Commentary.
In just a few days, on Tuesday, November 2nd, you and I will have the opportunity to make a difference. As registered voters, we can go to the polls and cast our vote in support of those we believe are best suited to represent us. Voters in some states will also have the opportunity to vote on several propositions and amendments.
This day presents a great opportunity and an enormous responsibility for everyone of legal voting age. Please spend some time to take a good hard look at where the candidates stand on the issues that matter to you, your community and your industry. Study the proposed amendments and propositions. Quite often, you are only exposed to the side that has the most money to promote and advertise.
Although there are a few farmers-turned-lawmakers in the statehouse today, I’m not seeing a lot of farmers lining up to run for office. What happens when there are no lawmakers with basic, boots-on-the-ground farm experience? How disconcerting would it be to live in a county, a state or a nation where those responsible for writing the legislation that determines the future of farming in America have no link to agriculture?
I know that voting is, for many of us, an inconvenience. Some of you are busy wrapping up harvest or chisel plowing or applying fertilizer. Some have part-time or full-time jobs off the farm, not to mention kids’ ballgames and parents’ doctor appointments. And some of you are so disappointed with the current political situation that you are convinced that your vote – your voice – does not matter.
I do not believe that I’m being melodramatic, a conspiracy-theorist or even a negative-Nelly when I say that I believe we are at a turning point in American history. Agriculture has been the bright spot in the overall economy, but friends, the overall economy isn’t very good and if people don’t have jobs they can’t buy food.
I’m not pointing fingers to blame a political party. I am, quite frankly, sick and tired of that whole blame game and I for one am ready to move on to finding solutions.
I believe my vote counts. I believe that if we are ever going to get a handle on all that has gone wrong in this country, we need to take advantage of this great opportunity that we, as citizens of the greatest country in the world have to elect the leadership that will focus on getting our states and our country back on track.
In Missouri, one issue on the ballot is of great concern to me. Proposition B, backed by Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is being sold to the misinformed voter as a law to prevent abuse of dogs in “puppy mills.” Sadly, most people do not know that the state already has sufficient laws to protect animals and some of the regulations in Proposition B are preposterous. For example, Prop B creates a class C misdemeanor for “crimes” such as allowing food in a water bowl or a cobweb in the corner of a building.
November 2 is our day. We can make a difference.
For Tyler Loschen of the Tri-Point FFA Chapter in Illinois winning his second National Proficiency in two years provided the same excitement in 2010 as it did last year. Tyler farms 243 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa, add to that a cow/calf operation and a farrow-to-finish swine operation. From his FFA Advisor, to his family, to his landlords, Tyler has had a lot of help along the way and understands that his successes has taken hard work and dedication.
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