He also encouraged future farmers to be active in agricultural policy development
By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue challenged attendees of the 90th National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Convention in Indianapolis, IN to communicate their ag pride.
And, with the world at their fingertips, that means communication can take on a number of meanings.
“We’re in the 21st century and (we have) different communication techniques, methodologies and protocols,” he said Wednesday, according to the Indianapolis Star. “We’ve got to be more aggressive advocates.”
If there used to be a time when farmers kept to themselves and focused solely on their farms, that time is over, Perdue said.
“No longer can we sit behind our farms and fences and farm gates and think that everything is going to be okay because we’re just good guys and we just grow good, healthy food,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to persuade and I think these young people will be great advocates for consumerism.”
And six specific FFA members are tasked with representing tomorrow’s farmers and telling their stories.
FFA delegates elected the new National FFA Officer Team for 2017-2018 at the Convention.
Breanna Holbert, an agricultural education major at California State University of Chico, was elected national president. She’s also the first African American woman to hold that position.
Erica Baier, an ag education major at Iowa State University, will hold the position of national secretary.
Piper Merritt, an ag economics major at Oklahoma State University, steps into the role of central region vice-president.
Bryce Cluff, an ag technology and management: education major at the University of Arizona, will be the western region vice-president.
Ian Bennett, an agriscience and environmental systems major at the University of Georgia, will serve as the southern region vice-president.
Gracie Furnish, a career and technical education major at the University of Kentucky, takes on the role of the eastern region vice-president.