By Dayna Ghirardelli, Executive Director
It is funny how each month of the year triggers an “I can’t believe it’s (enter said month) already!” Here we are in February. Another amazing crab feed is behind us, and staff are now focusing on planning Sonoma County Ag Days to be held on March 11th and 12th. The board just chose this year’s recipients for the awards given at Love of the Land which will be on July 10th. This means the cover of the Farm News will feature the winners over the next four months, so be looking forward to those! The Golf Tournament is at the end of May, so planning starts soon. Again, never a dull moment at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.
While everything we do is with great passion, it is a lot of work. But the work is masked by the reward at the end. One of the most rewarding aspects of our organization is our robust scholarship program delivered through the Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County. The support among our community for these scholarships is tremendous! We support local youth in agriculture with over $125,000 in scholarships each year. We watch them sore through their higher education and cheer them on as they embark upon their future in agriculture. Of course, we hope they return to Sonoma County, but we are just as proud when we see our Sonoma County-grown ag professionals succeeding anywhere.
In the center of this month’s Farm News, we’ve highlighted a handful of our past scholarship recipients to share where they are now. It is exciting and impressive to read their stories. I remember many of them as young 4-hers showing their animals at the fair, yet here they are in their adult lives contributing to the long heritage of Sonoma County agriculture. I am excited to have them as colleagues, partners, and emerging leaders.
The average age of farmers in the US is now 58.1 years old, and 59.9 years old in California. This is an indicator that the next generation is less likely to stay on the farm. Today’s climate leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to either entering or continuing in a farming or ranching business. It is hardly convincing when we consider the price of land, the regulatory expectations and expenses, and the low to no profit margins, to name a few; albeit in a physically and mentally demanding business. The motivation to stay in it, come back to it, or become a part of it varies, but I’d venture to guess the common threads are passion, respect, love, and legacy for the land, animals, the food produced, and feeding people.
Farm Bureau works hard to protect these agricultural interests through advocacy and education, but just as important is our investment in the future of agriculture through opportunities provided to our youth. They are the future of our food system. Those highlighted in this issue are a testament to, not only, their hard work and determination, but also to our community’s commitment to supporting and elevating the next generation of passionate farmers, ranchers, and agriculturalists.
