[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 181 (Friday, December 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE RETIREMENT AND CAREER OF DOUG PETERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE 
                        MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2016

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor the 
career of Doug Peterson, who will retire from his position as President 
of the Minnesota Farmers Union on December 31, 2016. For more than two 
decades, Doug has served Minnesotans as an elected official and as 
leader of the state's largest nonprofit representing farmers and their 
families.
  As a member of the Minnesota State Legislature from 1990 to 2002, 
Representative Peterson protected the economic interests and quality of 
life of family farmers and rural communities. As a fellow legislator, 
it was an honor to serve with him for eight years and work closely with 
him on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and later on the 
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Committee. I 
witnessed first-hand the level of expertise and commitment he brought 
to his work. It is a privilege to continue to call him a friend and an 
ally on issues important to Minnesota's families.
  Beginning in 2002, Peterson became president of the Minnesota Farmers 
Union. Few people have had more of a positive and lasting impact on 
Minnesota agriculture policy. A fierce advocate for Minnesota's family 
farmers, he has worked tirelessly to shape and promote policies that 
protect their financial interests. His hard work on behalf of the 
farming community was most recently acknowledged when he was awarded 
with the 2016 Distinguished Friend of Extension by the University of 
Minnesota. His leadership as the head of the Minnesota Farmers Union 
and work with Extension has advanced family farming and helped ensure 
that farmers are provided with the tools they need on and off the farm 
to succeed,
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the distinguished career of 
Doug Peterson and his tremendous work on behalf of Minnesotans.

                          ____________________