"INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE AWARD" PRESENTED TO SENATOR O'PAKE

          Harrisburg, January 16, 2007 -- In conjunction with the 91^st running of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, Senator Michael A. O’Pake (D-Berks) was named recipient of the “Investing In Our Future Award.”
          Governor Ed Rendell and Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff presented the award to Senator O’Pake for his “commitment and leadership in enhancing animal health and diagnostic research and response in the Commonwealth.”
          In addition to serving in the leadership position of Senate Democratic Whip, Senator O’Pake is the minority chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
          “I’m honored to have received this recognition as we continue to promote our state’s farming and livestock industries as critical components of our state’s economic future.  Together we are working to maintain agriculture, and the tens of thousands of jobs its provides our citizens, as Pennsylvania’s number industry,” O’Pake said.
          The 2007 Pennsylvania Farm Show took place from January 6 through the 13^th at the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg and in addition to some 8,000 competitive exhibits hosted some 10,000 Pennsylvania farm animals.

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