The FFA Creed: Part 5

Even though this was supposed to be Friday's post, I figure as long as I had it done by the end of FFA week it still counted right? :) Here it is, the last paragraph of the FFA Creed...

The FFA Creed

By: E.M. Tiffany

5th Paragraph

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.

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Photo Credit-Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

(https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

3 lines...41 words...180 letters~1 belief!  

~*~ "I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life...": If I had to choose one thing to believe in, after God of course, I would choose agriculture!  Because of the kind of individuals involved in this great industry, its future has never been brighter!  There is no question that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life.  What are the best traditions of our national life you ask?  Well, in my opinion, these would include the values of honesty, hard work, respect, etc.  

~*~"...and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.": With technology today, not only are we able to exert an influence in our home and community, but we can exert an influence around the world!  While one may think that their voice doesn't matter, I am here to tell you that IT DOES!  I'm just a high-schooler from a small town in Nebraska, but I have the privilege of getting to share my views on agriculture through this blog.  With over 500 views, I am reaching more people than I could have ever imagined!  All you have to do is take a chance, make an effort, and let your voice be heard.  It is up to each of us to take an active role in our part of this inspiring task!

The FFA Creed: Part 4

The FFA Creed
By: E.M. Tiffany

4th Paragraph
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining, in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

Photo Credit-Keeping It Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

(https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

~*~"I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining, in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself;": Growing up in a rural community, I have learned the value of a dollar.  We all have times in our life where we run into financial hardships, but it's how we deal with these hardships that really tells what kind of person we are.  One can take the easy way out, begging for the help of others, but there is another option.  This option entails working for what you want, compromising with others to satisfy your needs.  Yes, millions of dollars may make life easier, but I would rather earn what I have by working hard.  The satisfaction of knowing that I have earned everything I possess is worth more than any amount of money!

~*~ "in less need for charity and more of it when needed;": Being completely honest, this line of the creed is probably the most difficult for me to blog about because I don't know if I fully understand it myself, but here's what I take it to mean...because life isn't perfect, charity is needed.  Some situations call for more charity than others.  (Yeah, I know...short, sweet, to the point. Haha)

~*~"in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.": The only way to be truly satisfied in life is to be comfortable living in your own skin.  Being involved in many group settings through different activities (especially FFA), I've experienced first hand that your attitude not only affects the way you act around people, but it also affects the way people around you act.  Being honest, compassionate, and respectful are a few ways to "play square" with others.  The Golden Rule pretty much sums up this part of the creed: "Do unto others as you would have them to unto you." 

The FFA Creed: Part 3

Alright people, we're almost half way through National FFA Week 2012. Hope you've been making the most of it! It's Wednesday, so you know what that means...my views on the third paragraph of the FFA Creed:

The FFA Creed
By E.M. Tiffany

3rd Paragraph:
"I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others.  I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturalists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil."

Photo Credit-Keeping It Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

(https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

~*~ "I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others.": Leadership and respect go hand in hand.  One may think they are a leader, but without earning the respect of their fellow teammates, these so-called leaders are nothing more than someone who thinks they have all the control.  

~*~ "I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure,": While FFA members are known to be hard workers physically, working early morning and late night hours, this part of the creed illustrates how far we are willing to go intellectually. Trying to secure all the knowledge and skill possible enables us to be the best possible agriculturalists we can be!

~*~ "and in the ability of progressive agriculturalists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.": So yeah, no pressure on progressive agriculturalists, but our future pretty much depends on them. :) Haha. In all seriousness though, the future of America truly does depend upon the success of progressive agriculture.  Without increased productivity, those 9 billion people expected to be living on Earth in 2050 will go hungry.  Without sustainable agriculture, we will run out of land to produce the food needed for those 9 billion people.  As you can see, progressive agriculturalists have a lot of work to do in the next 40 years, but I know that we are all more than willing to put forth the needed effort! 

The FFA Creed: Part 2

The FFA Creed
By E.M. Tiffany

2nd Paragraph:
"I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny."

Photo Credit-Keeping It Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl (https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

I have spent my whole life living and working on my family's farm/ranch.  I have experienced both the pleasant and challenging aspects of agricultural life, but I wouldn't give up either of them!  Although many long and cold hours are spent in our calving barn, there is no better feeling than welcoming a new born baby calf into this amazing world that God has created for us!  While fixing fence in 95 degree weather with no wind and high humidity isn't exactly my idea of fun, the memories I have made working alongside my dad, mom, and three sisters are ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  If there were not discomforts of this way of life, we would not be as appreciative for the joys that we experience.

The FFA Creed: Part 1

In honor of National FFA Week, the plan is to blog about one paragraph of the FFA Creed each day this week. (I was given the idea from a fellow AGvocater. Check out her snapshots of agriculture at  https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or  http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38.) 

The FFA Creed 

By E.M. Tiffany

1st Paragraph:

"I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years."

