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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Jim and Nancy Reynolds on
4owning and operating the 157-acres Freedom Hill Farms near
5Watseka for more than three decades; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jim Reynolds has worked as a college professor at
7Eastern Illinois University and as a high school math and
8physics teacher; under Governor Edgar, he served as the
9Director of Fairs and Promotions for the Illinois Department of
10Agriculture; however, he has always been enthusiastic about
11standardbred horse racing; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Jim Reynolds was first introduced to horses in the
13second grade, when he was given his first pony; his interest
14remained throughout high school, and he spent time riding bulls
15as an amateur rodeo performer; he later became a driver and
16piloted more than 250 horses to the winner's circle; in 1979,
17he was granted a year's leave of absence from Eastern, and he
18and Nancy purchased the farm; along with their two children,
19Keith and Kristopher, the pair has raised countless harness
20horses, many of which have competed in races across the
21country; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Jim Reynolds was also successful as a trainer,

 

 

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1especially with the filly, Street Dancer, who earned more than
2$860,000 in her career; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In recent years, Jim Reynolds has moved more into
4breeding, and Freedom Hills has grown into one of the largest
5breeding farms in the State of Illinois; the farm houses 38
6mares and 25 foals; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Jim Reynolds is active in his local community as
8well; he has served on the board of the Iroquois County
9Community Unit School District and was elected Director of the
10U.S. Trotting Association District 5 (Illinois) in 2010;
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we congratulate Jim and Nancy Reynolds on their successes with
15Freedom Hill Farms, and we admire their hard work and
16dedication; we wish them many more successful years; and be it
17further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to Jim and Nancy Reynolds as an expression of our
20esteem and respect.