by Jesse Bussard
Some aspiring young producers (Ben Spitzer, Lauren Chase, yours truly, and Rachel Endecott)
For the past couple of weeks there’s been on-going discussion about the need for more youth to become involved in agriculture. There’s been reference to the growing population of older farmers and ranchers (more than 30% of farmers are now over age 65), the difficulty for some young people to become involved in farming, and the need for resources to help these young farmers get the start they need.
In my other blog, Fodder for Thought, I have discussed my thoughts on these issues. There’s no magical answer to solving this problem. As with the way farming has always been, it will take determination, grit, self discipline, and a lot of sweat, blood and tears to make your dreams a reality if you aspire to farm or ranch for a living.
I encourage you to read my latest posts on young farmers by following the links below. Leave your thoughts. I look forward to learning more about your aspirations and thoughts on how we can get more youth involved in agriculture.
May 3, 2012 at 8:09 AM
We’re losing farmers here, too, at an alarming rate. Too many regs with the Bay, land too expensive and people wanting it for other things, like developments, golf courses, etc. I’m working on a short series for my paper about FFA with the idea that ‘this isn’t your grandfather’s FFA’. There are is so much more to agriculture than planting corn today and young people need to be told about it. On the other hand, we need them to plant that corn – and raise those cows and chickens, etc., and there is little incentive for modern youth, who are used to sitting in front of a computer or using all those other gadgets, to produce food. Granted, we don’t need as many actual farmers as we did a hundred years, or even 20 years ago, but we do need young people getting into production and production does not mean the same as it used to. Sure there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it even today, and long hours, but there’s also a lot of technology that can make things easier and sweeter. We need to tell them they can use their computers and gadget while planting that corn and that farming is an intensely rewarding profession. And that the world can’t survive without it.
May 3, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Caryl, I love your series title! The reality of it is that this truly isn’t your grandfather’s agriculture anymore either. Things have advanced. Farming is innovative, technically challenging, and holds a wealth of opportunity for youth. If only we can show that effectively.
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