LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending John Lincoln upon the occasion of his
retirement after 14 years of diligent service as President of the New
York Farm Bureau

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community and their profession; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
John Lincoln upon the occasion of his retirement after 14 years of dili-
gent service as President of the New York Farm Bureau; and
WHEREAS, In all, John Lincoln served for 29 years on the New York Farm
Bureau Board of Directors; prior to becoming President in 1994, he
served as the organization's Vice President for nine years and for six
years as Board member; he has also served as the county President for
the Ontario County Farm Bureau; and
WHEREAS, Throughout this time, John Lincoln also remained a farmer,
operating Linholm Dairy LLC with his wife, Anne; over the years the farm
has expanded to include his daughter, Julie, and son, Mike, ensuring
that the next generation of Lincolns will keep the farm located in
Bloomfield, New York; and
WHEREAS, Under his esteemed leadership, John Lincoln has seen the Farm
Bureau through some major victories for agriculture, including substan-
tial revisions to the agricultural districts and agricultural assess-
ments program in the 1980s, the inception of the farmland protection
program, passage of the farmers' school property tax credit in 1996,
authorizing interstate shipment of wine, various incentive programs
through NYSERDA and the tax code to encourage on-farm production of
renewable energy, and most recently funding for specialty crops; and
WHEREAS, John Lincoln also spearheaded the creation of the Farm
Viability Institute in Syracuse, New York; the Institute serves as a
primary economic development engine for agriculture, marrying applied
research, entrepreneurship, and farmers to create additional added value
farm products, improve farm profitability and sustainability, and help
maintain and create investments and jobs in agriculture; he serves as
chairman of the organization's board of directors; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his role as President of the New York Farm
Bureau, with almost 30,000 member families, John Lincoln also serves on
the board of directors of American Farm Bureau Federation, and through
this role he has been involved in numerous immigration, trade, and envi-
ronmental policy issues; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, John Lincoln is a board member of New York Coun-
cil of Agricultural Organizations, Cornell College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences Advisory Board, Farmland Protection Board of Ontario Coun-
ty, and the New York Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education;
and
WHEREAS, He is also a member of the Upstate Milk Cooperative, the
Western New York Farm Credit, New York Holstein Association, Cornell
Cooperative Extension, New York Ag Society, East Bloomfield Historical
Society, St. Bridget's Church and the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his efforts of in-depth magnitude, John
Lincoln has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades some of
which include the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Outstanding Alumni Award and the Ontario County Rodney Lightfoote Agri-
cultural Innovation Award, as well as being a member of the Gamma Sigma
Delta-National Agricultural Honorary Society; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Anne, and their chil-
dren, Julie, Christie, David and Michael, all of whom feel privileged to
be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned recognition and applause; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend John Lincoln upon the occasion of his retirement after 14 years
of distinguished service as President of the New York Farm Bureau; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Lincoln.