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Do what is rightYoung people and production agriculture--I believe we have convinced ourselves that there is no correlation between the two. I could not disagree more. I have just spent part of another great week with over 600 young agricultural enthusiasts at this year's National Block and Bridle meeting. Forty-three colleges and universities sent an outstanding group to Kissimmee, Fla., for the 87th annual gathering of the organization. Nearly every day someone tells me that young people don't want to be involved in the hands-on, production aspects of agriculture any more. Why would they want to if we continue to talk them out of it? I spend quite a bit of time with college and university students and the only problem I see is that they don't expect us to want them to come home. My experience tells me that almost every rural American youth is hungry for just the slightest bit of encouragement to follow their own spirit to do what they want to do. When I simply tell them that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to, I am bombarded with questions and enthusiasm about what so many have heard "can't be done." A little positive and honest encouragement will go a long way with this set of young minds. I am not sure how many times I have written about the youth that grow up on American farms and ranches but I can simplify my sentiments into one bumper sticker, "You get what you expect." After I left the 2007 National Block and Bridle meeting in Florida, I went to Montgomery, Ala., to the Alabama Horse Fair. There I had the great opportunity to meet Donnie Hix, a board member of the Alabama Horse Council, sponsor of this event. I suppose I was still on a high from spending two days with the Block and Bridle members when he mentioned that he would like to introduce me to Dakota Missildine, a sophomore at Troy State University and a past Miss Alabama High School Rodeo Queen. Donnie was so high on this young lady that I jumped in his pickup and spent the next day riding with him simply so we could stop and have lunch at the Tin Roof Café south of Montgomery. As it turns out, Dakota's grandfather owns this unique café in rural Alabama and Donnie knew she would be working at noon. As soon as we walked in, there was no question which waitress was Dakota. This young person, like so many I met in the National Block and Bridle Club, held herself with a pride that was noticeable. Upon introduction, Dakota quickly told me that her passion in life was to be a media broadcaster, telling the story of rodeo and all things rural. She quickly assessed that meeting someone such as myself, who has been involved in the media world, could be a career opportunity. I asked her if she would mind if I interviewed her and, without hesitation, she sat down saying, "I would love that." Only one minute and twenty-three seconds into the interview, guests started streaming into the Tin Roof Café at an accelerated rate and she said, "Can you hold that thought?" I assure you it was almost 10 full minutes until she came back to my table to continue the interview. It was clear that she was interested in our interview but what was most impressive is that she knew exactly what her priorities must be in regard to caring for her customers and doing her job at that moment in time. Most human resource professionals that deal with career placement understand that farm and ranch kids possess a work ethic that is unmatched by anyone else in the job pool. Unfortunately, we in rural America are probably the last to acknowledge and recognize that asset. Dakota Missildine represents what most rural raised kids possess--an understanding of what it takes to accomplish what is expected of them. Isn't it time we expect them to do what they love and allow them to pursue their passions, particularly those in agriculture? Why not encourage and support their decision to pursue an honorable and respectable profession that is responsible for feeding the world? Why not bring their creative, forward-thinking minds into the mix and see how far they can take our industry? There is no better choice we can make than to give these kids what they need to continue the legacy that has been building generations. Editor's note: Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com, or e-mail Trent at trent@loostales.com. B 5 2/5/07 1 Star WK Date: 2/1/07
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