[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11158]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE AGRICULTURE FUTURE OF AMERICA ON ITS 10TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Agriculture Future of America, AFA, on its 10-year anniversary. AFA was 
founded by R. Crosby Kemper, Jr., to encourage and support college 
students who are preparing for careers in agriculture.
  AFA is forming the future of agriculture by preparing the industry's 
future leaders today. This organization more than any other I know of 
gives young professionals access to industry leaders and training from 
professional corporate consultants while they are still in college. In 
just 10 years, the organization and its members have established an 
outstanding reputation in the agriculture industry. AFA members can be 
found in respected positions throughout agriculture and the business 
world. They are recognized by companies as reliable, effective leaders 
who can meet the challenges posed by an ever-changing economy.
  R. Crosby Kemper, Jr., recognizes the potential of college students 
coming from rural America especially when coupled with opportunity they 
otherwise might not have. Mr. Kemper founded AFA with the vision to 
create an organization that would catalyze further development of these 
young adults on a professional level. As I travel around Missouri and 
to other areas, I see that our farmers are aging. We need effective 
young professionals to be prepared to take over the reins. AFA creates 
a professional network that respects individuals and promotes lifelong 
learning as well as building of lifelong alliances.
  As I have said so many times before, Americans enjoy the safest, most 
affordable and most abundant food supply of any country in the world. 
That is due to the efforts of farmers in Missouri and across the 
Midwest. AFA is producing leaders who will help us maintain this 
position as a world leader in production agriculture.
  I want to thank the leaders of AFA and its members for their 
commitment to agriculture. They understand why it is important we 
continue to support this vital industry. The U.S. food system is the 
largest industry in the U.S. and is the leading export sector of our 
economy. Few things are as important to America's future as the health 
and safety of our food system.
  Agriculture is also one of the leading industries in Missouri; more 
than 14,000 jobs are directly created by agriculture. This number 
doesn't even include the thousands of jobs supporting this industry. 
Thankfully, AFA is there to help men and women who are interested in 
agriculture realize their potential in an exciting and vital industry.
  Congratulations to AFA members and leadership on this landmark 
occasion. I look forward to working with you as an organization and as 
agriculture leaders in the future.

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