At some point in our lives, all of us have probably met Voices for Agriculture. People who inspire us, who we admire for their dedication and commitment, who encourage us to speak out for something we believe in and serve an important role in our lives.
For me, with deep roots forever attached to the rich black soil of my family's farm, these Voices for Agriculture touch my soul and continue to give hope.
They have shown that one person can indeed make a difference as an advocate for a worthy cause. That no one is too young or too old to be a Voice for Agriculture. That a person can make a strong point over coffee at a kitchen table, on a live video made from a field or barn, as a delegate at a farm organization meeting, in a committee meeting in Congress or as a keynote speaker in a huge national or international forum. It doesn't need to be a well-known politician or a famous performer, although some of those have also become influential and welcome advocates for ag.
When our staff at DTN/Progressive Farmer decided to create a special section on Voices for Agriculture, our biggest challenge was to narrow the potential honorees. We asked editorial staff to submit a list of who they thought should be profiled and why. While some names overlapped, the list was still long. The agriculture sector can be proud that there are so many people worthy of recognition, but it is also notable there continues to be such a need for people to speak about and be advocates of agriculture.
As we think of candidates for Voices for Agriculture -- the ones we selected, the ones that we didn't this time around -- a lot of descriptors arise. Founders, leaders, protectors, defenders, influencers, servers, entertainers, lobbyists, guardians, fundraisers, preservers, savers, innovators, visionaries, dreamers, believers, volunteers, guides, teachers, educators, icons, titans, motivators, mentors, ambassadors, policymakers, stewards ... and the list goes on. For some, several terms could apply.
In the August issue of Progressive Farmer, as well as special coverage during the next few weeks in our other content platforms (including mydtn.com, online.dtn.com and dtnpf.com), we present some of the people who individually, or sometimes with others in an organization, have made our final list.
To listen to a podcast hosted by Sarah Mock where we talk more about how we selected this year's Voices for Agriculture, who they are, and some of the tips on being a Voice for Agriculture, go to https://www.dtnpf.com/….
Whether you agree or disagree with our selections, they have earned respect for their advocacy efforts, for their work on beneficial government programs and policies, for their influence on land practices, for helping with farm family finances and business planning, for assisting with programs for minorities and veterans, and for many other reasons. Ultimately, we thank them for speaking up -- paving the way for future generations to be successful and proud of what they do in agriculture.
We invite you to pass along to us who you feel is worthy of recognition in future Voices for Agriculture special coverage. Send your suggestions and reasons why to elaine.shein@dtn.com or talk@dtn.com.
For those who already serve as Voices for Agriculture in some way, we thank you. For those who are still considering becoming Voices for Agriculture, we hope the stories in this series will inspire you, give you ideas and perhaps some useful tips.
As someone who has served in various roles myself -- on an agri-business council, a state Ag in the Classroom program, and other ways -- I can truthfully say those were some of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences I have had in my life. I look forward to seeing what our voices can accomplish together for the future.
Elaine Shein can be reached at elaine.shein@dtn.com
Follow her on social platform X @elaineshein
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