AFBF had posted this blog article on facebook about the national YF&R convention and I wanted to share it on here because it is such a great example of what you can be gaining from FB, from YF&R, from these conferences. It also shows how great and dedicated the people that present at these conferences are to the people of the agriculture community. So, check it out:
http://heyhungrypeople.com/2012/02/27/how-social-media-especially-twitter-is-saving-my-farm/#comment-226
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
What Happens in Nevada Ag Doesn't Always Happen in Nevada--YF&R Conference 2012 (Part 1)
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| Ben LaCrosse--AFBF YF&R Chair, welcoming us to his home state of Michigan for the 2012 AFBF YF&R Conference. |
At this years meeting, we started off with a meeting of the State Chairs and Coordinator from each state, to get a brief overview of the next few days and to give us packets that we could use to collect information for the AFBF's Centennial Development Project- a huge, nationwide evaluation of Farm Bureau and Ag statistics over the past century, the trends that it has followed, the trends that are projected, and how the actual members feel about things such as threats to Farm Bureau, untalked about things in Farm Bureau, changes that should or shouldn't be made. We were assigned tables for lunch the next day and asked to visit with our table members and then compile a report for our State Chair and Coordinator breakfast on Monday morning.
We began the conference Saturday morning with a welcome from Michigan Farm Bureau President, Wayne Wood. He was followed by Jane Eckert, CEO of Eckert Agrimarketing, whose topic was, "IF You Are So Doggone Smart, Why are You a Farmer."' Jane was raised on a family farm and went away to California to pursue a career in marketing, only to find her way back to the family farm and life in agriculture where she was able to combine her career with the lifestyle and tradition of the family farm she loved.
After lunch it is on to the Breakout sessions, where the real learning begins, from technical to educational, to leadership to development, they try to cover areas that will be useful to all of us, only thing is you have to pick and choose. So, while I headed off to the State Chair session (which I felt was one of the best I have attended over the past few years) Grant headed off to "Tools for Successful Farm Transition and Establishing a New Farm or Farmer In, On, or Alongside an Existing Farm or Farmer." Which I am sad to say I missed, because he really enjoyed and a lot of what they covered were ideas that were really great for issues my parents are facing at their farm, and similar to things that will be coming up at my Grandpa's. There were more sessions on Internet Marketing, Effective Risk Management Strategies, Education for Farm Women (mainly on developing leadership) and "Can one voice truly make a difference?" which had a big focus on getting involved in policy development, speaking to elected officials, and what 'grassroots' really means.
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| Heading to the B.O.B. for dinner with Arizona. |
After our busy day, it was time for dinner with Arizona YF&R. Every other year the states are paired to go to dinner at a place of their choosing. So, as per Arizona's request we headed to what Grand Rapids knows as 'The B.O.B." The BIG OLD BUILDING. Once an old warehouse, it has been converted to restaurants, bars and clubs, one, called Gilly's where we had reservation with the 16 members of Arizona's group.
Unfortunately the pics below were awful, I didn't realize I had the wrong setting on and didn't want to take them again since I had already blinded everyone, so this is what you get!!
Anyway, we had a great dinner with them and look forward to seeing them all next year as the National YF&R Conference 2013 goes to Phoenix. After dinner there was ice cream Sundays and the Scott Thompson Band performing back at the convention center for the rest of the evening. Gotta admit, it was actually pretty fun--we don't get to dance much, and even though my husband doesn't have the most talented partner, he is pretty good at western swing and without kids around we got a few dances in!
Sunday brought Matt Lohr, the Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Matt is a former YF&R member who has been very actively involved in some of YF&R's great programs, even winning national competitions and participating in PALs program. Matt and his wife Andrea have spoken at many events to promote agriculture and he served for 5 years in the Virginia State Legislature after realizing that it was time to practice what he was preaching by encouraging such practices. Matt was definitely one of the most dynamic speakers of the conference and really was one of us, leading by example.
