The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING AL MONTNA OF DUCKS UNLIMITED
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HON. DOUG LaMALFA
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Al Montna, a true champion of conservation in Northern California. Al's involvement with Ducks Unlimited began in the early 1960s when his natural love for waterfowl hunting drew him to the organization. Like many avid waterfowl hunters, Al realized early on that his passion could only be preserved and shared with future generations through conservation.
Al began restoring the intricate web of wetlands and uplands that North America's migratory birds rely on each year to fulfill their life cycle needs. Al continually improves the wildlife habitat on his own farm, transforming Montna Farms every fall and winter into a migratory bird wonderland. If you've traveled on highway 99 just outside of Yuba City between November and January, chances are, you've witnessed dozens of cars pulled over on the side of the road, with passengers leaning out the window using binoculars and cameras to glimpse the tens of thousands of waterfowl swarming around his rice fields. Thanks to dedicated conservationists like Al, people will be able to enjoy the wildlife of this region for years to come.
As is the case with most family farms, and certainly with Montna Farms, Al has been blessed with a family that has a shared vision for what it means to be good stewards of the land. His two daughters, Nicole Montna Van Fleck and Michelle Montna Vogt share the family's passion for the environment and being stewards of a more sustainable world. Today, they have begun to pass that same passion to Al's six grandchildren. And of course, none of these achievements would have been possible without Gail Montna, Al's wife and partner for 55 years. Gail's grace and shared loved of wildlife shines through all of Montna Farms; past, present and future.
As a third generation Central Valley farmer, Al's commitment to the land as well as the people and wildlife that depend on it is unmatched. As the Bible tells us in Luke 12:48, To those much is given, much will be required. The responsibility to give back to his community has been the forefront of Al's mission since it began nearly 60 years ago. Now, after many decades of committed volunteer service to conservation, Al is retiring as the Senior Vice President for Public Policy at Ducks Unlimited--a role he took over in 2017. Al's professional endeavors, awards, successes, innovations and accomplishments are far too numerous to list here. However, Al's greatest achievement is his role as a steward for America's wetlands and waterfowl resources, and that legacy will endure for generations to come.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 114(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 114(2)
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