Saskfarmer3;
You took a swipe at many of us on the Glyphos thread
Here is an US Growers perspective on public service... I will add a little more local one at the end!
"Word on Wheat: Why We Serve the Agricultural Industry
May 04, 2007
"Jeff Krehbiel
Vice Chairman
NAWG Domestic and Trade Policy Committee
I was at the Oklahoma City Farm Show recently as an exhibitor. Along with my farming operation, I also sell center pivot irrigation systems, and we were there trying to make sure the competition didn’t get the upper hand. Some of the people that walked by would ask me about the Farm Bill or what the wheat looked like in my area and then, as they moved on to the next booth, they would express their appreciation for people willing to serve on farm organization boards and would encourage me to continue to serve agricultural producers.
During the last hours of the last day of the farm show, the district sales representative for the irrigation company asked me, “What do you think you are doing spending so much time and resources with all of the farm organizations that you are involved with? You need to focus on your irrigation business and your farming and let these other responsibilities go. You need to learn to say NO!”
Several years ago at the annual Oklahoma Wheat Growers meeting, Paul Jackson nominated me to be on the Board of Directors from District 4. I am not sure, but I think I was filling the seat that he wanted to vacate after many years of service to the wheat growers in western Oklahoma. Paul also served on the Oklahoma Wheat Commission for 13 years, and gave generously of his time to the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, the Oklahoma Wheat Foundation and many other boards and church activities. Paul passed away recently and there were probably 600 people at his funeral. He was a friend, a mentor and a leader, but why did he spend so much time serving wheat producers?
I have had the honor, privilege and pleasure of knowing several NAWG presidents on a first-name basis. I’ve listened to them tell stories of being away from their families and farms for well more than one hundred days in a single year. They have told me about being stuck in airports, bad hotels and bad situations. They tell of being grilled by reporters and being in the hot seat while testifying before a Congressional committee. And every one of them will tell you it was a great experience. But, again, why did they invest so much time in serving the wheat producers of this country?
I can’t speak for Paul Jackson or past NAWG presidents, and I don’t even know if I can tell you why I serve on different agricultural boards. But, I do know that there is a great need for leaders in all the agricultural organizations. I also believe that there are many different reasons to serve.
I have had an opportunity to meet many great people from my state and other states while serving my industry. These people have common goals and the ability to come together in order to achieve those goals. It is gratifying to attain a simple, common sense solution to a complex problem while representing the views of your peers. I have witnessed advancements in biotechnology, synthetic wheat and the legislative process while serving this industry.
If you are serving on a board or committee, I want to say thank you. And, if you don’t understand why these people served their organizations, then perhaps you could make the time to get involved. It will only take a short time for you to realize the importance of every minute you donate to something you believe in, and to harvest rewards that cannot be put into words.
- Krehbiel is a wheat producer in Hydro, Okla."
OK Saskfarmer3,
Having CDN growers with knowledge, that will take the time to serve fellow farmers... is very important to policy development and the competitive ability of our Ag industry to effectively prosper Domestically and in the Global Economy.
"Self Interest" is flaunted regularily in my face... but is the least of my concern personally.
I/My Family and Ag Community need to be prosperous to grow a healthy industry... to build a stronger economy that our next generation of growers can be proud of and have their children prosper in. THis is the Heritage I grew up in... and the one that built Canada to the most prosperous nation in creation.
Gathering real useful knowledge costs money, work time, family time, but is just as necessary today as it was in 1907.
How far have we come from there to now?
Think about this!
What if my Grandfathers and their families... if our farm families had sat back, & did nothing to build and prosper our communities... where would we be today?
We MUST work from a positive perspective, encourage cooperation and those who serve especially in public life... for they have in some cases given up all to serve us.
Take Ed Stelmach.
He sold all his cows, and hopes they are doing well this spring.
THe sacrifice he and his family have made to serve Alberta and Canada is complete.
He went home for a few hours to the farm today... to visit his 2 dogs and 3 puppies... all the livestock he and his family are gone.
We are his special family now.
Ed is a farmer. I am a farmer. You are a farmer.
Please give us the grace and be patient with us... wE do GENUINELY attempt to serve and make our communities and Ag Industry better!
A smile, thumbs up, and the true concern for all of Alberta and Canada...
the young people of this generation, province, country, and planet... is why we serve. I hope it is high on your priority of the reason to grow produce... and that of your family.
I really hope you can encourage your neighbour to work hard and make a better world... many good people have sacrificed... so much ... to allow our families to live in the prosperity we now enjoy here in Canada!
God Bless Ed,
God Bless Alberta,
God Bless Canada,
And all of you and yours that Visit Agri-ville!
