From the President’s desk
Mental health a priority for AFBF, Delaware Farm Bureau
Have you ever felt like things just won’t improve? Or maybe you’ve felt lonely while working out in the field by yourself. Mental health is something that has become a priority for Farm Bureau.
As farmers, we can often feel the stress of farm life in a lot of different ways. We are not only running a business, but we are also caring for our families and ourselves in the process. The weight of those decisions and responsibilities is not lost on farmers and ranchers.
The Farm Bureau, both in our state and nationally, has made advocacy a priority. This outreach is incredibly important.
Nationally, Farm Bureau created a website advocating for the #FarmStateOfMind. It features warning signs, ways to start a mental health-related conversation with loved ones, and research and training opportunities. It also includes resources for family members looking to help someone else with mental health concerns.
This incredible resource helps reduce the stigma we worry ourselves over when we aren’t feeling well.
We often talk about the importance of farming, but sometimes we leave out the middle man - the farm-
Delaware Farm Bureau News
Editor
Jennifer Antonik jenn.antonik@defb.org
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er or rancher. Their health is vital to the operation of any farm; that includes their mental wellbeing.
Farming itself can take a severe toll on the health of our farmers and ranchers. COVID-19 has worsened that situation with increased feelings of isolation and worry, to name a few things. In fact, the Farm Bureau’s Farm State of Mind website states, “A strong majority of farmers/farmworkers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, and more than half say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago. . .”
According to the website, warning signs one can look for in loved ones, neighbors, or others includes:
• A change in routines or social activities,
• An increase in farm accidents,
• Signs of stress in children including struggles with school,
• A decline in the care of domestic animals,
• A decline in the appearance of the farmstead,
• An increase in illness or other chronic conditions, and
• A decreased interest in activities or events.
Any one of these warning signs could point to a mental health concern, even if someone tries to keep their thoughts and feelings to them-
selves.
Should someone display warning signs such as these, Farm Bureau suggests trying to start a conversation with them. Ask them about how they are feeling, be there to support them, stay connected, keep them safe, and help them connect with a mental health professional who can assist them in navigating this situation.
What an incredible resource we have at our fingertips. Everyone matters. Here at the Delaware Farm Bureau, we have also made it a point to advocate for mental health resources by including them in print and our exclusive newsletters, the Weekly Digest (for regular and professionally engaged members) and Fresh from the Farm Bureau (for farm community members).
We have also partnered with the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension Office to provide even more information on its “Got your back” Website located online at https://www.udel.edu/academics/ colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/ nutrition-wellness/got-your-back/.
When you open this Website, you may see some familiar faces from the Delaware Farm Bureau photographed in front of our ag lab showing support of the initiative. This website offers a plethora of resources including items for stress management, health, legal needs, financial situations and more. Without resources like these available at our fingertips, this crisis could easily worsen for many agriculture workers.
This is just one of many reasons why we are Farm Bureau Proud. We’re glad you’re on this journey with us.
President
Richard Wilkins
1st Vice President
Laura Hill
2nd Vice President
William Powers, Jr.
County Presidents
Kent: Jacob Urian
Sussex: Steve Breeding
New Castle: Stewart Ramsey
Young Farmers and Ranchers
State Chair: Mollie Lynch
Kent Chair: Michael Lynch
Women’s Committee
State Chair: Mary B. Gooden
Kent Chair: Rebecca Bobola
Sussex Chair: Constance Fox
New Castle Chair: June Unruh
Kent County Directors
Bruce Dempsey
David Marvel
Ted Bobola Jr.
Sussex County Directors
Alan Bailey
Mark Davis
New Castle County Directors
Bruce Patrick
Will Powers, III
Ryan Greer
Delaware Farm Bureau President Richard Wilkins
African Swine Fever Update
In late July, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that African swine fever (ASF) was discovered in Dominican Republic swine. This is significant since it has been 40 years since this disease has been found in the Western Hemisphere.
This disease is not a health threat to humans, other livestock species, or pets, but is deadly to swine. There is no cure or treatment (vaccine) available according to the Delaware State Veterinarian, Dr. Heather Hirst. Unfortunately, all swine farms with this disease would have to be depopulated.
