By Sonja Perry and Aaron Kerr
In March, Missouri Farm Bureau gave us several opportunities to catch a glimpse of history in Washington, D.C., and here at home in Jefferson City. We discovered it is one thing to learn history in school, but another to walk the streets and halls traveled by so many influential people. We came away with a new appreciation for the events that shaped our nation.
Agriculture is an important part of our history, and until recently, we didn’t truly comprehend how easily it can be misunderstood. In Washington, D.C., we heard directly from those who play an important role in shaping American agriculture at the national level. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman provided eye-opening presentations. Their remarks were promising and sobering, but most of all, they were inspiring. We discussed issues impacting agriculture today, and the knowledge we gained prepared us for our visits with the members of the Missouri Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill.
In Jefferson City, we visited the Capitol as part of Youth Leadership Day and were honored to meet our legislators and discuss state agricultural issues. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between the levels of government and the agricultural issues under consideration. Being able to experience the legislative process firsthand reinforced our understanding of U.S. history and gave us a better understanding and appreciation of Farm Bureau’s role as a voice for farmers and ranchers.
Differences and similarities also exist from the time our nation was founded to today. While attending a night tour of the Capitol with Congressman Sam Graves and seeing the National Archives, National Mall, and the musical “1776” at Ford’s Theater, it occurred to us that our founding fathers sacrificed many things to ensure a bright future for our country. They didn’t always agree on a vision for our new country; however, they set aside their personal differences and focused on the issues. Together, they were able to create a strong and solid government for the people. It is that same spirit of our founding fathers that we in agriculture must keep in mind as we work together to ensure a strong future for our industry and for our nation.
Textbooks don’t do justice to what our founding fathers created. We encourage all students to visit our Capitols firsthand and experience the history that makes our country so great.
(Sonja Perry, from Bowling Green, Mo., and Aaron Kerr, from Chillicothe, Mo., are the 2012 Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassadors.)
No comments:
Post a Comment