[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MARGARET NACHTIGALL

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I wish to 
recognize and honor the service of Mrs. Margaret Edna Nachtigall upon 
her retirement as executive director of the South Dakota Stockgrowers 
Association.
  Margaret was born on May 18, 1937, to parents Leslie and Edna Coates, 
in Edgemont, SD. She grew up and spent her childhood on the family 
ranch near Burdock, SD, which instilled in her a strong work ethic and 
a love of animals, especially horses and cattle. This love for animals 
blossomed into volunteer work with community agricultural education and 
outreach through the 4-H program. She could often be found showing her 
calves and lambs at the Fall River County Fair in Edgemont and the 
Western Junior Livestock Show in Rapid City. Her love for horses 
eventually led her to compete in barrel racing and break-away roping. 
In 1955, she even ended up fifth in break-away roping at the National 
High School Finals.
  Margaret's insatiable drive for learning, combined with her love of 
animals, eventually led her into the world of cattle breeding and the 
role that nutrition plays in reproduction. By the time she began her 
work for the American Breeder Service her business had grown to the 
point that she was booked solid during breeding season. That work ethic 
and passion extends into everything Margaret does.
  Margaret's service to the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association spans 
many years and has had a significant impact on the association and its 
members. I have always valued Margaret's insight and input on a number 
of issues impacting agriculture. She has offered a very important voice 
on behalf of South Dakota Stockgrowers and agriculture producers over 
the years and her knowledge, expertise and advice have helped guide me 
and my staff when it comes to general agriculture, farm and ranch, and 
trade policy. Her work helped us to finally get a country-of-origin 
labeling law in place in the 2008 farm bill and she helped to lay the 
groundwork for the livestock competition rule currently pending with 
USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration, GIPSA.
  In addition to the valuable input and guidance she has given me over 
the years, she also served as an effective and well-liked leader of the 
Stockgrowers Association. As just one testament to Margaret's 
leadership, Larry Nelson, past president of the organization, has this 
to say about her: ``Margaret has been an asset to the South Dakota 
Stockgrowers Association as our Executive Director. Her strong work 
ethic and her commitment to the independent, family-owned ranches of 
South Dakota have shown through her work. I am grateful for her 
dedication to advancing the policies of the South Dakota Stockgrowers 
Association and her work to promote our livestock industry.''
  Margaret's life work on issues that concern cattle producers and 
their operations has been done because of an intense love for the 
ranching industry. It is because of the work of people like Margaret 
that the cattle and ranching industry continues to thrive and maintain 
its crucial role throughout South Dakota. I am proud to recognize and 
honor Margaret's retirement from the South Dakota Stockgrowers 
Association, and am delighted to join with her family and friends in 
congratulating her on this occasion.

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