ASF has never been detected in the U.S. swine population. When there was a major outbreak of this disease in China in the summer of 2018, the USDA and state Departments of Agriculture began tracking outbreaks of African swine fever and developed a framework for the ramifications if this disease came to the U.S. The federal government has significantly bolstered biosecurity measures to protect the U.S. swine herd, according to Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian with the National Pork Council.
The USDA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies have strengthened border inspections and have begun an active surveillance program designed to detect and eradicate ASF.
Hirst said that her office is working on informational materials about how to prevent introducing ASF on Delaware farms and how to report incidences. This information will be posted online at https://agriculture.delaware. gov/poultry-animal-health/swine/.
Other sources to understand biosecurity risks on African Swine Fever:
• Biosecurity is key: http://extension.psu.edu/african-swine-fever-biosecurity-is-the-key
• Disease Prevention: http://extension.psu.edu/disease-prevention-on-the-farm
• Preparing for Disease Response on Your Farm. A video series to educate producers on the Secure Pork Supply program and important knowledge on animal disease response and containment: http://extension. psu.edu/preparing-for-diseaseresponse-on-your-farm
Annual AFBF Northeast Regional State Conference brings Farm Bureau leadership together in Vermont
The Vermont Farm Bureau hosted the 2021 Northeast Region American Farm Bureau Federation’s president and administrators conference on July 27th, 28th and 29th. It was held at the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.
Vermont Farm Bureau President Joe Tisbert welcomed everyone in his opening remarks on Tuesday, July 27th. American Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall, opened the meeting virtually from the western U.S. President Duvall was attending the Western Region American Farm Bureau president and administrators conference.
In his remarks, President Duvall reminded the twelve northeast Farm Bureau state leaders to continue to voice concern on the tax issues that could affect farmers, especially the proposed changes to the stepped-up basis and estate taxes.
AFBF staff attending the conference updated the attendees of
agriculture related issues being discusses in Congress and various government departments.
Andrew Walmsley and David Salmonsen, both Senior Directors of Congressional Relations discussed the activity with the Clean Water Act and EPA’s desire to redefine the term “navigable waters”, proposed tax changes: stepped up basis, capital gains tax at death, and estate taxes, ag appropriations in the upcoming reconciliation bill, the Growing Climate Solutions Act: legislation that is to assist farmers, ranchers, and foresters understand and access carbon markets, and the proposed $1 trillion infrastructure bill.
U.S. trade information was discussed including ongoing dairy disputes for Canada and imported fertilizer tariffs, and information on ag workforce: 2021 Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R.1603) a bill providing legal status for the current workforce,
reforms the current federal agriculture guestworker program known as H-2A, future access to a skilled, dedicated workforce, and the bill also provides provisions to ensure enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.
Several national and regional agribusinesses attended the meetings as well and made short presentations during the three-day meetings.
The highlight of the conference is each state Farm Bureau president reporting on issues, whether legislative, organizational or policy challenges in their respective states. As in past years, there were similar issues mentioned by most of the northeastern states.
Some of the common issues were labor shortages, higher costs of inputs and sometimes not readily available, placement of solar panels of prime farmland, agritourism liability bills to protect farmers, and pesticide restrictions that are
being discussed in state legislative halls, not science based information from state agriculture and environmental departments.
The conference agenda concluded on Thursday morning with a discussion on livestock processing facilities in the Northeast region. Massachusetts Farm Bureau and New Jersey Farm Bureau with Rutgers University just completed livestock processing surveys in their respective states. Rob Johnson, Policy Director at the New Hampshire Farm Bureau discussed leading a regional taskforce of northeast region Farm Bureau leaders.
Virtual meetings of smaller working groups are researching lists of current facilities in the region, any pending federal legislation, workforce training in livestock processing, and certification programs for livestock quality grading. Delaware Farm Bureau has been participating in these working group meetings.
Knutsen chosen as 2021-2022 Youth Ambassador
Bethany Knutsen of Harrington is showing off her passion for agriculture in unique ways this year.
She has been chosen as the Delaware Farm Bureau's 2021-2022 Youth Ambassador after spending a year as Delaware's Dairy Princess.
Currently a junior at Woodbridge High School, she plans to attend the University of Delaware or Delaware State University to study agronomy, plant science or soil science and would like to continue living in Sussex County, Delaware, where her family has farmed for generations.
"My great-grandfather, Hubert Cannon, was a founding member of the Delaware Farm Bureau and served on the board of directors most of his life," she explained in her application for the youth ambassador role.
