[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12646]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING SONYA JOHNSON

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Sonya Johnson 
of Fallon, NV, and congratulate her on receiving this year's Ag 
Advocate Award from the National Agriculture in the Classroom 
Organization. This award recognizes efforts to promote agriculture 
literacy in the classroom, and I am immensely proud that Sonya has been 
selected from a nationwide group of nominees to receive this 
prestigious award.
  As a mother of five daughters and past president of the Churchill 
County Farm Bureau, Sonya has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to 
education, volunteerism, and community service. For more than 30 years, 
she has given of her time by volunteering to educate Nevada's students 
about the importance of agriculture, as well as agriculture-related 
higher education and career opportunities that are available to them. 
Whether in a classroom, at a farm festival in Las Vegas, or at a 
community workshop, Sonya has helped countless Nevadans understand the 
critical role agriculture plays in our State and national heritage. Not 
only has she used creative methods in her educational efforts, but she 
also often reaches out to students in remote locations, including 
Indian reservations, and she has volunteered with children of mine 
workers as well. Her efforts were recognized in 2010 by the Nevada 
Agriculture Foundation, which named Sonya the Outstanding Nevada Ag in 
the Classroom Volunteer.
  Sonya's commitment to educating Nevadans about agriculture is truly 
admirable. She has made an invaluable investment in the lives and 
futures of Nevada's students. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
commending Sonya on this well-deserved recognition, and I thank her for 
her many efforts as a volunteer and educator.

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