Each New Year, resolutions are made to become healthier, become more involved in community activities, spend more time with families, the lists go on and on.

My resolution for the New Year is "Speaking Up for Agriculture." I began my year by talking to a local Rotary Club in a neighboring town about the importance of agriculture to all Americans.

I received numerous questions about the livestock industry. The audience was surprised to learn why family farmers use modern technology on their farms, including modern buildings to protect our animals from the weather and predators. This audience didn't know family farmers still own and raise livestock. They also didn't know how regulated agriculture is by the government, or that farmers have to absorb these costs which are not passed on to the consumer.

I had several people come up to me after the meeting and tell me I had changed their view of the livestock industry. They learned many important facts about the livestock industry and agriculture in general just by listening to my presentation, which took only 20 minutes from my day.

As a result of Speaking Up for Agriculture, I have been invited to speak to other groups and share our story with another new audience who otherwise would have no contact with a farmer or agriculture in general.