Her family's involvement in the organization didn't stop there. Her grandfather currently serves as an alternate delegate. Bethany's father
is a delegate on the Kent County Farm Bureau board. She added that her mother grew up volunteering the Women's Committee food booth at the Delaware State Fair
and continues to help when needed. Their family involvement even led to a statewide Farm Family of the Year award in recently years. Bethany has also started getting
involved in the organization, running in 5ks organized by the Foundation and participating in other events.
As a student, Bethany is active in the Woodbridge High School FFA, Peach Blossom 4-H, Kent County Jr. Council and State Teen Council, National Honors Society and Prospect United Methodist Church Youth Group. She also plays field hockey and soccer.
Becoming the Delaware Farm Bureau's Youth Ambassador will help Bethany find her own advocacy voice for the industry while supporting the organization her family has come to love.
"I have tons of experience with agriculture living on my family's dairy farm in Harrington, Delaware," she said. "Agriculture has shaped my character and prepared me for my future. I've learned the importance of grit and hardwork in order to achieve success."
Stay up-to-date online at www. defb.org.
Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee announces scholarship recipients
The Delaware Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee announced its 2021 scholarship winners during the annual Antique Tractor Pull competition held at the Delaware State Fair.
This year, Middletown High School graduate Hannah Harmon of Smyrna and Caesar Rodney High School graduate Rylee Ridgely of Wyoming won scholarships from the YF&R.
Harmon is headed to Kent State University where she will study horticulture and continue her agriculture education. She also won a
$2,500 scholarship from the statewide Women's Committee this year. Ridgely will attend Oklahoma State University to study agri-business with a focus in farm range management. She was active in CR's FFA organization for all four years of high school, acting as its reporter and treasurer, among other roles. She continues to be involved in her hometown 4-H group.
The YF&R Committee raises funds for its scholarships each year through events such as the Antique Tractor Pull, Strawberry Festival, auctions and more.
Hannah Harmon and Rylee Ridgely earned this year's scholarships from the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Their awards were announced during the annual Antique Tractor Pull competition at the Delaware State Fair.
DEFB announces 2021-2022 scholarship awardees
The Delaware Farm Bureau is proud to announce this year’s scholarship awardees.
Several committees and county-based Farm Bureau leadership worked to offer more than $8,000 to scholars in Delaware for the 2021-2022 school year.
Funds for these programs are raised through efforts such as the food booth held at the Delaware State Fair each year.
For more information, visit defb. org.
Delaware State Women’s Committee Scholarship
Hannah Harmon of Smyrna earned a $2,500 scholarship from the Delaware State Women’s Committee, which will help pay for her horticulture degree at Kent State University’s Salem Campus.
Harmon graduated from Middletown High School in 2018 and was a National Honor Society member, field hockey and lacrosse athlete and award-winning FFA member. After high school, she earned an associate degree in greenhouse management from the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute before decided to expand her education at Kent State University.
Her interactions around her family’s 100-acre farm, in 4-H and through other agriculture-related activities helped her realize she has a passion for working with both plants and the public. She now hopes to work at a large garden or arboretum in the future.
Sussex County FB Scholarship
Three students earned $250 scholarships from the Sussex County Farm Bureau, including Caleb Murphy of Greenwood, Edward Yu of Laurel and Nathan Loucks of Lewes.
Loucks graduated from Cape Henlopen High School where he was a member of the Leo Club, National Honor Society and FFA. He was also on the soccer, lacrosse and track teams, and in the Costal Atlantic Futbol Club. Loucks is now
exploring a career in engineering.
Murphy graduated from Lake Forest High School in 2021 and plans to study agri-business at Delaware Tech. In high school, he acted as the secretary and president for the school FFA chapter and was active in his church youth group and the Vernon Creek 4H Club, for which he also served as the president and jr. advisor.
she was inducted into the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. She was also active in the Key Club, Platinum Pom Squad and drama club, and took piano and dance lessons. Moriarty has volunteered with Bayhealth, the Delaware Cheer Center and the Blue Ridge Area Foodbank in Lynchburg, VA. She now attends Liberty University, majoring in nursing and minoring in global studies.
