[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO BOB HITZHUSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2003

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a long and 
exceptionally distinguished career at the Missouri Farm Bureau will 
soon come to an end. Mr. Bob Hitzhusen has announced his retirement 
after 25 years of service to the farmers of Missouri.
  Bob launched his professional agriculture career after graduating 
with a degree in Agriculture Economics from Iowa State University. 
After serving as an admissions counselor at Iowa State for two years, 
he joined the legislative staff of Congressman Wiley Mayne in 1975, 
serving in Congressman Mayne's Washington, DC office.
  Bob joined the staff of the American Farm Bureau in 1975 as a full-
time lobbyist, starting his career with the Farm Bureau. In his 
position as lobbyist, he worked with several congressional delegations 
and followed key agricultural issues.
  Bob joined the Missouri Farm Bureau staff as Director of National 
Legislative Programs in 1978. In this position, he was responsible for 
Farm Bureau's policy development program and was actively involved in 
lobbying for Farm Bureau members on state and national levels. He has 
played an active role in every major farm program re-write since the 
1973 Farm Bill. In addition, he has been actively involved in 
international trade legislation, including organizing agricultural 
support for the North American Trade Agreement and the GATT 
implementing legislation. He also worked to implement meaningful 
Missouri River policy that would benefit Missouri's agriculture 
producers, including work to provide a better levee system and work to 
ensure the Missouri River Master Manual fully represents the interest 
of the Show Me State.
  In 1996, Bob was appointed Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate 
Secretary for the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation and Affiliated 
Companies. In addition to his administrative duties, he has continued 
to serve as an active lobbyist for the farm organization on state and 
national issues.
  Due to his exceptional service to the Missouri Farm Bureau and 
agricultural programs, Bob has been singled out as a leader in 
agriculture. He was chosen to participate in the European Community's 
visitors program, where he spent three weeks studying agricultural 
policy in Europe. He was also awarded a partnership award by the USDA 
soil and water conservation programs in Missouri.
  As Bob Hitzhusen prepares to spend more time with his family, his 
wife Verlee and his sons Paul and Mark, I know the members of the House 
will join me in expressing appreciation for his dedication to 
Missouri's agriculture community and to the Missouri Farm Bureau.

                          ____________________