[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DOMINIC LaJOIE

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Dominic LaJoie 
of Van Buren, ME, who was recently named as National Potato Council, 
NPC, president for 2021. The National Potato Council is a grower-led 
organization managed by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors, 
which oversees its operations and provides guidance on its policy 
activities. It does not surprise me that Dominic LaJoie was chosen as 
the 2021 president to lead the council's Executive Committee because 
Dominic epitomizes the qualities that are needed to bring State potato 
grower organizations together at the national level. He has a proven 
history of promoting collaboration and respectful, healthy debate to 
further best practices and innovation in agriculture for years. Dominic 
has also served on the Maine Potato Board and has been a long standing 
and active participant of the National Potato Council in previous years 
including serving on the Trade Committee and as first vice president 
and vice president of the Environmental Affairs Committee.
  But those are the only the highlights of one well-deserved 
appointment. What truly makes Dominic stand out is his heart for 
farming, for his family and for his community all while stepping up to 
serve in a national seat. Dominic and his family are fourth generation 
potato farmers. He is so humble and proud to work with his brother and 
nephew, along with the support of their wives and children, on the land 
that was farmed by their parents and their grandparents before them. 
Dominic's work ethic and character have shone through throughout his 
career as a farmer, but never one to just sit idle, their farm 
diversified and added grain and root vegetables, and they have worked 
to carve out new niche products in the natural snacks and health food 
markets. He is active in many civic activities and in his church, and 
when given a chance to speak of his wife and four children, his already 
genuine and wide smile broadens even further with an acknowledgment of 
his blessings.
  I was pleased to tour their farm in Van Buren a couple of years ago 
and learned directly about their farm: the innovations and value added 
products; their focus on precision farming and efficiencies to enhance 
the productivity of their legacy farm and stewardship of the land they 
grew up on. Upon one of Dominic's awards received in recent years, he 
was asked if he had advice to those who are considering taking up 
farming, and he replied ``Never give up, be open-minded and embrace 
change, take chances.'' It was immediately clear to me that Dominic's 
successes through attention to detail, sound business practices, and a 
true commitment to the future of agriculture was what brought him to be 
nominated and appointed as president of the National Potato Council for 
2021.
  I would like to recognize and thank Dominic for his ongoing 
commitment to upholding the legacy of potato growers in our State and 
this country. I cannot speak highly enough of Dominic and look forward 
to his service as the president of the National Potato Council 
Executive Committee.

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