When I was in college, ag major friends and I would often
discuss the division found in the ranks of the agriculture industry. It seemed like instead of coming together as
an industry, there was always infighting.
Different factions struggled to present a united front on issues like
the Farm Bill, Endangered Species Act, brucellosis testing or wolf management.
What would it be like, we wondered, if we could get all the
crop organizations, all the livestock organizations, all the natural resource
organizations to work together? How
powerful could the industry be if each of us looked out for the benefit if our
whole industry instead of our own special interest? How much stronger could we all be,
politically?
But our discussions never moved beyond that, talk. It took a group of nine different college
students to finally stop talking and start doing.
This year, the 2014-2015 Wyoming State FFA Officers have
created an opportunity for everyone in agriculture to come together and be a
Voice for Agriculture with the first annual Wyoming Agriculture Advocacy Week.
To be held Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, 2015, Wyoming Agriculture
Advocacy Week will focus on encouraging FFA members and others to be a voice for
agriculture and engage their local communities in discussion about where their
food comes from and how agriculture
contributes to Wyoming’s economy and culture.
The effort is being led by the state officers, but their hope is that
others will join in their fight to educate about our most basic industry.
No more
farmers vs. rancher, Angus vs. Herefords, corn vs. cotton, or chicken vs. pork. Just one industry, coming together, to
educate about all the things it is doing right.
One voice proclaiming why we still believe in the future of agriculture.
I commend the
state FFA officers for hatching the idea and their fellow FFA members for
getting on board to help make that dream a reality. And I encourage our industry to follow the
lead of these visionary young agriculturalists and get involved in the first
annual Wyoming Agriculture Advocacy Week. Share your ag story on social media with the #VoiceForAg hashtag.
Speak out for agriculture in our state.
Get involved with an activity the local FFA chapter has planned. Let’s show these future leaders we believe in
them and support their cause.
Henry Ford
said “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping
together is progress. Working together is success.”
Be a #VoiceforAg this week
and make a pledge to come together, keep together and work together for the
success of this industry we all need.
