[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 48 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING LELAND A. STROM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RANDY HULTGREN

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 23, 2015

  Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Leland A. Strom for 
his completion of a distinguished tenure of service on the Board of the 
Farm Credit Administration.
  Leland Strom was nominated by the President of the United States and 
confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December of 2006 as a Member of the 
Board of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA). In May of 2008. 
President Bush designated Mr. Strom Chairman of the Board and Chief 
Executive Officer, an office he held until November of 2012. He 
recently became the longest serving FCA board member since the three 
board member structure was adopted in the mid 1980's.
  Mr. Strom has more than 35 years of professional experience in the 
agriculture industry, from production and finance to local food systems 
and agribusiness. Throughout his career he has promoted a strong 
agriculture industry in his home state of Illinois, the United States, 
and abroad. He has traveled extensively in a variety of capacities, 
with a focus on promoting sustainable food production, rural 
development, and growing markets. He has engaged in discussions with 
government officials in the United States and abroad, as well as 
business and finance leaders.
  During the period following the financial crisis of 2008, Mr. Strom 
was frequently engaged in discussions with members of Congress and 
senior officials of the United States Treasury and Department of 
Agriculture. His leadership of the oversight of the Farm Credit System, 
along with his extensive knowledge of the agriculture industry, proved 
invaluable during the extreme market volatility which occurred during 
the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
  In his various leadership roles, Mr. Strom has been a strong 
supporter of diversity and inclusion for women and minorities. During 
his tenure, the Farm Credit Administration issued a proposed rule to 
identify and broaden diversity and inclusion within the Farm Credit 
System. Under his leadership at the Agency, FCA earned a top five 
placing as a ``Best Places to Work in the Federal Government'' in the 
small agency category awarded by the Partnership for Public Service for 
2011.
  In his home state of Illinois. Mr. Strom worked closely with Kane 
County officials in helping develop a farmland preservation program, 
with his home farm being the first dedicated to permanent agriculture 
use. The County's Farmland Protection Program is the first and only 
funded county-based agricultural conservation easement program in 
Illinois.
  In 2011, for his efforts in protecting and managing the assets of 
America's agricultural industry, Mr. Strom was awarded an Honorary 
Doctor of Humane Letters from Northern Illinois University. A lifelong 
Republican. Lee has developed an excellent reputation as an individual 
who is willing to work across the aisle to find consensus in resolving 
difficult issues.
  In sum, Leland Strom's contributions to the agriculture industry 
through his service and leadership of the Farm Credit System, have 
helped to make today's agriculture, one of the strongest industries in 
the United States and the world.

                          ____________________