[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 30709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING RALEIGH WILKERSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2007

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to honor the long and distinguished career of Raleigh Wilkerson, 
on the occasion of his retirement from the Alabama Farmers Federation.
  With a career spanning over 33 years, Raleigh served in almost every 
capacity at the Alabama Farmers Federation. Raleigh joined the 
Federation in May 1974 as a field representative for a nine-county 
region of the Black Belt. He was named director of the beef division 5 
years later and has overseen the cotton; meat, goat and sheep; and hay 
and forage divisions.
  In his first year as director of the beef division, Raleigh initiated 
the annual Beef Tour, which continues to remain popular with Alabama's 
cattle producers. As beef director, he headed a beef marketing 
program--a highly successful program that in 1 year helped ship about 
$30 million worth of Alabama cattle to 19 different States. Even though 
the marketing program has been phased out, the relationships 
established with other States are still paying dividends today.
  As director of the cotton division, he helped bring the Boll Weevil 
Eradication Project to Alabama. Because he missed the personal 
interaction with farmers throughout the State, Raleigh surrendered his 
position with the Commodity Division in 2003 to return to the field as 
area organization director. Last year, Raleigh was named president of 
the newly formed Alabama Youth Agricultural Foundation, an organization 
that seeks to serve as a perennial source of funding for helping 
Alabama youth in agriculture. Raleigh has graciously agreed to continue 
to serve in this capacity until it is more established.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a 
dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. I 
know his family, his wife, Nancy; their daughters, Allison McCain and 
Avery Beatty; his many friends; Alabama farmers, and past and present 
Alabama Farmers Federation employees join me in praising his 
accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on 
behalf of the city of Camden and the State of Alabama.
  Raleigh will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend 
with family and loved ones. On behalf of a grateful community, I wish 
him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

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