Hubert Cannon Memorial Scholarship - Kent County FB
Kent County Women’s Committee Scholarship
Yu is a 2021 graduate of Sussex Academy High School preparing to study mechanical engineering with a minor in computer science at the University of Delaware. He was active in the Student Government Association, Technology Student Association, National Honor Society, drama programs, tennis and basketball during his high school years. He also worked on his family farm from a young age as a student preacher doing field service work for Jehovah’s Witnesses. He said he hopes to use his future degree to help improve agriculture technologies to make them safer, and more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Sussex County Women’s Committee Scholarship
Sussex Technical High School graduate Megan Moriarty of Millsboro earned a $1,000 scholarship from the Sussex County Women’s Committee. Before graduating high school in 2020,
Timothy Gardner of Harrington earned a $1,000 scholarship from the Kent County Farm Bureau. He will study production agriculture with a minor in agribusiness at Delaware Tech in Georgetown. He graduated from Lake Forest High School in 2021.
Gardner spent many years working on the family farm and other nearby farms, gaining needed experience in the field. He also participated in the Lake Forest FFA, earning Greenhand and Chapter degrees along the way. He was active in the Vernon Creek 4-H Club for 15 years, acting as the president from 2018 to 2019.
Beatrice Gooden Memorial Scholarship - Kent County FB
Savannah Holtz of Smyrna also earned a $1,000 scholarship from the Kent County Farm Bureau. She graduated from Polytech High School in 2021 and will study Radiologic Technology at Delaware Tech.
Holtz spent time with the International Club at Polytech and earned community service through Operation Christmas Wish, Days of Summer Camp and the Delaware Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Food Booth at the state fair.
Olivia Gaines of Camden served as this past year’s Delaware Farm Bureau Ambassador and earned a $1,000 scholarship from the Kent County Women’s Committee. The Caesar Rodney graduate was active in the National Honor Society and Girls Athletic Association. She was an executive committee member for the CR FFA and participated in the cross country, swim and lacrosse teams. Gaines was a song leader for the Manship Chapel Youth Group and a 13-year member of the Westville 4-H Club, serving as its secretary, vice president, and president over time.
New Castle County Women’s Committee Scholarship
Jenna Harmon, a 2021 graduate of Middletown High School and Delaware Farm Bureau FFA Blue Jacket Bonanza awardee, earned a $1,000 scholarship from the New Castle County Women’s Committee. She plans to attend Hocking College and major in natural resources law enforcement and minor in forestry. In high school, she served as president of the Middletown FFA and earned several CDE awards. She also played soccer and field hockey, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 4-H and was an ambassador for the school’s Plant Science pathway.
Congratulations to the 2021-2022 scholarship winners from the Delaware Farm Bureau! Good luck in the upcoming year!
Nathan Loucks Caleb Murphy
Edward Yu
Hannah Harmon
Megan Moriarty
Timothy Gardner
Savannah Holtz
Olivia Gaines
Jenna Harmon
P & E Committee recalls history of ag accurate books, barns
By June Unruh P& E Committee Member
Rural Road Safety Committee Chair
I enjoy searching for the history of many topics, especially if it is “farm related.”
I’m constantly looking for history facts of how ideas got their start. Being a member of the Promotion and Education Committee "is my cup of tea,” as the saying goes.
Sharing your idea of promoting agriculture and watching that idea come to life is an awesome feeling of accomplishment and giving back to society. That’s exactly how Scott Unruh felt when his idea of having “Ag Accurate Books” for elementary school children in Delaware came to fruition.
In 2014, as the New Castle County Farm Bureau President, he shared his idea of Ag Accurate Books in elementary schools throughout the state with his county Farm Bureau. With acceptance of this idea, along with Stewart Ramsey’s idea of building a Book Barn for displaying these books, Delaware Farm Bureau’s
“Book Barn” project came to life. The first book barn was made by Stewart Ramsey’s father-in-law, and is on display at the Delaware Farm Bureau office in Camden. More barns were built by fellow member Jim Correll of New Castle County Farm Bureau, the Smyrna FFA and others.
What an awesome program this has been for reaching out to our youth in Delaware by having these Ag Accurate Books as a resource for them. The program has been a huge success, is helping to educate our youth and hopefully is sparking future interest in agriculture for these young people.
By the end of August, the P&E Committee will have placed book barns and books in 106 public elementary schools in Delaware.
