Amen brother. Like you it is my dream to be a full time farmer. I have a feeling many FB members are in the same boat. The exciting thing is that the future is now probably more bright for that possibility than ever before. There are many challenges facing folks like us - such as affordable health care should we leave our jobs, available child care - kind of hard to get any work done with two little ones under your feet. Probably the biggest challenge is taking that leap from part-time to full time especially with the full timers not wanting any more competition. If you are out there and are in a similar boat I urge you to get involved in your county farm bureau and their policy development process. Farm Bureau can help in many ways and it is my hope that Farm Bureau some day be directly responsible for bringing more and more part-timers to full time status.

It is easy for those of us who are young farmers and ranchers to feel like we don't have enough time for Farm Bureau, I am talking about both full and part-time farmers. The reality is that the time we spend in policy development or education is just as important as the time we spend in the saddle or on the tractor seat. Our numbers are getting smaller all the time, so we need to all become more active.

I couldn't agree more with the two of you. If we don't take the time as farmers, part-time and full-time, to stand up for oursevles and get involved with organizations like Farm Bureau then who will. We all lead busy lives and finding time to be involved with organizations when work, farm, and family are all pulling on us is hard, but it is essential for our futures. I applaud both of you for being actively involved.

Thats a double AMEN Brother! My life since I was a junior in high school has been all about growing my maple syrup business. I have put more blood, sweat and money into my business to make things happen, while working a minimum of 70+ hours a week off the farm. One could say I have an advantage because I work a 24 and 16 hour shift a week for the ambulance service I work for, but its the other jobs I have to work to make ends meet. Personally I dont care what anyone says we already have socialist health care in this country and its called Medicare and Medicaid, the problem is the people in the middle are getting the raw deal. If you dont make enough money, your health care is paid for, If you are old enough your health care is paid for, but the people in the middle have to defand for themselves and most of the time the insurance is soo high that a family cant afford it. At my full time 40 hour job I pay $130.00 every 2 weeks for a family of 4, but yet my neigbor who is a logger/forester pays over $900/month. it makes no sence to me. I work with a nurse that wanted me to watch a DVD called "Sicko" by Michael Moore and I refused to, but she still gave it to me. I eventually broke down and watched it and let me tell you there is some interesting info on there. it just shows you were the heath care values are now. Bottom line is healthy workers equal productive workers and we all need productive workers and we need to be able to afford to be healthy!