Commentary

Each year, the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Foundation presents scholarships with a combined value of $13,000 to three deserving college students in pursuit of careers in agricultural communications. We were honored to have United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speak during the luncheon last week honoring those scholarship recipients.

Secretary Vilsack told NAFB scholarship winners that rural America is an extraordinary place to live, work and raise a family. He spoke about the “disturbing trend” in which young people see opportunities elsewhere and leave the rural communities in which they were raised for cities far away.

The Obama administration’s ag chief said, “Rural America is on the cusp of a new day. The most exciting, most profitable days ahead might not be in the cities.”

Speaking directly to the three college students, Secretary Vilsack said, “Your future is in Cap & Trade, broadband expansion, preserving and protecting the climate. People are interested in getting a closer connection to the food supply. That’s the rural America that you can help create.”

As Vice President of the NAFB Foundation, I was seated at the head table between two of the scholarship winners. I didn’t have the opportunity to do so, but what I would have liked to do was pull them aside individually after the presentation and ask them if that is the rural America they want to create.

What about the rural America that exists today? I’ve seen tremendous improvements in farming practices over these past many years. In my opinion, a rural America that preserves and protects the climate already exists and is in a constant state of improvement. Of course there are some bad apples, but what industry does not have a few who? Most of the farmers I know are committed to caring for and improving the land, air, water, livestock, their families and their communities.

It appears to me that those of you who till the land and grow the corn, soybeans, and wheat and those who raise the beef cattle, hogs, goats and sheep, and those always-important dairy farmers have taken a backseat to the so-called “new” green movement of community gardening and farmer’s markets.

Most of the farmers I talk with do not want climate legislation that means higher fuel, fertilizer and energy costs. Most farmers do not want handouts. They do not want to “farm for the government.” They do not want or need more regulations! As good stewards of the earth, and ultimately the climate, they have the ability to grow a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food and fiber while strengthening the rural economies across this great country.

They want the freedom to be prosperous.

The secretary went on to say that rural America needs the values, strength and passion of these young people. I agree wholeheartedly. It is what the secretary failed to say that bothers me.

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