[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN RECOGNITION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAKAMATSU FARM

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                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2019

  Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th 
anniversary festival of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony. As 
staff, families, and community members gather to celebrate this 
momentous occasion, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing this outstanding historic landmark and all the Japanese 
cultural history it has represented over the past 150 years.
  Wakamatsu Farm was established by a Japanese colonist in California 
in June 1869. Today, the Wakamatsu Farm represents rich Japanese-
American history and is home to several organic farming projects and 
historic features. The Farm, now owned by the American River 
Conservancy, hosts two farming businesses that lease land and buildings 
on the property and provide sustainably grown produce and goods to the 
community.
  I have seen firsthand the incredible impact the Wakamatsu Farm has 
had on their surrounding community. For 150 years, the Wakamatsu Farm 
has built a community space that cultivates an appreciation for natural 
resources, sustainable agriculture, and cultural history. The 
volunteers and partners have helped preserve the land and create a 
beautiful space for visitors to learn about the Colony's roots.
  Madam Speaker, as the Wakamatsu Farm and the community it serves 
gather to celebrate the Farm's 150th anniversary, I ask all my 
colleagues to join me in honoring their commitment to the preservation 
of such a rich site for cultural history and to maintain a biologically 
diverse landscape for the benefit of the community.

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