[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MR. JOHN STENCEL, PRESIDENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FARMERS 
                                 UNION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John 
Stencel, a tireless ally of rural America and the hardworking farmers 
and ranchers that call it home.
  Mr. Stencel was born and raised on a farm near Greeley, CO, and from 
the beginning his commitment to agriculture was clear. He was active in 
4-H, the Future Farmers of America, and the Farmers Union Youth 
Program. After graduating from Colorado State University in 1964 he 
began a career with the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). A few 
years later John served two years in the U.S. Army and was awarded the 
Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Service. After his return, John 
was elected RMFU President in 1970. His strong leadership abilities 
were repeatedly demonstrated during his 23 years as president, and in 
1993 President Bill Clinton appointed John as the Deputy Administrator 
for the Farm Service Agency in Colorado. He later worked in Washington, 
DC, at the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration as 
Special Assistant to the Administrator. John then returned to Colorado 
in 2000 and was once again elected president of the RMFU in 2001.
  Unbelievably, through all of this John Stencel also found the time to 
serve as the president of the Colorado 4-H Foundation, as the vice 
president of the Colorado Future Farmers of America Foundation, and as 
a member of the Colorado State University Board of Agriculture. His 
versatility, dedication, and uncharacteristic leadership are admirable.
  I remember sharing time with John on the road during a series of 
renewable energy tours throughout rural Colorado over the past couple 
years. I learned quickly of the remarkable ability of this man. Whether 
the topic was wind power and methane digesters or crop subsidies and 
cooperative development projects, his grasp of the issues was second-
to-none.
  Mr. Stencel's forward thinking policies and actions have set an 
example in the agriculture world. He acknowledges and promotes ideas 
that need to be brought to the attention of small and large farmers 
alike. His pending retirement will mark the end of an exceptional 
career, and finding a worthy successor will undoubtedly be difficult.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring John Stencel 
for his accomplishments, his dedication, and his legacy. Citizens of 
Colorado and the United States as a whole have benefited from this 
man's service, and we owe him our gratitude.

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