Growing up, I was not involved on my family’s dairy farm, as many people may think I was. I was the youngest, thus I was not needed to do anything, often at all. I did not help do chores or milk the cows. In fact, when I got older, I fought my dad to go help and do them. As I grew older, I was more involved in many other activities, but the farm was not at the top of my activities list. I was in 4-H and showed heifers at my local fair, as well as in my county’s dairy princess promotion program. Even with that said, I still was not actively involved with any part of the agriculture industry. My senior year of high school is when I started to learn and get involved. I began to advocate, or better known as "agvocate," for the agricultural industry. This kick-started my journey to learn more and teach others about the industry and everything it entails.
From that point on, I became passionate about the industry and its powers. I gained knowledge about the dairy industry more than anything, but agriculture is a massive business. Every day it is used in some aspect of our lives. If you eat, you are supporting the industry, in the simplest aspect. I have met so many people, in this day and age, that are not knowledgeable about the industry. The sad part is that they do not always have someone to teach them and help them learn about it, either. Not just adults but people of all ages. So many want to learn, so many want to be taught and gain the knowledge, but there is no one there to do so.
Agricultural education is what will fuel the future. They will not know where their fresh food is from. They will not understand the life cycles and the power of Mother Nature. Everything on this planet is intertwined and works together. Today’s society needs the support and requires the leaders to provide that education. If this is not taught, then generations to come, and even today’s generations, will believe everything they hear, even the fallacies. Even what they are taught needs to be questioned.
In my home county, they are now doing an event for elementary age students called Living off the Land. This event takes the students to a different farm each year where they learn everything there is to know about agriculture while having fun. Even in my county, which is greatly involved in the agricultural industry, some people still do not understand agriculture and all it entails.
For this reason, agricultural education is so, so important. If it is not taught, then how will the younger, and even older, generations be able to realize that agriculture is what fuels and feeds America? How will they know where their food and drink comes from? How will they be able to learn?
Be an "agvocate," be willing to learn and be willing to teach. Have an open mind and question everything.
For more information on the TeachAg campaign, you can visit their website.
For more information and resources on various agricultural programs around the country, you can visit their website as well.
