[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 83 (Thursday, June 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING MINNESOTA'S SIXTH DISTRICT 2009 CENTURY FARM FAMILIES

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                         HON. MICHELE BACHMANN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 2009

  Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sixth 
District farms that have been recognized as 2009 Century Farms by the 
Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau. Being a Century 
Farm is no easy task. Farms must be at least 50 acres and stay in a 
continuous family ownership for 10 years. Since the program began in 
1976, more than 8,700 Minnesota farms and families have been named a 
``century farm.'' As the family farming tradition that made America 
strong is encroached upon by development and urbanization, this 
designation becomes an even more significant accomplishment. It is my 
honor to recognize these farms before this Congress today.
  America was founded as an agricultural nation full of hope and 
promise for bountiful harvests year after year. The families that 
tilled the first soil on Minnesota's golden plains instilled a work 
ethic that today's farmers still follow. Two hundred years ago it was 
not uncommon to have three or even four generations involved with a 
single farm at any given time. Between sowing and harvest, feeding 
livestock and maintaining equipment and buildings, farm life was a full 
time job for entire families. But as the times have changed, to see one 
family still taking care of the land and homes their parents worked on 
and lived in is a great a joy. In fact, I can recall the time that I 
spent living and working on my in-laws' dairy farm in Wisconsin--a farm 
that my mother-in-law and brothers-in-law still call home.
  I rise, Madam Speaker, to honor these families and the past 
generations that have made this accomplishment possible:
  Corrigan family of Foley, since 1909.
  Magnuson family of Foley, since 1909.
  Burggraff family of Royalton, since 1898.
  Bernard J. and Natalie Niewind of Eden Valley, since 1909.
  Leilani Rolfes of Freeport, since 1883.
  Brothers Andrew and Richard Holdvogt of Melrose, since 1907.
  Kenneth Schaefer family of Melrose, since 1897.
  Harvey and Marilyn Lieser of Paynesville, since 1892.
  James A. Moores of Monticello, since 1903.

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