Congressman
CHARLIE STENHOLM
17th District of Texas

STENHOLM HONORED BY AMERICAN FARM BUREAU

January 19, 2000

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has awarded Congressman Charlie Stenholm with its Golden Plow award in recognition of his many years of service to agriculture.

Stenholm received Golden Plow awards in 1988 and 1992, making this the first time any member of Congress has been honored three times by the Farm Bureau.

The award was presented to Stenholm by outgoing AFBF President Dean Kleckner who called Stenholm "a very special friend of agriculture" during his 11 terms in Congress. Texas Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman, who was just elected AFBF President, also participated in the award presentation in Houston at AFBF´s annual meeting.

A cotton and livestock producer, Stenholm was raised on his family´s farm in Jones County, Texas. He was elected to Congress in 1978 and has served on the House Agriculture Committee since taking the oath of office in 1979.

The AFBF expressed appreciation to Stenholm for his support of Farm Bureau policies and philosophies. "Rep. Stenholm is able to focus his efforts on expanding world trade, streamlining the agricultural bureaucracy, boosting research and promoting the needs of agriculture producers and consumers," Kleckner said.

Kleckner went on to commend Stenholm for helping to guide implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act as well as his leadership enacting crop insurance reform, increased farm payment limitations, mandatory price reporting, and disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers.

Initiated in 1988, the Golden Plow award is a congressional award program to recognize select members of Congress for their interest in agriculture-related issues.

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