[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 24 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MADISON COUNTY, IDAHO

  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, my colleague Senator Mike Crapo joins me 
today in recognizing Madison County's 100-year anniversary.
  Established on February 18, 1913, by the Idaho legislature and named 
after our Nation's fourth President, James Madison, Madison County has 
distinguished itself in its contributions to the success of our State.
  Five people with connections to Madison County went on to become 
Governors in the States of Idaho, Michigan, Kansas, and Massachusetts. 
Two people from the county served in Congress, representing Idaho and 
Utah. And one man went on to serve as Idaho's Lieutenant Governor, my 
good friend, Mark Ricks, who served with me during my time as Governor.
  The people of this county distinguished themselves for helping their 
neighbors and strangers when the Teton Dam collapsed on June 5, 1976. 
The ensuing flood spread throughout the valley, uprooting farms and 
homes. Due to the resiliency of the residents and people helping one 
another, they quickly overcame the disaster and carried on with their 
lives.
  Madison County has a rich agricultural history, with the first 
irrigation system in the State built in this county. It is home to 21 
different century farms; places that have been continuously farmed by 
the same family for 100 or more years. The rich, fertile soil and 
abundant water has made the county the eighth largest potato growing 
area in the Nation, along with an abundance of grain, livestock, and 
other commodities.
  In the county seat of Rexburg, you will find Idaho's second largest 
university, Brigham Young University-Idaho, formerly known as Ricks 
College. Citizens of the county, and throughout the region, for that 
matter, are very proud of this university and the tremendous growth it 
has experienced. They are also proud of the 95 percent graduation rate 
in their local high schools and at the university.
  Rexburg and BYU-Idaho is also home to the Idaho International Dance 
Festival. For 27 years, the festival has brought hundreds of dancers 
and musicians from around the world to share their native music, songs, 
dance, and dress. Madison County residents strongly support the 
festival and are proud of the rich history of this event.
  Madison County also has an abundance of natural features, including 
the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the Cartier Slough and Deer Park 
wildlife management areas, and the twin Menan Buttes.
  Senator Crapo and I are proud to recognize this landmark anniversary. 
We congratulate Madison County residents for this centennial and we 
wish them all and their communities many more years of success.

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