[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF FARM CREDIT

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                               speech of

                            HON. JOHN KATKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 2016

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the centennial of 
the Farm Credit System.
  The Farm Credit System was established by Congress through the 
Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 which was signed into law by President 
Woodrow Wilson. Next month will mark the centennial of this vital 
network.
  I was pleased to cosponsor House Resolution 591, introduced by House 
Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Ranking Member Collin 
Peterson--commending the cooperative owners and employees of the Farm 
Credit System for their important contributions over the last century.
  Congress designed the Farm Credit System as a network of cooperatives 
that would be able to respond to the needs of farmers and rural 
communities.
  My district covers an important agricultural area in Central New 
York. The 24th District of New York is home to some of the most 
productive fruit, vegetable, dairy and diversified farms in the state. 
According to the census of agriculture, Cayuga County ranks second in 
the state and Wayne County ranks fifth in terms of the value of 
agricultural production. Farms in my district are served by Farm Credit 
East, which has over $4 billion in loan commitments to its nearly 9,000 
customers in New York.
  As part of its centennial celebration, Farm Credit sponsored the 
Fresh Perspectives program to identify 100 leaders that are making a 
difference in rural America. Leaders were nominated in 10 different 
categories. From the top 100 list, a top honoree in each category was 
selected. I'm proud to say that Christine Fesko, of Skaneateles, NY was 
selected as the top honoree in the category of Agriculture Education 
and Community Impact.
  In addition to running a 600 cow dairy farm with her family, Chris 
operates the Discovery Center where children, who wouldn't otherwise be 
able to see a working farm, can learn about agriculture. She has also 
produced a series of award-winning educational videos to teach children 
about agriculture and modern farming practices. She was elected to the 
Farm Credit East board of directors where she served from 2003 to 2016.
  As the Farm Credit System celebrates its centennial, I want to 
recognize farmers like Chris who have made this cooperative system 
strong as it begins its next 100 years.

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