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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Derek and Renee Martin of
4Mount Pulaski on being named national winners at the 63rd
5Annual National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress,
6which was held February 7-10 in Bettendorf, Iowa; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The National Outstanding Young Farmers program is
8the oldest farmer-recognition program in the United States and
9selected its first group of national winners in 1955; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The program is sponsored by John Deere,
11administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America, and
12supported by the National Association of County Agricultural
13Agents and the U.S. Jaycees; and
 
14    WHEREAS, From a group of ten finalists, four national
15winners were selected for the award based on their progress in
16an agricultural career, extent of soil and water conservation
17practices, and contributions to the well-being of the
18community, state, and nation; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The family farm of Derek Martin began in 1827 with
20a man he describes as "a pioneer citizen that farmed with
21decided strength of character and rigid honesty of deeds and

 

 

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1words, who was not afraid to work"; these characteristics have
2been passed down the Martin family line throughout the last 200
3years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, As a seventh-generation farmer, Derek continues
5the family's commitment to conservation, as his father began
6no-tilling in 1983; Derek has expanded that practice to include
7cover crops on 50 percent of his 3,200 corn and soybean acres;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Derek and Renee Martin worked with an agronomist
10to develop a biological solution, applied in both the spring
11and the fall, that allows the soil ratios back into balance and
12improves the soil health, soil aggregation, water
13infiltration, and water-holding capacity; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Derek Martin earned a degree in farm and financial
15management from the University of Illinois; prior to beginning
16farming five years ago, he had a career managing grain
17elevators; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Renee Martin was a dental hygienist before their
19return to the family farm; she now stays home to help with the
20farming operation and also cares for their two sons, Dean and
21Reed; both of the Martins coach youth sports, and Derek is
22president of the township park district and the drainage

 

 

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1district; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we congratulate Derek and Renee Martin on being named one of
5four National Outstanding Young Farmers award winners; and be
6it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to Derek and Renee Martin as an expression of our
9esteem and respect.