After attending the general session in which he spoke, I definitely wanted to attend Matt's breakout session "Making an Impact." Matt said that the hardest thing he has ever done in his life was run that first time for the state senate. It all started with a phone call asking him to consider running for the vacancy in his district. He immediately wanted to say no, but his wife gently reminded him of what he had spent so much time preaching to other farmers and ranchers about getting involved, seeking political office, making your voice heard. So after family discussion and a lot of prayer, he went for it and became the only full time farmer serving in their state legislature. His wife was actually diagnosed with cancer and fought a hard several year battle with it before passing away last summer, which of course, made his work and effort even more admirable. What an example of what our voice means and what we can do by sharing our story and getting involved! |
| Debbie Stabenow, Senator from Michigan. |
Along with the speakers, the food and the new friends, there were also opportunities for learning more in a mock policy development class, the collegiate discussion meet was also being held, and in conjunction with everything else, classes for Beginning farmers and Ranchers who are not necessarily involved in Farm Bureau, but trying to get involved in the field. Their is also a Silent Auction in which states donate items and Nationwide will match funds up to $5000--this year we made $9000 off of it which goes to "building awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture though education." More breakout sessions on: Sharing you story through blogging, What's in FB for Collegiate members, Communicating with Consumers, Change is?, Knowing your Farm Insurance, and more.
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| Derek Sawyer from Kansas has been my regional representative from the AFBF YF&R committee for the past two years. |
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| Most YF&R National Committee members serve as couples, though there are usually several that are single. This is Derek and Katie with Julie Roop at the end of their tow-year term. |
Our closing speaker on Monday morning before we headed out for the tours was Bryan Townsend, a motivational speaker, known best for his 18 years of live radio broadcast from Talladega's NASCAR Super Speedway time trials. Which helped form his speaking theme of, "STAND ON IT! Succeeding in Challenging Times."
I have to say, I still start laughing when I think of some of the stories he told--hysterical, and yet very motivating, too!
After this we headed for our tour buses, so all of that will come in PART 2 of my report!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Does Anyone Else See the Irony in This? Animal Welfare Reform, Really?
The Irony of Those Living Stacked in Crates and Boxes in the City, Trying to Tell Farmers and Ranchers that their animals should not be kept in such a similar way???
So, I have to say that after reading of another of HSUS's big wins for Animal Reform, I have to come out and comment on what I feel is a pretty ironic situation. So, go to the link, read about what Bon Apetit is doing to make the world a better place for animals in commercial farming, and then think about this--
Just a few minutes ago I took my preschooler in to school, I then turned around and drove almost three miles home, most of it on a dirt road with either pastures or sagebrush surrounding me. I looked at my home sitting out by itself, with an alfalfa field directly in front of it, pasture and corrals to the side and open land, hills and fields for acres and acres. And, I thought, yes, I love, love, love that this is where and how I live. And as I though about the cows in the fields and corrals of my grandpa's ranch all around me, I thought--well, some people would see them out here in the winter and think, "Poor cows, they need to be in shelter." "Then, when put in shelter or barns, those same people would say, "Poor cows, they need to be free to roam and range." Ahhh, the irony, and I am just getting started.
So, as I looked out at my house and all our open area I thought, "And those are the SAME people that are stacked story after story high, crammed in to apartments and condos, homes without yards, surround by fences and walls and security systems." How is it that it is perfectly okay for them to live stacked in crates and boxes, but it is not for these animals? To many of them the thought of living on a stinky, smelly farm, away from the smog of the city, the constant hum of traffic and sirens, is as undesirable as just about anything. They might want to take a drive in the country a walk through a park, but to actual live there--in the fresh air??? (I apologize for my sarcasm, it tends to get a little thick sometimes and it isn't always easy for readers to discern emotions when they are reading.)
So, yes, I think it is a little ironic, that it is okay for people to rush to the doctor at the slightest hint of a sore throat for a fill-up on antibiotics, the mere hint of cold weather sends them out in droves to get a flu shot, but yet they don't realize that animals are just as susceptible to their own illnesses whether out in the open or in temperature monitored, sanitary barns--and would probably like a little bit of antibiotics to get over what ails them as much as these people do. And, yes, I think it even more ironic that people will cram into buildings hundreds of feet high, wall to wall, loving that they don't have a yard to care for, perfectly content in their concrete jungle, but it is definitely NOT okay for animals to do so. In my personal opinion, if I had to live like they do, away from the country, the openness, the sunsets, the fields, the hills, I think that I would think it inhumane. But, do they know any better? Have they lived any other way? Have these commercially produced animals??
