[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 11 (Thursday, January 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF BERNARD ``BERNY'' BALKONIS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2015

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the retirement of 
Bernard ``Berny'' Frank Balkonis, Jr. Mr. Balkonis was Vice President 
of Sales for Prairie Estates Genetics of Middleton, Wisconsin. Mr. 
Balkonis' retirement at the end of 2014 marked the conclusion of a 40 
year career in the seed corn industry. The President of Prairie Estates 
Genetics, Ron Rogers, affirmed that Balkonis leaves a robust legacy as 
a fantastic mentor to forage managers and a valued member of the 
Prairie Estates Genetics team.
   Mr. Balkonis graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 
1975, working on dairy farms in the summer and during holiday breaks to 
make his way through school. After graduation and marriage to his high 
school sweetheart, Mr. Balkonis was recruited by Farm Supply 
(Growmark), and managed a store location in northern Illinois for five 
years. After his time with Farm Supply, he then joined PAG Seeds, a 
division of Cargill. During his time with PAG Seeds, Mr. Balkonis 
worked as a territory manager in southwest Michigan. After PAG Seeds, 
Paymaster, and Cargill combined to create Cargill Hybrid Seeds, 
Balkonis was moved to northern Michigan, where he became both territory 
manager and assistant district manager. While located throughout 
Michigan, Mr. Balkonis and his wife welcomed three sons into the world.
   In 1992, Mr. Balkonis was promoted within Cargill Hybrid Seeds to 
area manager for the eastern United States. Then, in 1996, Mr. Balkonis 
assumed the position of area manager for the states of Minnesota, 
Wisconsin and Illinois and moved his family to Holmen, Wisconsin. In 
2000, when Cargill Hybrid Seeds sold to Dow (becoming the entity 
Mycogen), Mr. Balkonis remained on as area manager. After his time as 
area manager with Mycogen, Mr. Balkonis took on the responsibilities of 
VP of Sales for Prairie Estates Genetics, where he would spend the rest 
of his career and begin the transition to the new role of grandparent 
with the birth of his first grandson Efraim.
   Mr. Balkonis will retire with his wife of 40 years, Claudia, in 
Trempealeau, Wisconsin, just 10 miles north of Holmen where they raised 
their three sons, Adam, Scott and Wade. I wish to extend the best of 
wishes to Berny as he steps into retirement and that next great 
adventure.

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