The Voice of the Farmer

This past week, I had the distinct privilege of serving as a voting delegate at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California. Delegates representing State Farm Bureaus and serving as a voice for their respective farmers gathered to debate, discuss, and decide on policy that our American Farm Bureau will support for the upcoming year. It may not sound exciting to most, but to me, this is important and interesting work. Each state, and even each farmer represented, may want something a little different. In true democratic fashion, ideas are shared, and ultimately a suitable compromise is agreed upon. Obviously, you all know that I farm quite a bit differently than most of the folks in that room. That's why I value my seat at that table so much. I am there to represent farmers who go about things in a different manner, and specifically those of us who have had a front row seat watching the farm-to-table ecosystem develop over the last 20 years. I respect all the farmers in that room, because none of us has an easy job. We, however, have been plowing a new path. When the time comes to stand up for your right as a consumer to purchase directly from local farms, I will be there. If anything about this model we helped create is ever threatened, I will be there to plead our case. Our options are to wait and see what happens, then react, or to get involved in the process and help create a positive outcome. I am extremely thankful for this opportunity, and I hope my presence can have a positive impact on agriculture in general, and specifically in the area of farmer-to-consumer policy... Sounds exciting, huh?