[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO C. BOOTH WALLENTINE

 Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I give tribute to my dear friend C. 
Booth Wallentine, who, just days ago, began a very well earned 
retirement after serving for 41 years in the Farm Bureau. Thirty-one of 
those years he served as the executive director of the Utah Farm 
Bureau.
  Booth is an institution in my State, and I have to say that when 
agriculture issues come up, my first question often is, ``What's 
Booth's take on this?'' Even on rare occasions when we have disagreed 
on an issue, I found it valuable to understand his perspective. As far 
as I am concerned, nobody knows agriculture in Utah like Booth 
Wallentine, and I dare say that no state Farm Bureau director knows 
Congress and the legislative process like Booth Wallentine, either.
  This combination of expertise in the substance and in the process of 
agriculture policy-making has helped to set Booth apart as a highly 
effective advocate on behalf of Utah agriculture interests. It has also 
helped him to provide service in various other ways. He served as vice 
chairman of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce as well as chairman of 
the board of Utah State University. Remarkably, both institutions 
awarded him their respective distinguished service awards. He also 
served as the president of the Utah Council on Economic Education and 
chaired the Utah Farm Service Agency Committee on Risk Management. 
Somehow he found the time to help establish the National Mormon Pioneer 
Trail Foundation and was asked to chair the Department of the 
Interior's Historic Trail Commission.
  But wait a minute, there's more. Booth Wallentine was Utah State 
University's very first inductee in their Agriculture Hall of Fame, he 
was named the Future Farmers of America Farm Leader of the Year, a 
Friend of the Cattlemen, a Friend of Utah Wool Growers, and he earned 
the Utah State Extension Leadership Award. Booth was also officially 
recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for his environmental 
leadership in helping farmers to improve Utah's water quality.
  I should point out that this is not a complete list, but it serves to 
make the point that Booth Wallentine is a great American. He has helped 
Utah in so many ways.
  I know that I will miss him dearly, but I gain some comfort knowing 
that while he goes into retirement, we continue to benefit from the 
wisdom he shared with us and the legacy he has left. I thank my friend, 
Booth Wallentine for serving so long and so well. I pray that the Lord 
will bless him and his sweet wife, Raeda, in their retirement.

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