I BELIEVE IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE

BY: JENNIFER JACKSON TEXAS FFA ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

At approximately 9000 BC, our ancestors in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) began breeding plants and animals. These methods started taking hold worldwide, and word spread that seeds could be saved and replanted season after season. People could plant roots instead of roaming in search of food, and because of this, civilizations formed. Interestingly enough, some crops, such as rice and wheat, are credited for the development and success of some economies. Interactions with wild animals exposed us to a more accessible food supply. Humans soon discovered that providing basic needs for these animals secured a ready food source for their community as well. The techniques of selective planting, crop breeding, and rotation have been around since as long as 3500 BC, and though many advancements have been made since, we have those who came before us to thank for the crops we rely on today.

As recently as the 1950s, scientists began studying the double helix structure of DNA and the genetic code of animal and plant cells. All of this led to the incredible advancements that make modern-day agriculture thrive and feeding a growing population a possibility.

Flash forward to those who came before us…the ones you know. The farmers and ranchers who, without many of the luxuries we have today, worked to cultivate, plant, and harvest the land. The ones who kept herds of animals healthy without any mandates from the health department but rather a need to keep animals sound and healthy so that they could feed their families through trial and error. The ones who realized processes for mechanized agriculture and developed machines and implements that take days off of current-day tasks.

When we think about our growing population, projected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050, and the decline of our natural resources, we must look to the agricultural industry. These individuals are dedicated to finding safe means to feed the planet because our other options are hunting wild animals and gathering and growing our own crops to eat.

In 1917 legislation called for agricultural education, and seeds were planted just 11 years later. As a result, the greatest organization on the planet was formed to educate our young people about the agricultural industry, challenge them, and provide them with skill trades to provide for their families.

An organization where traditions were created; values, ethics, and morals were passed on to these young individuals who had aspirations of being successful farmers, ranchers, or tradesmen. Then significant strides were made to offer greater opportunities to all individuals; the FFA soon saw a need to offer membership outside the original demographic. Since then, education opportunities have only increased along with the technology and accessibility to these opportunities.

When it boils down to it, we must take great pride in our history and realize that our most valuable resources are the young people who will one day find a solution to meet the challenging needs to sustain the planet. Just as those who came before us and the pioneers who continuously develop new technologies to find efficient means to feed our world. When you put it all into this perspective, this can seem like an insurmountable task. However, most people reading this article are likely as passionate about agriculture as I am. It’s exciting to think that we get to wake up every day and share that passion with our students and share all the incredible knowledge regarding the industry and, hopefully, instill in them to desire to pursue careers within an agricultural field or become advocates who value and appreciate the incredible progress that has been made since those initial seeds were planted. My hope is that we continue to plant those seeds both actually and metaphorically.