Thank you Scott for your idea of Ag Accurate Books and thank you Stewart for your idea of the Book Barn. As a member of the Promotion and Education Committee I’m asking you to please share your ideas with us. Your idea just may be our next project!
Delaware Farm Bureau P& E Committee member June Unruh, along with summer interns Abby Edwards and Kyle Spillane, delivered a Book Barn to Loss (Olive B.) Elementary School as part of the Read It and Eat project in August.
Camden-Wyoming, Laurel Fire Companies win lifesaving grain bin rescue equipment, training
By Jennifer Antonik
The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company received grain bin rescue equipment and training in August thanks to Nationwide’s Nominate Your Fire Company Contest and the Delaware Farm Bureau.
Firefighters from the Camden-Wyoming and other area fire companies joined together for hands-on training offered by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.
Dan Neenan, director of the center, says this training has already saved lives throughout the country.
“The fire department is winning the rescue tube and the auger, but it’s very important that they learn how to get into the confined space of a grain bin and then use that rescue tube to build a cofferdam around our victim, sink it down around them and then evacuate the grain from the inside until the person entrapped comes loose,” he said.
“If somebody’s inside and the auger gets turned on, they could be pulled to their waist in 15 seconds and completely submerged in 30. If they’re walking across encrusted grain, you know, that may have a void area underneath of it, it could be two seconds and they drop 30-feet and they are down under the grain. So, it can happen very quickly and the only way to prevent that is to have a zero-entry mentality.”
Firefighters spent time learning about grain bin accidents inside before venturing outside to explore their new equipment using simulation exercises. Grain used for this training was donated by Mountaire Farms.
Firefighter Carissa DiCarlantonio of the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company said the training was necessary.
“I thought it was super interesting. It’s way more complicated than you would think to get somebody out of that situation. I think they did a really good job at explaining everything,” she said.
Neenan said there are some things farmers can do to prepare for emergency situations involving grain bins, such as maintaining quality grain and labeling
trical panels. Having life-saving equipment at local fire companies is also crucial.
Thanks to Nationwide, the Delaware Farm Bureau and other
sponsors, Delaware now has such equipment in seven locations throughout the state.
Margie Chase of Nationwide said, “Nationwide is the number
one farm insurer in the country and every life is important. So, doing this is trying to protect what matters most to your family, to your loved ones.”
elec-
Camden-Wyoming Fire Company Chief Engineer Bob Snyder volunteers as a victim during the training.
Delaware Farm Bureau Executive Director Joseph Poppiti poses with Bill Malchow and Andrew Atkins of the Laurel Fire Company during their training held at Willards Fire Department in Maryland.
National Education Center for Agricultural Safety Director Dan Neenan, right, begins the demonstration portion of the training with a victim inside the "Great Wall" as firefighters watch.
FORD RANGER
Delaware Farm Bureau at the 2021 Delaware State Fair
Delaware Treasurer Colleen Davis, center, poses for a photo with Delaware Dairy Princess Bethany Knutsen, Delaware Farm Bureau Youth Ambassador Olivia Gaines, Mar-Del Watermelon Queen Leslie Webb and Delaware Peach Queen Izabela Marasco.
Delaware Farm Bureau Vice President, Laura Hill and State Women's Committee Chair Mary Bea Gooden work in the food booth run by the Women's Committee during the fair.
Delaware Farm Bureau President Richard Wilkins gives Delaware Governor John Carney a shirt promoting the organization during Governor's Day at the fair.
A percentage of profits from the food booth run by the Delaware Farm Bureau Women's Committee benefits scholarship awardees each year.
Abby Edwards, above, reads an accurate ag book during the Delaware State Fair. To the right, Jules Hendrix and Jon and Laura Brittingham volunteer at the booth in the Commodities Building.
Annual Antique Tractor Pull by the Young Farmers and Ranchers
The annual Antique Tractor Pull competition run by the Delaware Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee acts as one of the group's largest fundraiser's each year, raising funds for scholarships. Participants travel from Delaware and surrounding states to participate in this yearly event held at the Quillen Arena on the last day of the state fair.
YF&R members Teddy
clear the track at the
and
in between tractor
Bobola, above,
Jordan Betts, below, help
Quillen Arena
pulls.
