[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO THE BRANDON BAUMAN FAMILY

 Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I congratulate the Brandon 
Bauman Family for being named the 2009 Northern Arkansas County Farm 
Family. The recognition comes in honor of the Baumans' efficiency of 
production, conservation of energy and resources, leadership in 
agriculture and community affairs, home and farm improvement, and home 
and farm management.
  Brandon and his wife Amy have two daughters, Caroline and Abigail. 
They farm 2,200 acres with rice, soybeans, wheat, and oats. I was 
pleased to help recognize the Baumans earlier this month during the 
70th Annual Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting and 
Banquet in Stuttgart.
  As a seventh-generation Arkansan and farmer's daughter, and as 
chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I understand firsthand 
and appreciate the hard work and contributions of our farm families. 
Agriculture is the backbone of Arkansas's economy, creating more than 
270,000 jobs in the state and providing $9.1 billion in wages and 
salaries. In total, agriculture contributes roughly $15.9 billion to 
the Arkansas economy each year.
  Our farm families are critical to our Nation's economic stability. 
Agriculture leads all U.S. product groupings with the largest trade 
surplus at $23 billion in fiscal year 2009, almost triple the next 
largest category of transportation products. We must work to continue 
the farm family tradition, so families such as the Baumans are able to 
maintain their livelihoods and continue to help provide the safe, 
abundant, and affordable food supply that feeds our own country and the 
world and that is essential to our own economic stability.
  I salute the Baumans and all Arkansas farm families for their hard 
work and dedication.

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