SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1525
By Bailey
A RESOLUTION to recognize and congratulate Rhedona Rose on
the occasion of her retirement.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that the members of this General Assembly should honor those citizens who have performed with uncommon devotion and enthusiasm throughout their careers; and WHEREAS, one such estimable individual is Rhedona Rose, who, after thirty-seven years of dedicated service with Tennessee Farm Bureau, retired from her post of executive vice president at the end of 2023; and WHEREAS, born on November 4, 1961, to Jerry and Betty Williams Rose, Ms. Rose grew up farming with her family in the Temperance Hall and Lancaster communities of Dekalb and Smith counties; she raised Suffolk sheep in her youth, and her favorite of the flock, Miss Bee, helped her earn first place in the Suffolk sheep class at the 1978 Tennessee Jr. Livestock Expo; and WHEREAS, as a student, she played softball and basketball and competed in FFA, her favorite competitions being public speaking and parliamentary procedure; she has the distinction of being the first female FFA Chapter President at Cookeville High School, only the fourth female FFA State Officer in Tennessee, and the first State FFA Alumni President; and WHEREAS, as a member of FFA, she lived and worked on farms in Japan and Italy for several months at a time; she also earned her State Farmer Degree before attending Tennessee Technological University, from which she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science in 1984, and became certified to teach; and WHEREAS, her teaching career was short-lived, however, as she moved to College Station, Texas, to earn her master's degree in agriculture development from Texas A&M
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University; after completing her degree in 1986, she returned to Tennessee and became the first female staff member of Tennessee Farm Bureau; and WHEREAS, in her thirty-seven years with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation,
America's largest Farm Bureau, Rhedona Rose went from being an intern to serving as
executive vice president, the top staff member in the organization; she spent thirty years as a registered lobbyist, frequenting the halls of the General Assembly and serving as the voice of
farmers in every community across the State. Outside of the legislative session, she dedicated her time to meeting with and advocating for Farm Bureau members and leaders; and WHEREAS, two of her greatest mentors early in her career came from her experience at
Tennessee Farm Bureau, Murray Miles and Deanie Martin, both of whom she credits with encouraging her to reach for success as a young adult; it is their influence that has led her to
mentor young people throughout her adult life, such as interns, family friends, 4-H members,
and FFA members; and WHEREAS, in retirement, Ms. Rose is already actively volunteering her time with the FFA, Tennessee Technological University, the University of Tennessee, and her brother,
Congressman John Rose; she is active with the Maury County Chamber of Commerce,
AgLaunch, and a variety of other community and agricultural groups; and WHEREAS, throughout her nearly four-decade career, Ms. Rose has worked tirelessly to shape policy that benefits Tennessee farmers and rural people, all while garnering the respect of lawmakers, industry partners, and farmers across the State; and WHEREAS, Ms. Rose has sacrificed for and served the nation's largest Farm Bureau remarkably well; the organization is better because of her influence and indelible contributions;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
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REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Rhedona Rose on the occasion of her retirement as executive vice president of Tennessee Farm Bureau, extending our best wishes for every continued success and happiness.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear without House or Senate designation.
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