The Reality of the Care that Farmers and Ranchers have for their Animals......
In all reality, Farmers and Ranchers care for their animals in ways that most consumers and 'city folk' can't imagine. Yes, when my sister is done raising a few calves they go to auction and then she takes the money to buy beef--she won't eat the ones she has raised because of the tie she has to them. We recently sold the first calves my kids bottle raised, and though there was heartache and sadness in saying good-bye, there are more there waiting to be fed and the cycle continues. I think I cried almost every time I was done showing my lambs at the livestock show and it was time to load them up and say good-bye after the sell was over. My Grandpa knows his cows, at any time he generally has about 300 head on his ranch, he knows their temperaments, he knows their bloodlines, he knows them. Just the other day he said he had a hard time selling some of his culls to another rancher because he doesn't really like their feeding methods and he wants to know that his cows are taken care of even if they are headed for slaughter.
So, if you really want to know where your food is coming from and how it is being treated, talk to the source, meet real people
doing what they really love.
At 83 years-old my grandpa doesn't ranch full time because it's fun or easy, but because it is something that is in his blood, something that keeps him alive, and something that America should be proud to say exists in a vast majority of those providing them with the healthiest and most cost efficient food source in the world.
Read the Latest Story and then Decide whether or not you think that HSUS really has the right agenda at hand or not....
Here is the link to the article about BON APETIT and their welfare reforms in conjunction with HSUS--
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/bon-appetit-announces-animal-welfare-reforms/2012/02/17/gIQACPPARR_blog.html
So, I have to say that after reading of another of HSUS's big wins for Animal Reform, I have to come out and comment on what I feel is a pretty ironic situation. So, go to the link, read about what Bon Apetit is doing to make the world a better place for animals in commercial farming, and then think about this--
Just a few minutes ago I took my preschooler in to school, I then turned around and drove almost three miles home, most of it on a dirt road with either pastures or sagebrush surrounding me. I looked at my home sitting out by itself, with an alfalfa field directly in front of it, pasture and corrals to the side and open land, hills and fields for acres and acres. And, I thought, yes, I love, love, love that this is where and how I live. And as I though about the cows in the fields and corrals of my grandpa's ranch all around me, I thought--well, some people would see them out here in the winter and think, "Poor cows, they need to be in shelter." "Then, when put in shelter or barns, those same people would say, "Poor cows, they need to be free to roam and range." Ahhh, the irony, and I am just getting started.
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| This is the alfalfa field directly in front of our house, looking down the valley towards town. |
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| Vaccinating calves every year at spring branding helps keep our cows healthier and more productive--Anyone out there think it's ironic that we will vaccinate our kids for just about everything but it's now acceptable to vaccinate our food source?? |
The Reality of the Care that Farmers and Ranchers have for their Animals......
In all reality, Farmers and Ranchers care for their animals in ways that most consumers and 'city folk' can't imagine. Yes, when my sister is done raising a few calves they go to auction and then she takes the money to buy beef--she won't eat the ones she has raised because of the tie she has to them. We recently sold the first calves my kids bottle raised, and though there was heartache and sadness in saying good-bye, there are more there waiting to be fed and the cycle continues. I think I cried almost every time I was done showing my lambs at the livestock show and it was time to load them up and say good-bye after the sell was over. My Grandpa knows his cows, at any time he generally has about 300 head on his ranch, he knows their temperaments, he knows their bloodlines, he knows them. Just the other day he said he had a hard time selling some of his culls to another rancher because he doesn't really like their feeding methods and he wants to know that his cows are taken care of even if they are headed for slaughter.
 |
| My Grandpa and son. Grandpa turned 83 last month and is still cattle-ranching full-time. He has been working cows his whole life, and started his Angus herd in 1954. It is his product, and if he doesn't keep them healthy and productive then what does he have?? |
doing what they really love.
At 83 years-old my grandpa doesn't ranch full time because it's fun or easy, but because it is something that is in his blood, something that keeps him alive, and something that America should be proud to say exists in a vast majority of those providing them with the healthiest and most cost efficient food source in the world.
Read the Latest Story and then Decide whether or not you think that HSUS really has the right agenda at hand or not....
