Learning to Do

Driving by my local high school this morning, I saw the electronic banner running through the theme days of National FFA week.  The perennial favorite, "Drive Your Tractor to School Day" was on Thursday, but today we were lucky enough to get a visit from a National Officer.  I remember fondly my time in the FFA program.  I learned how to write a resume, competently handle a job interview, ask tough questions, and connect with people from different backgrounds.  I learned respect for my peers, and the value in ceremony and order.  I learned about all sorts of agriculture opportunities.  I served as an officer and mentor.  I received awards for my accomplishments, and even scholarships.  With my last active FFA event, I received my American Degree and I am proud to be one of the few that have received this honor; I find it a bittersweet climax to my experience with the organization.

Now a graduate, I have paid my Alumni dues and try to attend meetings and luncheons as often as I can.  I like to work with the new kids coming up, learning the same lessons I did, gaining confidence and knowledge with each new project they tackle.  I like hearing about the innovation of the students just a few years younger than myself.  I celebrate their successes.  I do all I can to offer my support to an organization that has given me so much.

A few weeks ago, my sister was filling out a college application, and she had to write an essay on diversity.  How was she different, and what perspective could she bring to the table.  When I was in the same situation years ago I struggled with the question, but now I realize that coming from a small town with an agriculture background, I had a completely different perspective than most of my classmates.  I know what it was like to work outside, with my hands, with animals.  I no longer take that for granted, and I urge others in my same position to realize how rare our experience are.  We need to do all we can to let our voice be heard.  As a group, farmers need to have a positive voice towards youth, and FFA is a great way for us to do that.  Even if you weren't a member in high school, you can still give back and support agriculture education.  It benefits the kids and it supports continuity for our lifestyle.

At my county's Farm Bureau membership kickoff, I talked with my district representative about the value of agriculture education in high schools.  He asked me about the local FFA program, and I told him how the school is always trying to cut it, but the farmers vote in favor of school millage's  turn out at school board meetings, and generally support the community, so every year it is spared. He then told me to work with the FFA adviser to figure out how much income agriculture generates for our school district and the local economy.  That got me thinking, we don't even let our neighbors know how important our business really is in the small communities.  We need to think about it, be proud of it, and show our schools how important it is for communities and farmers to work together.

Farmer

Everyone is talking about it this morning; "So God made a Farmer."   Those of us in the farming community are proud to have two minutes that we feel shows our true colors.  We are glad to have some big money behind us, supporting our cause, and our youth organization, the National FFA Association.  I for one am proud of the commercial, regardless of my stance on God, or on Dodge Ram trucks.  It gave voice to a group that sometimes has a hard time reaching a national stage.

The commercial hasn't fixed any of the misconceptions, but it gives agriculture relevancy in pop culture.  When I got on Facebook this morning, my farming friends loved it, and my other friends thought it was a misrepresentation of agriculture.  It didn't show the mean old "Big Ag"  that "really" is farming.  But it got us talking about agriculture together.

We are fighting an uphill battle, but it is worth the fight to have our voices heard.  I get discouraged on some days, but on others I see that the smalls things I do can make a difference.  If I can help one person to see my side of the issue, even if we disagree, then we both go away from the conversation with a more balanced view of the problem. 

Tonight, I am going out to support the next generation of agriculture, at District Ag Leadership Contest.  It might not sound like much, but by volunteering to help with the contest, I am working to keep agriculture supported in my community and keep it alive in my schools.  It's a further way to reach out and present our history and hope to the next generation of lawmakers, writers, manufacturers and agriculture specialists.  Before we can ask others to take up our cause, we must take the time out of our busy days to support our own.