LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Outback Dairy upon the occasion of
being named the 2014 Conservation Farm of the Year by the Wyoming County
Soil and Water Conservation District

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
applaud the leaders of commerce and industry whose accomplishments
contribute to the economic health and prosperity of the communities of
the State of New York and to the quality of life of its people; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Outback Dairy upon the occasion of being named the 2014 Conserva-
tion Farm of the Year by the Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation
District; and
WHEREAS, The agricultural industry is part of the foundation upon
which our distinct American heritage is built; and
WHEREAS, New York State and the entire United States are dependent on
our agricultural industry for a variety of food products; and
WHEREAS, The Becker family has owned and operated Outback Dairy since
1867, when Joseph Becker founded the farm; in 1979, Norm and Diane Beck-
er took the farm over and began implementing a number of practices which
help to conserve soil and water; and
WHEREAS, The family has taken steps, including adding drainage tiling,
strip cropping, and similar practices used to prevent erosion; they also
added a manure lagoon in 1982, and conservation has been a big part of
their operation ever since; and
WHEREAS, Continuing their 147-year tradition, the Beckers implemented
17 different practices that have helped to improve the farm's soil and
water; including, sod waterways, stone chutes, diversion ditches, plas-
tic recycling, and a bunk leachate system; they also built a new barn,
and improved their management practices to prevent clean and dirtier
water from getting mixed together; and
WHEREAS, Outback Dairy has 365 Holsteins, including 300 milking cows;
the family worked with Western New York Crop Management, to make the
best use of the cows' manure as fertilizer; furthermore, the operation
has about 365 total acres, including 179 acres of tillable land; and
WHEREAS, Today, the farm is still a family operation; along with Norm
and Diane Becker, their son, Adam, and his wife, Katie, help run the
farm; and
WHEREAS, Adam and Katie Becker also have two additional businesses,
including Cougars & Cowboys Nutrition, and Katie Becker Photography; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of our farmers as they continue their hard work of cultivating
the land, facing the many challenges of nature such as flood, drought
and heat, in order to grow our food; and
WHEREAS, Through their diligence and expertise in soil and water
conservation, the Becker family has brought pride and recognition to
themselves in their local community, and to our great Empire State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Outback Dairy upon the occasion of being named the 2014
Conservation Farm of the Year by the Wyoming County Soil and Water
Conservation District; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Becker family, Outback Dairy.