As a “young” (35 does not feel young once you get there) agricultural professional, it is very important that we take a very active role in helping develop our future outside our individual operations. It is easy to stay on the farm, and then complain when something happens in Washington that affects us, but we must remember, the winner only comes from the group of people that show up.

Our state legislature just wrapped up its biannual session, and some of the most ridiculous legislation was passed by people that took the time and believed in their cause enough to come to Austin and lobby for their positions. In case you did not know, Athens, TX is now officially the birthplace of the hamburger. The bolo tie is the official tie of Texas. If your house is seized by the government because you did not pay your taxes, you are now allowed to keep your bible, I guess while you are living at the hotel, you can not just steal the free one there. If you are legally blind, you are now allowed to go hunting, as long as you wear corrective lenses. The only ridiculous legislation that was vetoed by the Governor was that Texas needed an official state amphibian, oh well, guess that will give them something to work for next session. I know these are not all the silly and time consuming pieces of legislation passed, but was the focus of a recent news clip.

While I consider some of this, ok all of it, senseless legislation, the point of the news story that I took away was the fact that someone came up with these ideas, showed up in Austin, received support and got the bills passed. It is irrelevant that we did not get our teachers pay raises passed until the last minute; we have an official tie now. Why is it that farmers and ranchers can not get off their farms and have the overalls adopted as the official jeans of Texas (that is not a bad idea for me to work on to prove my point for the next legislature)?

Farm Bureau can develop the skills that take to become a leader in your community, profession and life. YFR is a program of FB designed for that specific purpose. YFR, both in your state and at the national level, has numerous opportunities for you as a young producer to gain the skills and confidence to make you as successful off the farm as you are in your comfort zone.

Lets get out, participate, tell our story and make sure the the most admired profession in America remains “the farmer” and does not become the Dominoes Pizza delivery man as my three year old daughter thinks.