Here is the link to the article about BON APETIT and their welfare reforms in conjunction with HSUS--
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/bon-appetit-announces-animal-welfare-reforms/2012/02/17/gIQACPPARR_blog.html
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Useless Degrees....
At some point in time I had missed this Yahoo article (about useless college degrees that you may want to avoid if your looking for a college degree) and didn't hear of it until we were attending Utah's Young Farmer and Rancher Conference at the end of January. Well, maybe it was good that I missed, maybe for helath reason, i.e. high blood pressure, anuerism, etc., it was something that I shouldn't read. But, enough kidding around, it was pretty offensive to me, though I know they did not intend to be, but I really struggle with people who are ungrateful and who have no idea where there food comes from or how and so they dismiss it so lightly because, hey, who needs these degrees when we have plenty of food at the grocery store? While the article does lean towards the degrees being useless because demand is low, maybe we should be taking Bill Gates advice and creating the demand by increasing funding for research in Agriculture. As the Agriculture Industry is the largest employer in the nation I find it a poorly written article that describes all of these fields as being a useless degree to obtain. But, it's time for me to lower my blood pressure while you read and form your own opinion....
So check out the article:
http://education.yahoo.net/articles/most_useless_degrees.htm
And then tell me how you feel about it.
On the other hand, I would like to very loudly applaud Bill Gates for his recent remarks in one of his annual letters, calling for more money for agricultural research. He said, "Given the central role that food plays in human welfare and national stability, it is shocking – not to mention short-sighted and potentially dangerous – how little money is spent on agricultural research." Now if we were going to rely on someone's opinion (meaning the general public at large, relying on an opinion of oh, say a moviestar, or maybe a billionaire entreprenuer and computer genius) wouldn't you lean a little closer to Bill's than maybe Brittney Spears?
So, thank you Bill Gates!
Here is a link to an article about his comments:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/gates-calls-for-more-mone_0_n_1229216.html
So check out the article:
http://education.yahoo.net/articles/most_useless_degrees.htm
And then tell me how you feel about it.
On the other hand, I would like to very loudly applaud Bill Gates for his recent remarks in one of his annual letters, calling for more money for agricultural research. He said, "Given the central role that food plays in human welfare and national stability, it is shocking – not to mention short-sighted and potentially dangerous – how little money is spent on agricultural research." Now if we were going to rely on someone's opinion (meaning the general public at large, relying on an opinion of oh, say a moviestar, or maybe a billionaire entreprenuer and computer genius) wouldn't you lean a little closer to Bill's than maybe Brittney Spears?
So, thank you Bill Gates!
Here is a link to an article about his comments:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/gates-calls-for-more-mone_0_n_1229216.html
Monday, February 13, 2012
Scholarship Opportunities for Ag Students Available!
I just received this information from the 4-H Director in our County and wanted to pass it along!
High school and two-year college students are invited to apply for a $1,000 scholarship from the CHS Foundation, the major giving entity of CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative.
• Two year college students: 25 $1,000 scholarships are available for first-year students studying an agricultural-related major at any two-year college.
• High school students: 50 $1,000 scholarships are available for seniors
pursuing an ag-related major at any two-year or four-year college.
• University students: 125 scholarships are available to students working towards an ag-related major at 30 universities across the nation. Click here for a list of participating universities.
Click Here for applications or more information:
http://www.chsfoundation.org/upartnerships.html
Applications due April 1, 2012!
The CHS Foundation (www.chsfoundation.org) is the major giving entity of CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com), the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, the CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative business through education and leadership development.
High school and two-year college students are invited to apply for a $1,000 scholarship from the CHS Foundation, the major giving entity of CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative.
• Two year college students: 25 $1,000 scholarships are available for first-year students studying an agricultural-related major at any two-year college.
• High school students: 50 $1,000 scholarships are available for seniors
pursuing an ag-related major at any two-year or four-year college.
• University students: 125 scholarships are available to students working towards an ag-related major at 30 universities across the nation. Click here for a list of participating universities.
Click Here for applications or more information:
http://www.chsfoundation.org/upartnerships.html
Applications due April 1, 2012!
