HR0194 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0194 LRB101 11520 ALS 57347 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Derek and Renee Martin of Mount Pulaski on being named national winners at the 63rd Annual National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress, which was held February 7-10 in Bettendorf, Iowa; and

WHEREAS, The National Outstanding Young Farmers program is the oldest farmer-recognition program in the United States and selected its first group of national winners in 1955; and

WHEREAS, The program is sponsored by John Deere, administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America, and supported by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and the U.S. Jaycees; and

WHEREAS, From a group of ten finalists, four national winners were selected for the award based on their progress in an agricultural career, extent of soil and water conservation practices, and contributions to the well-being of the community, state, and nation; and

WHEREAS, The family farm of Derek Martin began in 1827 with a man he describes as "a pioneer citizen that farmed with decided strength of character and rigid honesty of deeds and words, who was not afraid to work"; these characteristics have been passed down the Martin family line throughout the last 200 years; and

WHEREAS, As a seventh-generation farmer, Derek continues the family's commitment to conservation, as his father began no-tilling in 1983; Derek has expanded that practice to include cover crops on 50 percent of his 3,200 corn and soybean acres; and

WHEREAS, Derek and Renee Martin worked with an agronomist to develop a biological solution, applied in both the spring and the fall, that allows the soil ratios back into balance and improves the soil health, soil aggregation, water infiltration, and water-holding capacity; and

WHEREAS, Derek Martin earned a degree in farm and financial management from the University of Illinois; prior to beginning farming five years ago, he had a career managing grain elevators; and

WHEREAS, Renee Martin was a dental hygienist before their return to the family farm; she now stays home to help with the farming operation and also cares for their two sons, Dean and Reed; both of the Martins coach youth sports, and Derek is president of the township park district and the drainage district; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Derek and Renee Martin on being named one of four National Outstanding Young Farmers award winners; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Derek and Renee Martin as an expression of our esteem and respect.