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TO CONGRATULATE DAVID M. WINKLES, JR., OF SUMTER COUNTY, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND HIS EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY OF THE PALMETTO STATE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly has learned that David M. Winkles, Jr., of Sumter County, president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, soon will retire from a distinguished tenure of leadership at that organization spanning two decades, the past seventeen years of which he served as its fifth president; and
Whereas, in preparation for his life's work, the Oswego native earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Clemson University; and
Whereas, as president of a family farming operation of over one thousand acres of row crops and timber, David Winkles embodies the hard-working family farmer whose interests are advocated by Farm Bureau, a non-profit organization for farmers with approximately 110,000 member families in South Carolina; and
Whereas, David Winkles joined South Carolina Farm Bureau as a member of its board of directors in 1995, after having served as treasurer, vice president, and president of the Sumter County Farm Bureau. In 1998, Mr. Winkles became president of Farm Bureau in South Carolina, becoming only the fifth person to hold that office since the organization was founded in 1944; and
Whereas, as president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Mr. Winkles also serves as chairman of the boards for all associated companies of the Farm Bureau; and
Whereas, through his efforts, the Palmetto Agribusiness Council was formed, and he has had a profound impact on agriculture in the State through service to many other agricultural organizations, including Clemson Extension Service programs, past chairman of the domestic marketing committee for the United Soybean Board, and past chairman of the South Carolina Soybean Board; and
Whereas, he also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance, as first vice president of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, and as chairman of the board of the Farm Bureau Bank, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, which serves Farm Bureaus in forty-two states; and
Whereas, recognized on the national level for his expertise in the agriculture industry, Mr. Winkles was appointed to serve on a national biotechnology advisory committee by United States Secretary of Agriculture Daniel R. Glickman in 2000. Since 2011, he has served on the Agricultural Technology Advisory Committee for Oilseed Trade at the appointment of United States Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack; and
Whereas, in 2013, he was honored as the Advocate for Agriculture of the Year by the South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers; and
Whereas, together with his beloved wife, Cas, David Winkles has reared two fine daughters, Meredith and Mary Kathryn, and they are blessed with the joy of one grandson and twin granddaughters; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are grateful for the years of unparalleled dedication that David Winkles has devoted to agriculture in the Palmetto State and across the nation and wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor David M. Winkles, Jr., of Sumter County, president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, upon the occasion of his retirement, recognize and commend his exceptional contributions to the agricultural industry of the Palmetto State, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to David M. Winkles, Jr.
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