Downwind“Compare and Contrast”
The Underachiever:
Growing up on the farm, you would have thought that I would’ve taken advantage of all the amazing gifts available to me. I had gifts in buckets. Great parents and family. Strong farm experiences. A supportive community. School and church. Quality organizations with open arms including 4-H and FFA seeking to build leaders.
Nope - I was more concerned about myself and my sports/entertainment than putting any passion into better farming and leadership development. I preferred to hang out with my friends over putting overtime into the farm.
As a kid working on the farm, I was mostly a simple farm laborer. I went to college with a mission to escape the farm. Ingrate
Someone should have hit me in the head. Hard. With a ball peen hammer. All those moments and chances to better myself, the family farm and agriculture in general. Wasted. Slacker.
I contrast my youthful past with the young people I come in contact today through Cook County Farm Bureau.
The Overachievers:
Today’s generation, like every generation before it, gets a bad rap. It’s not a fair rap based on the young people I’ve become acquainted with in recent years through my Farm Bureau work (except the “addicted to technology” part).
Many of these young people I meet have a dream. A dream to farm. A dream to help farmers.
That farm dream requires commitment, perseverance, opportunity and a bit of luck.
That dream is difficult. They must ignore the naysayers. Scratch and claw. Persevere.
- I meet Urban Highschoolers seeking farm careers. We see it at FFA events and within our Farm Shadows activities as they share their farm goals.
- Our CCFB Foundation scholarship recipients have upped their game…getting connected and making a difference. They are joining Farm Bureau and seeking to get involved. My heart fills with pride…Daniel stopping in to tell me his near-future ranching plans following college this spring. Elijah reporting on his DC experience to the board. Scholarship winners sitting down with the board for conversation to help chart a course for the next generation of Young Leaders.
- The Young Leaders Team is growing with its members doing more and more. I had a wonderful state capitol experience this spring with Blake, Aria, Carmen, Doug and Jennifer in Springfield. What fun to “run” around the Capitol meeting with legislators and listening to these Young Leaders tell their stories.
I consider all the Young Leaders work and team efforts over the last couple years on the Food Checkout Day hygiene drive with its significance to the people of area communities served by food pantries. The key - young members like Jennifer, Jonny, Carmen, Rebecca, Doug and Blake have expanded their leadership and influence.
I see a hunger for leadership learning and growth…British, Kayla, Thomas, Angelica, Jessica, Justin, Mathew and so many others.
These young people have sought a difficult path in order to try to fulfill their full agricultural dream. And they are reaching success.
Many “point” to the importance of their Cook County Farm Bureau connections and some even thank me personally.
Compare and contrast.
What was I thinking when I had so many gifts in front of me when I was their age? What would these young people of today give to have the opportunities I had in my youth? It makes me want to help them all the more to make up for the past.
The future of Cook County Farm Bureau is here and it is now. My ask of members…Support these youth renaissance with in the Cook County Farm Bureau. Encourage these and other young people to follow their hearts along the path of agriculture.
Help them fulfill their Farm Dreams!
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I’m wondering if Cook County Farm Bureau is “evil”. Bear with me as I run the flow chart leading to my suspicion…
- CCFB seeks to serve members with great programs and workshops.
- CCFB offered a workshop on the sourdough craze.
- I mentioned the workshop to my wife.
- My wife, with excitement, attended the workshop on sourdough.
- My wife came home with a sourdough starter jar and has been “feeding” it ever since (whatever that means).
- My wife has used the sourdough to make pretzels, cheese crackers, pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, breadsticks and loaves of bread. Learning. Creating. The cinnamon rolls were devine.
- I have recklessly and joyfully consumed lion’s share of the above. It’s a gift or an addiction.
- I have gained 5 pounds centered around my core. Make it 10.
- I conclude “that is evil”. And, it all started with the Cook County Farm Bureau.