[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO BILL HOYT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and share with you 
and my colleagues the story of Mr. Bill Hoyt and his life-long efforts 
to support agriculture and ranching, which are so important to jobs and 
the economy in rural Oregon. Over the past two years, Bill has done a 
tremendous job serving as the president of the Oregon Cattlemen's 
Association. Later this week, Bill's term as president will come to an 
end. Before he hands over the reins I would like to pay tribute to his 
steadfast leadership.
  Prior to serving as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, 
Bill served as president of the Douglas County Livestock Association 
and as president of the Oregon Polled Hereford Association. On top of 
his duties with the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, he serves on the 
board of the Oregon Forage and Grassland Council and the National 
Cattlemen's Beef Association. In 2009, the Oregon Agribusiness Council 
recognized Bill's service to Oregon's agricultural and ranching 
community by presenting him with the 2009 Voice of the Industry award.
  During his tenure as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, 
Bill has worked to promote and protect the interests of ranchers 
throughout Oregon. Bill has made a concerted effort to engage the 
general public about issues facing ranchers. He has spent many hours 
and miles traveling to meetings with rotary clubs, chambers of commerce 
and the environmental community, telling the story of Oregon's cattle 
ranchers, whose $700 million industry provides jobs throughout rural 
Oregon. His efforts to educate the public and build relationships with 
other interested groups culminated in the passage of the Livestock 
Compensation and Wolf Co-Existence Act during Oregon's 2011 legislative 
session. This precedent-setting legislation goes beyond what other 
states have done to compensate producers for livestock loss by allowing 
local county-level authorities to address compensation for and 
deterrence of livestock losses.
  Bill was raised on a beef ranch in Montana. After high school, he 
earned degrees in both political science and education. Bill served his 
country in the U.S. Air Force for four years before moving on to teach 
high school history. In 1977, Bill began working as the operations 
manager for his family ranch in Montana. In 1979, Bill expanded the 
operation to include the ranch from his mother's family in Oregon. Bill 
and his wife Sharon now own and operate the Hawley Land and Cattle 
Company in Oregon with Bill's father and younger brother.
  The ranch that Bill operates has been in the family for 159 years and 
Bill makes an effort to implement cutting edge stewardship practices 
for forage and livestock production. Bill and Sharon have diversified 
their operation over the years and now raise sheep, goats and beef 
cattle and sell grass-fed lamb and beef direct to markets and top-rated 
restaurants in Oregon and Washington. Through changing techniques, 
diversification and advocacy on behalf of the industry he loves, Bill 
hopes that agriculture and the livestock industries will continue to 
flourish in Oregon 150 years from now.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Bill Hoyt, 
who has served so ably as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's 
Association.

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