[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING BOB AND SHARON BLANCHARD OF DADE CITY, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a 
husband and wife from Dade City, Florida who were recently awarded the 
prestigious 1000 Friends of Florida Award. Bob and Sharon Blanchard are 
the owners of a two thousand plus acre working ranch in the heart of 
Pasco County. In addition to breeding horses and cattle and hosting an 
annual steeplechase event, the Blanchards have taken the extra step to 
provide environmentally sensitive stewardship of their ranch.
  Little Everglades Ranch has been reforested and is a conservation 
easement, assuring it will be protected from development. The 
Blanchards have also taken leadership roles in the Coalition to Protect 
Our Water Resources.
  During his acceptance of the award, Bob Blanchard said that after his 
retirement, he was wondering what to do with the rest of his life. He 
credits his wife for being the driving force behind their efforts to 
make waves for the good of the community.
  1000 Friends of Florida promotes healthy urban and natural places by 
wise management of growth and change. 1000 Friends of Florida helps 
citizens have the technical knowledge and access needed to ensure that 
public and private decisions lead to livable communities.
  Mr. Speaker, environmentally engaged citizens like the Blanchards are 
to be commended for not only maintaining a working ranch in the midst 
of a growing suburban region of Florida, but for also doing so in a way 
that protects our fragile ecosystem. I Applaud the Blanchards on 
earning the 1000 Friends of Florida award and wish them the best of 
luck in their future endeavors.

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