SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1997-8632

By Senator Rasmussen

      WHEREAS, Washington is home to 930 dairy farms and 263,000 dairy cows; and

      WHEREAS, Washington's dairy cows are the third most productive in America, averaging more than 3,800 pounds of milk per cow above the national average; and

      WHEREAS, In the latest statistics, milk production in Washington increased four percent for a total annual production of 5.2 billion pounds in 1994; and

      WHEREAS, Washington's livestock and livestock products established an all-time record high value, with milk as the number-one commodity in the category; and

      WHEREAS, Our state's dairy farmers contribute approximately $700 million to the state's economy each year, a figure that has been increasing; and

      WHEREAS, Milk production ranks second in dollar value among all of Washington's bountiful agricultural commodities; and

      WHEREAS, In addition, many of Washington's manufactured dairy products, such as butter, cheeses, and ice cream, have seen remarkable increases in production and value in recent years; and

      WHEREAS, Washington's dairy industry is actually older than the state itself; and

      WHEREAS, The first creamery in Washington was started at Cheney in 1880, at a time when cattle outnumbered territorial residents by more than two-to-one; and

      WHEREAS, Citizens throughout the state today honor this special industry with the annual Dairy Day celebration at the state capitol; and

      WHEREAS, The Washington State Dairy Federation is the proud sponsor of this observance; and

      WHEREAS, Lisa Watters, a graduate of Prairie High School in Vancouver and a junior at Washington State University, is representing the dairy industry with distinction as the reigning Washington State Dairy Ambassador, as well as serving an 11-month internship with the Washington Dairy Products Commission; and

      WHEREAS, Her alternates are Ann Bishop of Stanwood, who represents the Snohomish County dairy farmers; and Kari Kaech of Mount Vernon, a junior at Washington State University, who serves as Skagit County Dairy Ambassador; and

      WHEREAS, Ted and Jean Oien of Stanwood are admirably representing the dairy farmers of Washington as the 1997 Washington State Dairy Family of the Year;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate acknowledge and honor the women and men whose work on dairy farms throughout Washington has contributed so much to the strength and vitality of our state and its economy, the character of our communities, and the general well-being of our citizens; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Washington State Dairy Ambassador Lisa Watters, alternates Ann Bishop and Kari Kaech, and to Ted and Jean Oien.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1997-8632,

adopted by the Senate March 11, 1997.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate