[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DAVID BECK

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today it is my privilege to recognize a 
prominent member of Kentucky's agricultural community, David Beck. 
During his four decades with the Kentucky Farm Bureau, KFB, David has 
been an effective advocate for our farm families and rural communities. 
Now, after great success with KFB, he has decided to leave the bureau 
for a new challenge. David has accepted the role of president and CEO 
of Kentucky Venues, an organization responsible for many of the 
Commonwealth's most beloved traditions like the annual State fair.
  Graduating from Murray State University in Calloway County with a 
degree in agriculture, David set out to dedicate his career to 
promoting farm communities in Kentucky. Since joining KFB in 1977 as a 
field service director in Central Kentucky, David has worn a lot of 
hats within the organization. Advocating in Frankfort and in Washington 
and working to implement KFB programs at all levels, he has also done a 
lot of good.
  In my work on the Senate Agriculture Committee, David has provided me 
with many valuable insights helping me better represent Kentucky farm 
families. Through multiple fly-ins and Farm Bills, we worked closely to 
develop policy to help support our agriculture communities. I would 
like to note one important project in particular we collaborated on: 
the 2004 Tobacco buyout. This landmark legislation not only reoriented 
our Depression-era Federal tobacco program toward the free market, but 
it also provided much-needed relief to some of the hardest hit farming 
communities in our State. With David's assistance, I championed this 
major legislation and worked with my colleagues in Congress to bring it 
to the President's desk.
  In his role as KFB executive vice president, David has time and again 
proven his leadership to benefit the organization's members and farmers 
throughout the country. Through seminars, conferences, and workshops he 
led with the American Farm Bureau Federation, AFBF, David helped build 
the farm economy nationwide. One clear measure of his success is the 
growth in our Nation's farm communities during David's time advocating 
for American agriculture. The AFBF cites a growth of more than 3 
million member families across the Nation in the last four decades. He 
has led a remarkable career and has so much to be proud of.
  David's dedication to the Commonwealth has extended beyond the farm, 
helping families throughout Kentucky thrive. His work with our State's 
council on postsecondary education has helped students gain the skills 
they need to succeed in the workforce. By serving in leadership roles 
for the Kentuckians for Better Transportation, David helped encourage 
economic development with a safe and reliable infrastructure network. 
His passion for service runs deep, and David's experience continues to 
be an asset to the Commonwealth.
  On behalf of the many men and women from our home State who have 
benefited from his leadership, I would like to express our gratitude to 
David for his career at the KFB. As he leaves the bureau to take the 
next steps in his career, I wish him the best and look forward to his 
great accomplishments to come.

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