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Moran named 2004 Wheat Leader of the Year
Western Kansas
Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran was named today as the 2004 Wheat Leader of the Year by the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee (WETEC), and U.S. Wheat Associates. The award is presented each year to one representative or senator who has gone beyond the call of duty on behalf of Wheat producers, and is the highest congressional honor bestowed by the Wheat organizations.
The award is scheduled for presentation at the North American Grain Congress, the combined annual convention of NAWG and the National Grain Sorghum Producers in February 2005 in Reno, Nev.
Moran represents the "Big 1st" District of Kansas, the fabled Wheat country of western Kansas, encompassing 69 counties and 53,275 square miles. A perennial champion of Wheat interests, Moran chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, which has jurisdiction over the commodity title of the farm bill and crop insurance, among other issues. With two of NAWG's priorities being disaster aid and improving the ability of crop insurance to handle successive years of drought, Congressman Moran has been ideally placed to be of service to Wheat growers--and he has delivered.
"Kansas is the Wheat state and I am proud of that title, of our heritage and of the hard work and dedication that Wheat producers across our country put into making sure that America has a safe, abundant food supply," Moran said. "While lower prices and drought have hurt the industry in recent years, it has not broken our spirit. When times get tough, the American farmer perseveres. I am proud to represent agriculture and am honored to be recognized with this award."
Moran also co-chairs the House half of the Congressional Grains Caucus with Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), a group formed to provide information to the Congress on grain-related issues. The Senate co-chairs of the caucus are Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Max Baucus (D-MT).
"We're very pleased to recognize Congressman Moran for his strong support of Wheat producers," said NAWG President Mark Gage. "He solicits our counsel on a number of important issues, and has been very helpful in moving items like disaster aid and hearings on crop insurance."
"I'm really pleased to have my Congressman recognized in this way," said NAWG Secretary-Treasurer John Thaemert of Sylvan Grove, Kansas. "We have a great relationship with Mr. Moran, and he's a terrific champion for wheat."
WETEC Chairman Lynn Blair, praised the nomination and said, "Congressman Moran is a relentless champion of policies to open markets around the world. He has introduced and supported legislation to open sanctioned markets such as Cuba. He is also appreciated by the U.S. Trade Representative's office as a strong advocate of fair and open trade for American agriculture."
The President of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Jerry McReynolds, said "We're extremely pleased and proud that Congressman Moran has been named the 2004 Wheat Leader of the Year. He has been a Wheat leader for Kansas producers and for farmers around the nation for a number of year." The Woodston, Kansas Wheat producer continued, "Jerry Moran has worked tirelessly for Wheat in many different fashions, and has taken leadership positions in working for disaster aid for the Wheat industry. He has supported our industry over a period of time and assisted in handling many issues, and not as just a one-time or occasional supporter." And, McReynolds said, "We applaud Congressman Jerry Moran of the 'Big 1st' District of Kansas as 2004 Wheat Leader of the Year."
Moran joins an elite group of past recipients of the Wheat Leader Award, including Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Congressman George Nethercutt (R-WA), Congressman Larry Combest (R-TX), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), and Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT).
Date: 11/22/04
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