[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EASTERN WASHINGTON HONORS RETIRING WASHINGTON FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT 
                              STEVE APPEL

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2011

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 
extraordinary career of one of Eastern Washington's most exemplary 
leaders, Mr. Steve Appel. After devoting over 37 years of service to 
the Farm Bureau--the last 17 of which have been as Washington Farm 
Bureau's esteemed President--Steve has decided to retire. His career 
comes to an end with a long list of distinguished accomplishments and a 
record of success for the state of Washington.
  As a third-generation family farmer, Steve grew wheat and barley in 
southeast Washington state and worked for decades to promote U.S. 
agriculture interests at home and abroad. A Washington State University 
alumnus, Steve leaves behind a distinguished career in Washington's 
agriculture community.
  Steve was elected as Washington Farm Bureau president in 1994 and 
represents the longest-serving state President in the organization's 
history. His vision for the organization's growth was tremendous. In 
fact, in just the last five years, the Bureau experienced an 85 percent 
increase in membership alone. Under his leadership, Washington Farm 
Bureau pioneered the first-ever association health plan and industrial 
insurance safety and health program, which provide health insurance to 
rural Washingtonians in areas where such services were previously 
unavailable.
  In addition to serving as the Bureau's President, Steve served as 
Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation--the world's 
largest general agriculture organization with over six million 
members--from 2001 through 2007. As the Pacific Northwest's first 
farmer to serve as an officer in the AFBF, he directed and implemented 
the organization's grassroots development process. Steve has also 
served on the Whitman County Planning Commission, Whitman County Soil 
Conservation Board, and the Eastern Washington Advisory Committee for 
the Washington Policy Center.
  But his leadership extends far beyond his elected and appointed 
positions. He has testified on many congressional committees and 
remains extremely engaged in domestic and international trade issues. 
In his capacity as chairman of AFBF's trade advisory committee, Steve 
partook in a trade mission to Cuba and Mexico to advocate for advanced 
trade opportunities between the United States and Latin America.
  While Steve is retiring as President of the Washington Farm Bureau, 
he will continue to serve as a vocal leader and member of the WFB 
Health Care Trust Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for 
Farm Bureau Bank. He leaves behind an indelible legacy in the 
agriculture community and will continue to play an instrumental role in 
the years to come.
  Steve has been more than just a leader for the Farm Bureau; he's been 
a model for the state of Washington. When asked how he managed his 
success, he often says, ``I live by something my dad said a lot: `You 
do the best job you know how to do and leave the rest to the man 
upstairs.' '' I congratulate Steve on his remarkable leadership and 
thank him for the profound differences he made--and will continue to 
make--in the state of Washington.

                          ____________________