Thanks Blake

Floor Speech

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Mr. LONG. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a great man and citizen of the Show Me state, Mr. Blake Hurst, as he celebrates his upcoming retirement. Since being elected the President of the Missouri Farm Bureau on December 7, 2010, Blake has helped strengthen the Bureau financially and grow its influence in Washington, D.C.

The Missouri Farm Bureau was founded as the first state Farm Bureau in the United States in 1915, and over the years, it has grown to include over 130,000 members. During his tenure, Blake was a strong advocate for Missouri's farmers. He will be leaving the Missouri Farm Bureau in a stronger position than when he came into office and has ensured the long-term success and influence of the organization.

Blake has been an active member of the Missouri Farm Bureau for much of his life, serving on the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee before becoming the statewide chairman and eventually serving on the state board of directors. For eight years, Hurst served is a district board member for the state of Missouri and seven years as the Vice President of the Bureau. Blake has earned a national reputation as a leader in agriculture policy. Over the years, Blake has written numerous pieces which have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The American, Weekly Standard, Wilson's Quarterly, Reader's Digest, Today's Farmer, and the Show Me magazine of Missouri Farm Bureau. Hurst continues to be an active member of his community, running a wholesale greenhouse business with his wife, Julie, daughter, Lee; and sons-in-law, Ryan Harms and Matt Schlueter.

I wish Blake the very best as he embarks on this new chapter of life, and I am grateful for his service to his community.

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