Office of the Mayor
Proclamation
Lawrence, Kansas
WHEREAS: Kansas became known as the Breadbasket of the World after German Mennonite farmers saved their hard red winter wheat seeds from Europe and planted them when they settled in our state; and
WHEREAS: Lawrence is the home of The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center; and
WHEREAS: Members of Seed Savers Exchange, established in 1974, have distributed an estimated one million samples of rare seeds; and
WHEREAS: Heritage Farm in Iowa has become a unique educational facility maintaining 24,000 heirloom vegetables, 700 nineteenth century apples, 200 varieties of hardy grapes and herds of Ancient White Park cattle; and
WHEREAS: Seed Savers International, begun in 1991, has rescued traditional food crops in eastern countries; and Seed Savers Exchange organized and funded twelve plant collecting expeditions in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union from 1998–1997; and
WHEREAS: Kent Whealy, 1969 graduate of the University of Kansas, has been at the heart of Seed Savers Exchange and has been recognized for his efforts to preserve genetic resources with the award of a MacArthur Fellowship in 1990; the presentation of an honorary doctorate from Luther College in 1991; and presentation of Russia's prestigious Vavilov Medal; and
WHEREAS: Seed saving workshops will be presented by Kent Whealy and Kelly Kindscher Friday, April 22, 2005; and a Community Dinner featuring locally grown foods, followed by a slide show and presentation by Kent Whealy, will be held Saturday, April 23, 2005
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dennis “Boog” Highberger, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim April 17 – 23, 2005 to be
in Lawrence, Kansas and April 23, 2005 to be
"SEED SAVERS DAY"
in Lawrence, Kansas in honor and recognition of Kent Whealy for his commitment to and years of work preserving genetic resources, and I call upon citizens of Lawrence and the surrounding area to join in these activities, and to celebrate and support our local growers this week and throughout the growing season.
April 19, 2005