[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 13017-13018]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO GENE HARDY

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, during Wyoming's State Fair, Senator 
Enzi and I will have the honor of inducting Gene Hardy into the Wyoming 
Agriculture Hall of Fame.
  Wyoming ranchers care for the land because it cares for them and 
their families. The Hardy Ranch tradition began in 1920 when Gene's 
father homesteaded in Converse County, WY. By the 1930s, the Hardy 
family was producing both cattle and sheep. Gene Hardy is a third 
generation rancher continuing the family business of multi-species 
livestock production. Additionally, he balances wildlife and energy 
production on the Hardy Ranch. Balancing the ranch's resources has led 
Gene to also be an industry leader in terms of multiple use land 
management.
  Mr. President, innovative is a word that describes Gene. He has 
organized his livestock operation to improve production utilizing land 
management through aerial monitoring. As a pilot, he has been flying 
planes for 50 years over the Hardy Ranch with the result being 
profitable livestock production and sustainable grazing. Furthermore, 
he has focused on innovation through superior genetics to produce 
quality livestock.
  Gene is committed to the livestock industry. He works tirelessly to 
help his fellow producers. Previously, Gene served as president of the 
Wyoming Wool Growers Association and on boards for the Wyoming Stock 
Growers Association. However, his involvement does not stop there. He 
is still actively involved in many local, State, and national 
agricultural organizations. Currently, Gene serves as the chairman of 
the American Sheep Industry Association's Predator Management 
Committee. Gene's dedication and leadership will help ensure the 
success of the industry for future generations of agriculturalists.
  As my friend Bryce Reece, executive-vice president of the Wyoming 
Wool Growers Association, remarked, ``We

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need a lot more Gene Hardy's in this world.''
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me and Senator Enzi in 
congratulating Gene Hardy, 2012 inductee into the Wyoming Agriculture 
Hall of Fame. Wyoming lands and livestock are better because of his 
service.

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