I AM TEXAS AGRICULTURE PROUD

BY: LYNITA FOSTER PRESIDENT OF THE AGRICULTURE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS AND MADISONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE SCIENCE TEACHER

Two thousand four hundred twent-seven dollars. Though I never asked them, I can imagine how much this figure scared my grandparents. This is the amount they promised to pay for a few acres of land in the Fellowship community.

In the 1930s, this was a large sum. They worked the land from sun up until dark. When the farm wasn't producing enough to make the payments, my grandpa worked in town for five-day stretches, leaving his young son (my dad) and grandma directives for running the farm. They worked for years to pay off that debt, but I am grateful they did not give up. Those same acres eventually became the same ones my brothers and I played on, hunted on, fished on, raised fair projects on, camped on, and grew up on.

We learned how to wake up early to care for the living things we were responsible for. We came home from school knowing the chores came first. We experienced the beauty of clear, starry nights, the joy of the new calves born in the spring, and the sweat of a summer hayfield. I was blessed to have the chance to grow up agriculture proud.

This opportunity is becoming increasingly rare, and census data shows that only 12% of Texans live in rural areas. I learned about agriculture as an inheritance. But I don't think you have to grow up on a farm to be agriculture proud.

The entire population benefits from agriculture multiple times daily, 365 days a year. From the warm bedding that lets us rest, our stylish or comfy clothes, and the delicious morsels that travel from mouth to stomach, agriculture sustains our lives. American farmers provide 360 million tons of commodities each year. Since 1948, farm productivity has tripled. This increased yield has occurred while using less land and less water.

America has one of the world's safest and most diverse food supplies, and Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than most other countries. The accomplishments of the agriculture industry are astounding, and we work in the one industry that sustains all others. For these reasons, I am agriculture proud.

But what about the future? How will this vital industry remain strong? The answer, of course, is our outstanding youth. Agricultural science education is the lifeline, and it has never been stronger. Two hundred twenty-two thousand students are learning and experiencing agriculture hands-on through AFNR courses and SAEs. The state legislature has recognized career and technical education's valuable role in developing tomorrow's leaders.

The Texas FFA, Texas FFA Foundation, and the ATAT recently met to align our vision and goals better. We are constantly working to make things even better, and I am Texas agricultural science education.

However, my deep admiration for ag education is based on more than statistics and meetings. It is based on the times I see ag teachers at school long after everyone else has left. It happens when one ag teacher helps another train a contest team, even though they know their schools are competitors. I know it when ag teachers give and give but don't give up. Texas ag teachers work tirelessly. They put in long hours for little pay. They invest themselves in the young people they serve. I couldn't be more proud of my associates in this profession. I am ag teacher proud.

One of the best things about all this is that it lasts a lifetime. I was shopping last week when a middle-aged stranger came up and started saying the FFA creed just because he saw the FFA emblem on my shirt. I've had elderly gentlemen talk to me in restaurants, remembering when they donned the blue corduroy jacket. These fond memories show they are, at least in part, what FFA made them.

When you think about it, the talent on display at FFA events is impressive. Students who take advantage of the opportunities ag programs provide are changed for the better forever. I have been blessed to see students use skills learned in FFA to excel in college and varied careers. Because of impacts that last a lifetime, I am agriculture student proud.

We are standing on broad shoulders. Much hard work has been poured into our industry, associations, profession, and students. We have the privilege of carrying this legacy even further. When I prayed over how to best serve as an officer, my leading role was telling ag teachers that you are doing a good job. We don't always get a lot of thank yous. I know that when I get a "come see me" text from my principal, it is usually to tell me something I did wrong instead of something I did right. But even on those bad days when you feel discouraged or just plain exhausted, I hope you can find a way to push through. Like the mortgage on my grandparent's farm, things that matter take time and come with struggles. You may not see the reward immediately, but keep fighting and leading because, in the end, I hope you can be proud of the most important of all – you can be proud of yourself.

AGRICULTURE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

TEXAS NEWSLETTER