Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, released the following statement after the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund awarded him the 19^th Annual Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor given to sitting Members of Congress: 

“I am truly honored by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund’s decision to give me the Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the years, we have worked together to advocate for minority and disadvantaged farmers to find solutions for the historical problems they have faced. I am proud to say we have made progress on issues such as heirs property while increasing the diversity in the agriculture field. There is more work to be done, but I know we will continue this fruitful partnership together to keep American agriculture the best in the world,” said Congressman Bishop.

“Yesterday, we honored Congressman Sanford Bishop with our highest honor as an organization, our Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. “Congressman Bishop has been a steppingstone for our community and many communities throughout Georgia, the South and this Nation.  He has served this country as an elected official for over 40 years and continues to inspire us with his unyielding voice for farmers and rural communities. We salute the Congressman and his work and befittingly present him, during these unparalleled times of uncertainty due to a worldwide pandemic and widespread demands for equity, with our 19th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree,” Blanding said.