Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages S5137-S5138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO JIM WILSON
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, each year, I come to the floor to
recognize someone from Wyoming whose commitment and service have made a
real and lasting difference to the State's agricultural community. This
year, I would like to tell you about Jim Wilson.
Many people know Jim as a rancher. Together with his wife Terry and
his daughter Billie Jo and her family, Jim raises high-quality Wyoming
beef in Hot Springs County. If you ask Jim, however, he will tell you
he works to grow better grass to grow better beef. Like his mother and
father, Willard and Maycle, before him, Jim and his wife have built a
thriving operation that sets the bar high for other Wyoming producers.
Most people know that Jim wears many other hats too. After developing
a strong herd of Saler-cross beef cattle, Jim went on to lead the
national breed association. He served for a decade on the Hot Springs
County Hospital Board, was part of the Wyoming Livestock board at a
pivotal time for the State, and has spent countless hours leading
meetings for local agricultural and conservation district groups. His
work has not gone unnoticed. The list of awards recognizing the Wilson
family and their incredible stewardship of Wyoming's precious natural
resources is long, and the awards are widely varied. Jim has spent his
life improving water, soil, forage, and genetics for the future.
Not all of the accolades, however, belong solely to Jim. For many
years, Jim has supported and mentored young people across the State to
learn, live, and grow in their agricultural pursuits. He has inspired
many and has watched them achieve great success. Like his father,
Willard, Jim volunteers to judge at county fairs and encourages young
producers to be engaged in State associations. Put simply, Jim is a
mentor who leads by example.
When he served as president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association,
Jim kept his sights set firmly on the future. As the association
approached its 150-year anniversary, Jim knew the association would
soon be in the hands of the next generation of producers. He worked to
draw younger producers in to build an association that combines
experience and innovation to make the association stronger. When Jim's
presidency concluded, he became chairman of the 150th anniversary
campaign that sought to raise $1.5 million before 2022. We all know
that, when Jim Wilson sets his sights on something, he cultivates and
leads an unstoppable team to get the job done.
Working in agriculture is not simply a job. It is a vocation, a way
of life, a calling for which Jim, his wife Terry, their daughter and
her family are incredibly effective ambassadors. They share their
struggles and their victories, they look for creative solutions,
[[Page S5138]]
and they inspire others to act purposefully. They know there is a
better future ahead, as long as good people are willing to put in the
work to make it happen. There is no question Jim has put in the work.
In a few short days, Jim Wilson will be honored as one of the 2019
inductees to the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. He joins the elite
ranks of other incredible individuals who have forever changed the
future of this way of life in the great State of Wyoming. Thea Nuckolls
said it best when she said her late husband JW ``saw Jim as a model of
integrity, having a spirit of generosity, the heart of humility, and a
devoted family man.''
It is with great appreciation and honor that I rise today to
recognize the incredible contributions of Jim Wilson. My wife Bobbi
joins me in congratulating Jim and his family on this well-deserved
honor.
____________________
