10-R305

2010 -- S 2972

Enacted 06/08/10

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING EDWIN "SCOOTER" LAPRISE UPON BEING NAMED RICHMOND GRANGE #6 2010 COMMUNITY SERVICE "AGRICULTURIST OF THE YEAR"

Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

Date Introduced: June 03, 2010

     WHEREAS, Richmond Grange #6 is proud to honor Edwin “Scooter” LaPrise, its 2010

Agriculturist of the Year; and

     WHEREAS, Scooter was born and raised in North Kingstown and has always had a

passion for farming and logging. He was active in the Rhode Island FFA Association and the Boy

Scouts, where he became an Eagle Scout. Scooter’s first experience dairy farming started just

after he finished high school. It was at this time that he acquired two calves, one a gift from his

future in-laws; and

     WHEREAS, After getting married to Cynthia in 1988, they raised cattle, pigs, and sheep.

Once their children, Elizabeth, Matthew, Alexandra, and Maggie, were old enough to become

     4-H’ers, they bought them their first Jersey calves. As a result, EMMA Acres was born; and

     WHEREAS, EMMA Acres is the home of 32 milking cows, most of which are Jerseys,

with a few crossbreeds and a couple of Ayrshires. The farm has received grants and funding to

maintain and build a manure pit and heavy use area for the herd. Scooter is always looking for

ways to improve his herd. Through a dairy herd service, he tests the monthly production and

quality of each cow; and

     WHEREAS, Scooter and his family farm joined the Rhode Island Dairy Farms

Cooperative, Rhody Fresh, in December 2008. He is currently serving on its Board of Directors

as Secretary. You can often find Scooter giving tours of their farm and occasionally taking a cow

to a local Rhody Fresh promotion; and

     WHEREAS, Scooter is still active in 4-H, where he volunteers and has served on the

Southern Rhode Island 4-H Committee. He currently chaperones the 4-H kids at the Big E, and

also trucks the animals to and from the Big E. He has also opened his farm and herd to other 4-H

kids who want a chance to manage a dairy animal, but do not have the opportunity; and

     WHEREAS, For these reasons, Richmond Grange #6 has selected Edwin “Scooter”

LaPrise as its 2010 Community Service Agriculturist of the Year; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby honor Edwin "Scooter" LaPrise for all he has done for the agriculture community. We

extend our deepest appreciation to Edwin "Scooter" LaPrise for his faithful service and for setting

a high standard of commitment and dedication by which all in this great state may follow. We

extend to him our very best wishes for good health and happiness in the months and years ahead;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Edwin "Scooter" LaPrise.

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LC02846

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