What Kind Of Impact Does Advocacy Have On The Ag Industry?

During last week’s National Ag Day Event in Washington, D.C., advocating for agriculture was one of several topics highlighted.  A common question from the boots on the ground is “Does talking to officials in Washington, D.C., truly make a difference for agriculture?”

“Engagement is everything, and I know coming to Washington as president of this organization, I even had my wonders as to how effective we can really be in one of the most important cities in the world," said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.  "And when I got here, what I discovered over my tenure here is that we are really important. We're very relevant, and people sit up and pay attention to the American Farm Bureau because of the engagement of our membership. Our farmers and ranchers are the power and strength of this organization, and they need to know that.”

Duvall said farmers, ranchers, and other Ag stakeholders need to know they don't always have to travel to Washington, D.C., to make a significant impact.

"Every time they call or send an email, go to a town hall meeting, tell their story, open up their farms for someone to come in and tour and tell their story to them, every time they do that, they make the future of this industry and our farms and ranches brighter, but they're the only ones that can do that. Our stories from the farm are the most powerful tool we have, and it's the most powerful coming from the man and woman who's experienced it on their own farm.”

Duvall added he first understood advocacy after taking over the family farm.

“When it became real to me is when I took the farm over, and I was sitting one morning at the breakfast table, complaining to my daddy about federal regulations around dairy and milk pricing and the lack of labor, and all the problems, some we still talk about today," said Duvall.  "And he said, ‘Well, son, if you want to do something about those issues, you’ve got to get outside your fence rows and be part of something bigger than you.’ And he took me to a Farm Bureau meeting that night, and I became the young farmer chairman in my county, and the Young Farmer program has shaped and molded me to take on this position today, and it took 40 years for them to rub the rough edges off his old farm boy.”

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com