SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8751

By Senators Rasmussen, Swecker, Parlette, Gardner, Morton, Roach, Finkbeiner, Fairley,  Prentice, Spanel, Johnson, Sheahan and Sheldon, B.

     WHEREAS, The state=s dairy industry began in 1838 when cows were first brought to what was later to become the state of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, The first creamery in Washington was started in Cheney in 1880,

when cattle outnumbered territorial residents by a ratio of more than 2-to-1; and

     WHEREAS, The dairy industry presently consists of 650 farms that provide a home to nearly two-hundred fifty thousand cows; and

     WHEREAS, All seven principal dairy cow breeds found in North America are present today in Washington. The breeds are Holstein, Guernsey, Jersey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn, and Dutch Belted; and

     WHEREAS, Washington dairies produce more milk per cow than is produced in any other state, with a current average of 22,644 pounds of milk per cow per year; and

     WHEREAS, Dairy ranks second to apples among the largest agricultural industries in the state, with 4,000 jobs on dairy farms and another 40,000 jobs supporting the industry in processing, distribution, marketing and support services; and

     WHEREAS, Washington dairy farmers are recognized within the industry as being among the most efficient and technologically advanced in the nation; and  

     WHEREAS, Washington State Dairy Princess Kasee Van Wieringen from Buckley, and Washington State Alternate Dairy Princesses Stephanie Roorda of Lynden and Allison Hurst from Monroe are representing the dairy industry with distinction as the reigning Washington State Dairy Ambassador and Ambassador Alternates; and

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

     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 much to the strength and vitality of our state=s 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 Kasee Van Wieringen, Alternate Ambassadors Stephanie Roorda and Allison Hurst, and the Washington Dairy Products Commission.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8751,

adopted by the Senate February 20, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate