Recognizing Earl and Diane Horning's Induction Into the Michigan Farmer Hall of Fame

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Earl and Diane Horning, residents of Manchester, Michigan, on the occasion of their induction into the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame. Their hard work and dedication to their farm and their community over the last sixty years are worthy of commendation.

Horning Farms was founded in 1877 by German immigrants Gottlieb and Barbara Hornung. At that time, the primary purpose of the farm was to provide food for the family. The Hornung family, anglicized to ``Horning'' family, later made the decision to focus on dairy farming.

After attending Michigan State University, Earl Horning returned to Manchester to become the 4th generation to manage the family farm. Earl and Diane were married in 1964, and the last six decades has seen a massive expansion in the farm's dairy production. The farm's initial sixty cows in 1963 has grown to over four hundred cows, replacement heifers, and one hundred dairy beef. The Hornings additionally farm an impressive one thousand acres for feed and crops.

Earl and Diane have been involved in all things dairy since soon after they took over management of the farm. Earl served on the Michigan Milk Producers Advisory Committee as well as its board. He has also served as the Chairman of United Dairy Industry of Michigan, as well as the National Director for Dairy Management, Inc. Diane has been active in county, state, and national Farm Bureaus. She has spent time on the Farm Bureau's State Policy Development, Promotion and Education, and Washington Legislative Committees. Recently, she served as Director of the Michigan Farm Bureau Board and delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the Horning's well-deserved induction into the Michigan Farmer Hall of Fame. With the 5th and 6th generations of Hornings now hard at work, it is safe to conclude that Earl and Diane's legacy will be living on well into the future. I thank them for their hard work, and congratulate them on this momentous achievement.

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