HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAY GAESSER

On 2026-09-14, Representative Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAY GAESSER" in the House.

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAY GAESSER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E904-E905] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAY GAESSER ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Monday, September 14, 2026 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Ray Gaesser of Corning, Iowa, who passed away tragically in a farm accident on September 5, 2026, at the age of 73. His loss is felt by those who loved him, and Iowa mourns alongside the entire Gaesser family. Ray grew up on a small farm in southern Indiana, where he began farming at just 15 years old, taking over the family operation after the death of his father. In 1977, he and his wife, Elaine, began farming near Corning with a few hundred acres, and over the decades they built it into a family operation of more than 5,000 acres. Ray was a devoted family man, a trusted friend, and a leading voice for Iowa agriculture. He believed farming was a privilege, and he treated the land as something to be cared for, strengthened, and handed down to the next generation to carry on Iowa's oldest tradition. Ray's impact on Iowa agriculture reached far beyond his own fields. He was president of the Iowa Soybean Association in 2007 and, in [[Page E905]] 2014, became president of the American Soybean Association, carrying the priorities of Iowa's farmers on trade missions around the world. He co-founded Solutions from the Land and led the Iowa Conservative Energy Forum, championing conservation and homegrown energy. His service extended beyond agriculture as well. He was appointed to the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission in 2022 and chaired it until this past July. Ray often said that ``when we work together, we all benefit.'' He lived by that motto, and Iowa agriculture is stronger because of it. I had the privilege of calling Ray a close friend, and time and again I saw that commitment up close. Whenever I had a question about agriculture, Ray was my first call. He had a lifetime of knowledge and never hesitated to share it. If I needed his counsel, Ray would drop what he was doing, drive to Des Moines, sit down with me, and talk through how we could deliver for Iowa's farmers. That is one of the things I will miss most about him. Ray and Elaine were in my corner from the very beginning, but more importantly, they were always in Iowa's corner. From his glass-topped silo looking over his slice of Heaven on the Gaesser farm, to leading delegations around the world, Ray brought an unmatched knowledge of agriculture and a genuine friendship wherever he went. Oftentimes, just his smile and a good farm story were enough to forge a new partnership, build trust in Iowa, and strengthen a legacy of service he spent a lifetime creating. Ray leaves behind his wife, Elaine; their children, Chris and Jennifer; and a legacy that will endure in the land he cared for and the farmers he spent his life fighting for. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Ray Gaesser: a devoted farmer, a national voice for American agriculture, and a faithful friend to all who worked the land. ____________________