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Nebraskans speak out against proposed child labor rules
Nebraska Farm Bureau has launched “Let Me Get My Hands Dirty,” a year-long campaign for adults and children to voice their concerns over the Department of Labor’s proposed regulation dealing with children working in agriculture. The campaign’s theme centers on the idea of allowing young people to continue to “get their hands dirty” on the farm because the rule greatly limits what children under the age of 15 could do on any farm or ranch.
“As I stand here today surrounded by hundreds of blue jacket-wearing Nebraska FFA students, I am here to say that Nebraska Farm Bureau will not stand by and allow the DOL to attack the core and heritage of Nebraska agriculture,” Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson said at a news conference held during the 2012 Nebraska State FFA Convention in Lincoln.
Prior to the news conference, Brownfield visited with Nelson about their campaign.
AUDIO: Steve Nelson (3:56 MP3)
Despite assurances from DOL officials that their regulations would not affect FFA or 4-H programs, FFA students and their advisers say they are still not fully convinced.
Lexy Nuesch, a member of the Pierce, Nebraska FFA chapter, shared her concerns at the news conference.
Stuart, Nebraska ag instructor and FFA adviser Monty Larsen says he is concerned about the impact the regulations could have on the FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and explains why he still isn’t comfortable with the assurances from DOL.
AUDIO: Monty Larsen (2:00 MP3)
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