Photo Credit- Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.335599573149421.73932.309663002409745&type=1)

As 7th graders, my Ag instructor made us all memorize the FFA Creed and present it to the class. I don't know about the rest of you, but that was EXTREMELY nerve-racking for me.  Public speaking wasn't exactly my strongest suit..heck, I don't think I even had a public speaking bone in my body at that time?!  We took it one paragraph at a time, presenting one of the five each day, and then the last day we gave all five.  I remember pacing back in forth in my room, reading and reciting, trying to get everything memorized.  To be completely honest, memorizing the creed was very difficult for me!

Now, as a senior, and a very active member of the West Boyd FFA Chapter, I realize why I had such an issue with this 7th grade Ag assignment.  I was just memorizing the words; I wasn't taking the time to actually appreciate what E.M. Tiffany meant as he put all of these ideals together.  I took the creed to be just a bunch of someone else's beliefs.  As I have gotten older and found my true passions in life, I know that these are not just the beliefs of E.M. Tiffany, these beliefs are mine as well.  

~*~"I believe in the future of agriculture": In my opinion, there could not be a more powerful way to start the creed!  Not only are those 6 words powerful, they are oh so exciting! The future of the agricultural industry is one that is always changing, always improving.  I'll say it once, and I'll proudly say it again...without agriculture, the food on your table, clothes on your back, and fuel in your car would be, well, non-existent.  

~*~"with a faith born not of words but of deeds": Agriculturalists...we don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk!  While anti-agricultural groups, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), may think they can outsmart us, they are wrong.  We have faith in the agricultural industry and we are ready and willing to fight for what we know is right!   

~*~"achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturalists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.": We are where we are today because of the trials and triumphs of those who have gone on before us.  By talking to my parents and grandparents I have realized how truly lucky I am today.  Yes, we have our share of difficulties, and they are ones that my great-grandpa would have never imagined us having, but we will take these difficulties in stride, just as past generations have.  One must understand where they have been before they can plan where they are going.  It is my goal as an agriculturalist to do my part in making a positive impact in the agricultural industry for the betterment of future generations.

The Future of Our Youth on Family Farms and Ranches

Jamie and I fencing away! Pictured behind
us is a braced corner post, which is what we
build at the start and end of each fence to
resist the tension coming from the pull
of the wires along the entire fence-line.

Up at 6 am to help Dad with chores~in for breakfast around 8:30~back outside from 9 till noon when Mom hollers that dinner (and it's DINNER, not LUNCH for all you city folk :P haha) is ready~after an hour break, back outside from 1 till 4 fencing, taking a break at 4 for lunch (the mid-afternoon snack)~evening chores until 6 or 7~then inside for supper.

While I know every farming and ranching family has a different routine, this is what a normal day during the summer months at the Mashino operation could look like. Reading that scenario above, did anyone see huge red WARNING signs flash before your eyes signaling a child that is being worked way beyond his or her limits? Not exactly...

Dad helping my youngest sister
 Kaci ~age 8~brand a steer
(a castrated male). Branding
 includes removing the hair off of a
small area on animal's back leaving
a symbol to prove ownership of the animal. 

The Department of Labor proposed a set of child labor rules last fall which would prohibit children under the age of 16 from working with or around machinery, power-driven equipment, livestock, chemicals and other hazards. While this wouldn't apply to youth who work on their parents' farms and ranches like myself, it would apply to other youth employed on farms and ranches owned by someone other than their parents. One question that remains is if these rules would apply to grandparents and other relatives who own the farms/ranches. According to The American Farm Bureau Federation, the Department of Labor announced earlier this week (1st week of February 2012), that there would be a re-proposal of the "parental exemption" of the rule, which prohibits youth from doing various agricultural activities on farms and ranches of which they don't reside.

My sisters and I getting ready to combine
a field of corn for our neighbors. What the
combine did with this field of corn is
stripped the ear of corn from the stalk
and then stripped the kernels off the ear
of corn. The corn kernels can then be sold
or ground up and fed to livestock. 

As a fourth generation agriculturalist, I know what a HUGE impact agricultural life has on a person. I have spent the past 18 years of my life working on my family's farm/ranch, as well as helping neighbors on their farms and ranches. One thing I have learned through all of this is that no one can succeed by themselves. We all must work together to accomplish what needs done. With the world population to reach over 9 billion by 2050, US farmers and ranchers have the responsibility of increasing their production of their food products (crops, livestock, etc.). By putting restrictions on the age of laborers on family farms and ranches, they will be putting restrictions on the amount of food US farmers and ranchers will be able to produce, leading to a shortage of food and billions of hungry humans.

While I know that accidents happen and yes, innocent lives have been tragically lost due to farm accidents, the same is true of about any other job, not just agriculturally based ones. Stripping youth of experiences on farms and ranches is no way to make these accidents less prevalent. In my opinion, this would make this issue worse. Most of us know that it's easier to learn while you are young. Starting to work on farms and ranches at a younger age would enable youth to learn how to go about agricultural practices in the safest and most efficient ways.

I'm lucky to have parents who own our farm/ranch, which allows me to work on it no matter how these child labor rules end up. But, I feel for other people my age and younger whose parents don't own the farms and ranches they work on. If these rules do become law, so many youth who dream of one day owning a farm or ranch of their own will be deprived of the experience they need to serve as the next generation of agriculturalists.