING BEN BERLINGER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize Ben Berlinger of La Junta, Colorado. Ben has worked with the 
Natural Resource Conservation Service for over 25 years, and I would 
like to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and 
this nation.
  Ben started his job with Natural Resource Conservation Service in 
1975, becoming an area rangeland management specialist in 1981 when he 
moved to Eastern Colorado. He has served in La Junta for 14 years, 
working with his agency and local ranchers and agricultural producers 
to ensure good rangeland management and to develop and implement sound 
technology on grazing land resources. This year NRCS named Ben its 
rangeland

[[Page E671]]

Conservationist of the Year, one of two national awards presented by 
the agency. Ben was nominated for the award by co-workers and still 
attributes much of his success to them and to the ranchers with whom he 
works.
  Mr. Speaker, rangeland management is a significant challenge facing 
the West and Ben Berlinger has tackled that challenge head-on. He has 
done much to promote awareness of conservation issues and to promote 
good stewardship of Southeastern Colorado's grazing land. His 
dedication is an inspiration to others and an immense benefit to his 
community. I thank him for his efforts.

                          ____________________