[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1645-E1646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     STOKOE FARMS 200TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the Stokoe Family 
of Scottsville, New York. For 200 years, Stokoe Farms has thrived as a 
family farm, and grown to become an icon of Western New York.
  Thomas Stokoe founded Stokoe Farms in 1812, after immigrating to the 
United States from Nafferton, England. Thomas originally purchased 100 
acres on Bowerman Road in Scottsville. A year later, Thomas married 
Maria Romeyn and by 1859 Thomas and Maria had passed the growing family 
farm onto the next generation.
  Today, the 7th generation of Stokoe family members continues to 
operate Stokoe Farms. It has continued to grow over the years thanks to 
the hard work, commitment and dedication of the Stokoe family, and is 
now home to crops, livestock and agri-entertainment that draw 60,000 
visitors a year.
  Today's farm is sustained by the hard work and dedication of Dick, 
Greg, Kim, Jeff, Scott, Debra, Larry, Martha and Suzanne. Over the 
years, these family members have maintained the farming practices 
pioneered by Thomas 200 years ago. In order to ensure the long-term 
sustainability of the farm, the Stokoe family uses practices such as 
conservation tillage, integrated crop management, and minimal use of 
pesticides to ensure the farm grows for generations to come.
  Perhaps most notably, the Stokoe family brings the same dedication 
and devotion to their work in our Western New York community. When not 
on the farm, the Stokoe family has selflessly served on both school and 
town boards, and devoted themselves in service of their faith.
  Mr. Speaker, like our families, our nation is the product of work 
that has spanned generations. As the Stokoe family celebrates 200 years 
of family farming, they show our nation that it is the time-honored 
values of hard work, integrity and dedication to community and family 
that will sustain our nation, and Stokoe Farms, for another 200 years 
to come.

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