[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 49 (Thursday, March 27, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO RAY ALLEN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have spoken many times on the Senate 
floor about Vermont's dedicated farming families. Today, I would like 
to recognize the contributions of a great Vermont farmer, at a time of 
transition, Ray Allen of Allenholm Farm in South Hero, VT.
  Ray has, since 1990, represented the University of Vermont as a 
delegate to the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, 
Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching, CARET. The 
APLU is a research, policy, and advocacy organization representing 235 
universities and public land grant institutions nationwide, and CARET 
advocates for greater national support and understanding of the land-
grant university system's food and agricultural research, extension, 
and teaching programs that enhance the quality of life for all people.
  Ray is the longest serving delegate nationally to the CARET and has 
made many significant contributions to the university extension 
component of the land grant mission. It is fitting, and should surprise 
no one that this seventh generation Vermont farmer has so truly served 
the land grant mission, considering that Ray's ancestors began farming 
in South Hero, VT in 1870, at about the same time that Vermont Senator 
Justin Morrill gained passage of his legislation creating the Land 
Grant College system.
  Allenholm Farm is the oldest continuously operating apple orchard in 
the State of Vermont, and over the years has grown to be a mainstay of 
our regional and State agricultural economy.
  In 1870, Ray Allen's great-grandfather purchased the current farm, 
marking the beginning of a family farming tradition on lovely Grand 
Isle, VT. Today, Ray and his wife Pam run the Allenholm Farm with the 
help of their children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren.
  The chain of islands running up the center of Lake Champlain was once 
home to more than 100 commercial apple orchards. Today there are fewer, 
but the Allen's have thrived through creativity. They have diversified 
the farm to include many new apple varieties, and they now produce and 
retail their own cider, ice cider, hard cider, applesauce, and more 
than 3,000 apple pies every year.
  Making great use of their location, which is within sight of New York 
and a few miles from the Canadian border, Ray and Pam have made the 
Allenholm Farm an international destination. Visitors can rent 
bicycles, stay the night at the Bed & Breakfast overlooking the 
orchards, buy maple syrup and maple creemies, and visit their petting 
zoo to meet Willie and Sassafrass, the famous kissing donkeys.
  The Allenholm Farm AppleFest attracts up to 25,000 visitors annually 
and has yielded a bountiful harvest for the entire local economy of the 
Champlain islands.
  Vermont's agricultural economy is thriving today as more and more of 
farmers follow Ray and Pam's formula: Focus on superb quality, create 
value-added products, build the Vermont brand, provide local food to 
local markets, and have fun doing it. For many visitors, Ray and Pam 
Allen are the face of farming.
  As Vermont's agricultural leaders are inclined to do, Ray has taken 
on many leadership roles in his local community, as well at the State 
and National level, all in addition to his decades of service to the 
Association of Public Land Grant Universities. He has served as town 
auditor, justice of the peace, a member of the school board and has 
been chief of the rescue squad since its inception in 1973. Ray's 
contributions to his alma mater, the University of Vermont, are too 
numerous to list completely here, but they include current or past 
membership on the boards of the College of Agriculture and Life 
Sciences, UVM Extension, and the Alumni Council. Ray's feats as a 
student track star are still the subject of legend now, 50 years later, 
and two annual track trophies bear his name.
  As a strong supporter of the land grant mission, I thank Ray Allen 
for his service to the Association of Public Land Grant Universities as 
a delegate to the Council of Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching. I am certain that Ray will be missed in this role but that he 
will continue to build on this record of accomplishment and public 
service in many other venues and that the seventh generation Allenholm 
Farm will continue to thrive under his leadership.
  Marcelle and I think of Ray and Pam as very special friends and 
cherished Vermonters.

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