[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 21903] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING MR. JOHN STENCEL, PRESIDENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FARMERS UNION ______ HON. MARK UDALL of colorado in the house of representatives Monday, November 13, 2006 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John Stencel, a tireless ally of rural America and the hardworking farmers and ranchers that call it home. Mr. Stencel was born and raised on a farm near Greeley, CO, and from the beginning his commitment to agriculture was clear. He was active in 4-H, the Future Farmers of America, and the Farmers Union Youth Program. After graduating from Colorado State University in 1964 he began a career with the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). A few years later John served two years in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Service. After his return, John was elected RMFU President in 1970. His strong leadership abilities were repeatedly demonstrated during his 23 years as president, and in 1993 President Bill Clinton appointed John as the Deputy Administrator for the Farm Service Agency in Colorado. He later worked in Washington, DC, at the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration as Special Assistant to the Administrator. John then returned to Colorado in 2000 and was once again elected president of the RMFU in 2001. Unbelievably, through all of this John Stencel also found the time to serve as the president of the Colorado 4-H Foundation, as the vice president of the Colorado Future Farmers of America Foundation, and as a member of the Colorado State University Board of Agriculture. His versatility, dedication, and uncharacteristic leadership are admirable. I remember sharing time with John on the road during a series of renewable energy tours throughout rural Colorado over the past couple years. I learned quickly of the remarkable ability of this man. Whether the topic was wind power and methane digesters or crop subsidies and cooperative development projects, his grasp of the issues was second- to-none. Mr. Stencel's forward thinking policies and actions have set an example in the agriculture world. He acknowledges and promotes ideas that need to be brought to the attention of small and large farmers alike. His pending retirement will mark the end of an exceptional career, and finding a worthy successor will undoubtedly be difficult. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring John Stencel for his accomplishments, his dedication, and his legacy. Citizens of Colorado and the United States as a whole have benefited from this man's service, and we owe him our gratitude. ____________________