[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20371]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF JOHN STENCEL

 Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, today I honor John Stencel, who 
will soon retire as president of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. John 
has been a tireless advocate for rural America, and he can retire with 
the comfort that he has profoundly influenced an entire generation of 
farmers and ranchers in Colorado and across the Nation.
  For almost 50 years John has worked with the Rocky Mountain Farmers 
Union, during which time he has served as a steady and pragmatic 
compass. He early on saw the benefits of cooperatives so that small 
farmers could add significant value to their products. He has embraced 
the potential of biobased fuels as an innovative pathway to power 
production and transportation fuel needs. He has recognized that 
responsible stewardship of the land should be a top priority for 
farmers and ranchers, as clean water, energy conservation, and 
biodiversity all enhance our society.
  John is a tireless advocate for the future sustainability of the 
rural way of life. His leadership has shaped the next generation of 
rural citizens, serving as the president of Colorado 4-H Foundation, 
vice president of the Colorado Future Farmers of America, and as a 
board member of the Colorado State University Board of Agriculture. His 
leadership in these organizations ensures that the traits that have 
characterized him, that of perseverance, dedication, and moral fiber, 
will manifest themselves in future generations of agricultural 
leadership.
  However, my deep respect for John Stencel isn't only based on his 
involvement with these organizations; it is based on the common values 
that underlie those efforts and have driven his policies and agendas. 
My respect is based on his commitment to sustain and strengthen family 
farm and ranch agriculture, and to preserve the rural way of life we 
know and love. These values are embodied by John Stencel.
  John has been an influential and indispensable guide, and though he 
is retiring from his service to the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, I 
take comfort in the longevity of our friendship and his steadfast 
leadership for rural America, and I wish him nothing but the 
best.

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