Ryan Tipps
Managing Editor, AGDAILY.com
There are
many ways that the agriculture community defines sustainability -- it can be in
the stewardship of the land, the welfare of farm animals, or in the selection
of seeds and crop protection. Sustainability is, and should be, the guiding
principle for our work on the farm.
But one of
the most important ways that we can cultivate agricultural sustainability is in
how we approach and encourage the next generation of farmers and ag
professionals. Their passion for the industry, both now and in the future, is
what will continue to drive farming further. Connecting with those young people
is so critical. By telling their stories in a positive way, giving them the
tools and resources needed to thrive, and mentoring them, whether through FFA
or 4-H or independently, the current generation has a responsibility to ensure
that the next generation wants to follow in the impressive footsteps of food
production.
There’s
nothing static about the ag industry, and that includes the tools that we use
to connect with this younger generation. After all, if we aren’t connecting
with the farm youth, then they aren’t getting the support that they deserve.
It’s a mobile-driven world, and social media has created a dynamic network for
everyone to better understand the nuances of the industry and its people and
the decisions that are made at every level. Sometimes that’s as simple as the
shared experience of ag -- fueling the passion of our youth is camaraderie over
the hard labor and solid work ethic of being raised on a farm, or the first
time a youngster drove a tractor, or the knowledge that family will always be
there for you and that perseverance pays off. There’s no doubt that there is
value in sustainability, but what sometimes gets overlooked is there are
important values in it, too.
AGDAILY.com,
a National Ag Day sponsor, helps to connect the experiences of our youth and to
engage them intellectually and socially. It’s important that the contributions
of young farmers be recognized along with those who have been farming for
decades. That’s the road toward sustainability. That’s the road for
agriculture.