The CHS Foundation (www.chsfoundation.org) is the major giving entity of CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com), the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, the CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative business through education and leadership development.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Fighting for Family Farming.....
This is an issue that is too personal and important for me not to throw it out there as much as possible--Who is the government to tell me that my boys can't cut hay in the 'front yard' of our house on the swather for their Grandpa or Uncle for a summer job? I hauled so many loads of silage as a teenager in those same fields, 'moved pipes' before the handlines were thankfully all converted into wheellines, which this law would have prevented because it was on my grandpa's ranch and not my parents farm, where I worked lots of hours as a kid, also. I get so fired up just thinking about how many kids have learned to work, and work hard on a farm for a summer job, how many nieces and nephews, grandkids, got their first taste of agricluture working on a family farm that wasn't necessarily their parents.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO TELL DOL WHAT YOU THINK!!!!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Farm Bureaus Encouraged to Support Youth Labor Rule Effort
A newly launched website, Keep Families Farming, allows individual farmers, as well as organizations, to register their concerns about the Labor Department’s youth labor proposal.
(Tell your opinion, story, feelings, here: http://www.keepfamiliesfarming.com/ )
DOL last year announced it was considering amending the department’s regulations concerning agricultural jobs that are off-limits to minors. Despite the department’s announcement last week that it is going to re-propose the “parental exemption” part of the rule, farmers and ranchers are still worried about the proposed changes, which could significantly affect the way families work their operations.
Through Keep Families Farming, individuals can tell their own stories and file comments. In addition, the site also allows organizations to register their support of the effort. AFBF strongly supports this effort and urges state Farm Bureaus to list themselves as a supporting organization and to encourage their members to file their own stories and comments about how the rule will affect them.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) plans to use the website’s stories and comments during a meeting with DOL officials later this month.
Also, DOL will soon hold a meeting to discuss with stakeholders the issue of the parental exemption and the department’s effort to re-propose the rule. AFBF will participate. If your state Farm Bureau is contacted about the meeting, please contact AFBF labor specialist Paul Schlegel at pauls@fb.org or 202-406-3687.
Check out the AFBF News release about the DOL's decision to reconsider this issue:
http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.news&year=2012&file=nr0202.html
And the words of American Farm Bureau President:
Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding Child Labor Rule Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 1, 2012 – “The decision today by the Labor Department to re-propose the ‘parental exemption’ in the child labor rule is a positive step, but much more work is needed. We will continue to work with the administration to address our concerns with the rule. Any final regulation must make sense, not infringe on the traditional rights of family farms and not unnecessarily restrict the ability of young people to work in agriculture. As DOL’s proposed rule stands currently, that is not the case.
“Farm work has always played a significant role in the lives of rural youth across the country, whether they are milking cows on their grandparents’ farm or harvesting apples as a summer job. DOL’s rule would have a detrimental effect on family farms and would create an even tighter supply of farm labor when it’s already in short supply.
“Farm and ranch families are more interested than anyone else in assuring the safety of farming operations. We have no desire at all to have young teenagers working in jobs that are inappropriate or entail too much risk. But, laws and regulations need to be sensible and within reason – not prohibiting teenagers from performing simple everyday farm functions like operating a battery-powered screwdriver.
“We appreciate Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s diligent work on the issue and look forward to working with USDA and DOL further on establishing a rule that respects the importance of youth farm work in rural America and the importance it plays in our system of family-based agriculture.”
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO TELL DOL WHAT YOU THINK!!!!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Farm Bureaus Encouraged to Support Youth Labor Rule Effort
A newly launched website, Keep Families Farming, allows individual farmers, as well as organizations, to register their concerns about the Labor Department’s youth labor proposal.
(Tell your opinion, story, feelings, here: http://www.keepfamiliesfarming.com/ )
DOL last year announced it was considering amending the department’s regulations concerning agricultural jobs that are off-limits to minors. Despite the department’s announcement last week that it is going to re-propose the “parental exemption” part of the rule, farmers and ranchers are still worried about the proposed changes, which could significantly affect the way families work their operations.
Through Keep Families Farming, individuals can tell their own stories and file comments. In addition, the site also allows organizations to register their support of the effort. AFBF strongly supports this effort and urges state Farm Bureaus to list themselves as a supporting organization and to encourage their members to file their own stories and comments about how the rule will affect them.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) plans to use the website’s stories and comments during a meeting with DOL officials later this month.