Sincerely,
TRJ
You took a swipe at many of us on the Glyphos thread
Here is an US Growers perspective on public service... I will add a little more local one at the end!
"Word on Wheat: Why We Serve the Agricultural Industry
May 04, 2007
"Jeff Krehbiel
Vice Chairman
NAWG Domestic and Trade Policy Committee
I was at the Oklahoma City Farm Show recently as an exhibitor. Along with my farming operation, I also sell center pivot irrigation systems, and we were there trying to make sure the competition didn’t get the upper hand. Some of the people that walked by would ask me about the Farm Bill or what the wheat looked like in my area and then, as they moved on to the next booth, they would express their appreciation for people willing to serve on farm organization boards and would encourage me to continue to serve agricultural producers.
During the last hours of the last day of the farm show, the district sales representative for the irrigation company asked me, “What do you think you are doing spending so much time and resources with all of the farm organizations that you are involved with? You need to focus on your irrigation business and your farming and let these other responsibilities go. You need to learn to say NO!”
Several years ago at the annual Oklahoma Wheat Growers meeting, Paul Jackson nominated me to be on the Board of Directors from District 4. I am not sure, but I think I was filling the seat that he wanted to vacate after many years of service to the wheat growers in western Oklahoma. Paul also served on the Oklahoma Wheat Commission for 13 years, and gave generously of his time to the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, the Oklahoma Wheat Foundation and many other boards and church activities. Paul passed away recently and there were probably 600 people at his funeral. He was a friend, a mentor and a leader, but why did he spend so much time serving wheat producers?
I have had the honor, privilege and pleasure of knowing several NAWG presidents on a first-name basis. I’ve listened to them tell stories of being away from their families and farms for well more than one hundred days in a single year. They have told me about being stuck in airports, bad hotels and bad situations. They tell of being grilled by reporters and being in the hot seat while testifying before a Congressional committee. And every one of them will tell you it was a great experience. But, again, why did they invest so much time in serving the wheat producers of this country?
I can’t speak for Paul Jackson or past NAWG presidents, and I don’t even know if I can tell you why I serve on different agricultural boards. But, I do know that there is a great need for leaders in all the agricultural organizations. I also believe that there are many different reasons to serve.
I have had an opportunity to meet many great people from my state and other states while serving my industry. These people have common goals and the ability to come together in order to achieve those goals. It is gratifying to attain a simple, common sense solution to a complex problem while representing the views of your peers. I have witnessed advancements in biotechnology, synthetic wheat and the legislative process while serving this industry.
If you are serving on a board or committee, I want to say thank you. And, if you don’t understand why these people served their organizations, then perhaps you could make the time to get involved. It will only take a short time for you to realize the importance of every minute you donate to something you believe in, and to harvest rewards that cannot be put into words.
- Krehbiel is a wheat producer in Hydro, Okla."
OK Saskfarmer3,
Having CDN growers with knowledge, that will take the time to serve fellow farmers... is very important to policy development and the competitive ability of our Ag industry to effectively prosper Domestically and in the Global Economy.
"Self Interest" is flaunted regularily in my face... but is the least of my concern personally.
I/My Family and Ag Community need to be prosperous to grow a healthy industry... to build a stronger economy that our next generation of growers can be proud of and have their children prosper in. THis is the Heritage I grew up in... and the one that built Canada to the most prosperous nation in creation.
Gathering real useful knowledge costs money, work time, family time, but is just as necessary today as it was in 1907.
How far have we come from there to now?
Think about this!
What if my Grandfathers and their families... if our farm families had sat back, & did nothing to build and prosper our communities... where would we be today?
We MUST work from a positive perspective, encourage cooperation and those who serve especially in public life... for they have in some cases given up all to serve us.
Take Ed Stelmach.
He sold all his cows, and hopes they are doing well this spring.
THe sacrifice he and his family have made to serve Alberta and Canada is complete.
He went home for a few hours to the farm today... to visit his 2 dogs and 3 puppies... all the livestock he and his family are gone.
We are his special family now.
Ed is a farmer. I am a farmer. You are a farmer.
Please give us the grace and be patient with us... wE do GENUINELY attempt to serve and make our communities and Ag Industry better!
A smile, thumbs up, and the true concern for all of Alberta and Canada...
the young people of this generation, province, country, and planet... is why we serve. I hope it is high on your priority of the reason to grow produce... and that of your family.
I really hope you can encourage your neighbour to work hard and make a better world... many good people have sacrificed... so much ... to allow our families to live in the prosperity we now enjoy here in Canada!
God Bless Ed,
God Bless Alberta,
God Bless Canada,
And all of you and yours that Visit Agri-ville!
Sincerely,
TRJ
Comment