Two Senators Honored with American Agri-Women's 2013 Champion of Agriculture Award

Senator Susan Collins receives the 2013 Champion of Agriculture Award
Senator Susan Collins receives the 2013 Champion of Agriculture Award

AgWeb recently reported that Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and John Thune (R-S.D.) have received the 2013 Champion of Agriculture Award presented by the American Agri-Women’s organization.

American Agri-Women, a national coalition of farm, ranch, and agribusiness women’s organizations, has honored Collins for her “record of integrity, unsurpassed work ethic, and a steadfast commitment to the people of Maine…in addition to being a champion for women, [Senator Collins] is a leader on agriculture issues.” As a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins has reportedly led a successful effort to prevent the USDA from limiting white potato in the National School Lunch program and from eliminating it from the school breakfast program. Senator Collins has also been involved in maintaining funding for integrated pest management and research of new potato varieties, according to a press release about the award.

Senator Thune is “a strong advocate for issues that are vital to American food security and for sustaining farming communities,” reported the press release about his receiving the award. The release also claims Senator Thune has led actions for a sensible school lunch program and has provided active support and sponsorship of important agriculture bills during his terms of office. “Senator Thune has provided leadership and direction for agriculture in Washington, DC,” says American Agri-Women President Karen Yost in the AgWeb article. “Because there are so few in Washington who have a firsthand knowledge of the industry that they regulate, it is imperative that those who know and understand the rural community be made evangelists for our lifestyle.”

According to the respective press releases, Senators Collins and Thune were honored with the 2013 Champion of Agriculture Awards during the organization’s annual legislative Fly-In trip to Washington D.C. earlier this month.