Also, DOL will soon hold a meeting to discuss with stakeholders the issue of the parental exemption and the department’s effort to re-propose the rule. AFBF will participate. If your state Farm Bureau is contacted about the meeting, please contact AFBF labor specialist Paul Schlegel at pauls@fb.org or 202-406-3687.
Check out the AFBF News release about the DOL's decision to reconsider this issue:
http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.news&year=2012&file=nr0202.html
And the words of American Farm Bureau President:
Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding Child Labor Rule Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 1, 2012 – “The decision today by the Labor Department to re-propose the ‘parental exemption’ in the child labor rule is a positive step, but much more work is needed. We will continue to work with the administration to address our concerns with the rule. Any final regulation must make sense, not infringe on the traditional rights of family farms and not unnecessarily restrict the ability of young people to work in agriculture. As DOL’s proposed rule stands currently, that is not the case.
“Farm work has always played a significant role in the lives of rural youth across the country, whether they are milking cows on their grandparents’ farm or harvesting apples as a summer job. DOL’s rule would have a detrimental effect on family farms and would create an even tighter supply of farm labor when it’s already in short supply.
“Farm and ranch families are more interested than anyone else in assuring the safety of farming operations. We have no desire at all to have young teenagers working in jobs that are inappropriate or entail too much risk. But, laws and regulations need to be sensible and within reason – not prohibiting teenagers from performing simple everyday farm functions like operating a battery-powered screwdriver.
“We appreciate Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s diligent work on the issue and look forward to working with USDA and DOL further on establishing a rule that respects the importance of youth farm work in rural America and the importance it plays in our system of family-based agriculture.”
Friday, February 3, 2012
Dept of Labor Considering Child Labor in Ag again.....
Please take the time to voice your opinion on this matter--check out this site
http://www.keepfamiliesfarming.com/
This is too important of a fight to give up--my kids are just getting to the age where they could be replacing my cousins in helping my grandpa and uncle during the summer--and I strongly feel the government has no business telling me that they can't be a part of the family business, especially when it is something they love and want to be involved in.
If more kids were raised on farms, working from their youth, I truly believe our world would be a better place, a place like it used to be, where work ethic, integrity and values were instilled in the fields and from sun-up to sun-down. I remember working for my grandpa as a teenager and being amazed that I could not keep up with someone in his late 60's-early 70's and learning so much from his example. Agriculture is generally a family based business where we learn it young. I cannot tell you how many teenager my grandpa has employed through the years and how many still to this day are great friends of his because of the opportunities they were given. My husband's first jobs were the same, working for neighboring farms, and something that is still a big part of who he is. If this is not conveyed to the Deopartment of Labor, we could lose this all for good.
also, check out our former AFBF National YF&R Chair, Chris Chinn, sharing her voice in the matter:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid78974425001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAFSNYN8~,po2BnGhdismrtOMnpzTWS-i0olzJ0nh3&bctid=1430020544001
http://www.keepfamiliesfarming.com/
This is too important of a fight to give up--my kids are just getting to the age where they could be replacing my cousins in helping my grandpa and uncle during the summer--and I strongly feel the government has no business telling me that they can't be a part of the family business, especially when it is something they love and want to be involved in.
If more kids were raised on farms, working from their youth, I truly believe our world would be a better place, a place like it used to be, where work ethic, integrity and values were instilled in the fields and from sun-up to sun-down. I remember working for my grandpa as a teenager and being amazed that I could not keep up with someone in his late 60's-early 70's and learning so much from his example. Agriculture is generally a family based business where we learn it young. I cannot tell you how many teenager my grandpa has employed through the years and how many still to this day are great friends of his because of the opportunities they were given. My husband's first jobs were the same, working for neighboring farms, and something that is still a big part of who he is. If this is not conveyed to the Deopartment of Labor, we could lose this all for good.
also, check out our former AFBF National YF&R Chair, Chris Chinn, sharing her voice in the matter:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid78974425001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAFSNYN8~,po2BnGhdismrtOMnpzTWS-i0olzJ0nh3&bctid=1430020544001
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