Intern Abby Edwards, Foundation Coordinator Kali Voshell, Kent County Women's Chair Rebecca Bobola and Marketing Coordinator Mikayla Paul work during the Annual Tractor Pull.
Voshell recaps National Ag in Classroom conference
By Kali Voshell Foundation Coordinator
The National Ag in the Classroom Conference was held June 28-July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa.
I had the opportunity to attend this conference virtually thanks to new technology and a wealth of available information.
This event featured many workshops, covering a wide range of topics such as transformative teaching and infusing equity tools in classroom delivery, bringing education alive through farm to school programs, agriculture careers in science and many others, helping us bring these incredible conversations back to our home states.
The teachers who won this year's White-Reinhardt Grant were announced during breakfast on day two followed by an exciting presentation from Dr. Anton Treuer from the Native American Agriculture Fund.
Throughout the conference, there were gathering opportunities, even virtually, so we could meet with other professionals, share thoughts and network.
It was a great experience. I was able to meet many new people and learned a ton of new lessons. I really enjoyed the entire conference.
The Digitally Marketing Delaware’s Specialty Crops grant is now in its second year.
The campaign teams the non-profit organization with iHeartMedia to reach listeners digitally using geofencing technology.
Through this technology, iHeartMedia can send notifications to people using smartphones and similar devices upon entering a pre-defined geographical area, directing them to the marketing messages.
Listeners can then visit www. defb.org after experiencing a digital ad to participate in a survey and be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card. The drawing will take place in December.
Messaging will include:
• Sweet Corn: Carl Ramsey of
Ag lab travels the state with Della
Ramsey’s Farm
• Peaches: Kyle Spillane (DEFB Intern)
• Tomatoes: Jake Jones
• Cabbage: Abby Edwards (DEFB Intern)
• Pears: Courtney Jones
• Squash: Samantha Kirk Harrington
• Apples: Jessica Yocum (Fifer Orchards)
• Carrots: Brielle Carter (4H)
the cow Grant helps market specialty crops digitally in Delaware
• Sweet Potatoes: Olivia Gaines (2020-2021 Youth Ambassador)
• Brussel Sprouts: Kendall Metz (FFA State Reporter)
• Christmas Trees: Robin Poynter of Poynter’s Tree Farm & Bethany Knutsen (20212022 Youth Ambassador)
Intern Abby Edwards, top left, and Foundation Coordinator Kali Voshell, above, lead children in activities available in the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation's Ag Lab. Voshell said, "It was amazing to be able to get the mobile agriculture lab back on the road for the summer. The students loved the experience and it was awesome to teach them about ag. Della the cow was also a huge highlight."
To the left, Intern Kyle Spillane teaches children about agriculture during a summertime ag lab visit.
Nationwide, National 4-H Council team up in ag education
The following information is provided by Nationwide®, the #1 farm and ranch insurer in the U.S.*
Not many organizations can say they have more than 25 million alumni in the U.S.
That number doesn’t come close to measuring the massive influence of 4-H. It has a strong national commitment to education, community improvement and agriculture. And Nationwide is proud to support the organization that is so important to so many.
This emphasis on education and support of agriculture is central to the Nationwide ethic. It makes our support of the organization a natural fit.
4-H offers youth programs in areas like STEM, agriculture and civic engagement. Activities provide members career-focused experience with diversity and inclusion, leadership and public speaking. They’re important skills in today’s modern agricultural workforce.
Young people who participate in 4-H are three times more likely to pursue a four-year college degree. Girls alone are 10 times more likely to pursue careers in a STEM-related field.
“We know that today’s youth will play a vital and necessary role in future ag innovation by applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve real-world ag
challenges,” saidJennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council.
“4-H is honored to partner with industry leader, Nationwide, to continue to spark youth passion for agriculture and to welcome and encourage all youth to be engaged, involved and have a seat at the table for the issues that impact their daily lives,” she added.
Why agricultural educationis important
Today, technology is influencing and shaping just about every sector of agriculture. That stretches from crop and livestock production to large agribusiness management and scientific research.
This evolution will enable agriculture to continue to meet the world’s growing food and fiber demand. But fewer people are choosing agriculture careers. Recent data show there is a deficit of around 40,000 jobs in the industry.
Preparing youth for careers in agriculture
To overcome this challenge, 4-H is committed to helping expose young people to career opportunities in today’s high-tech agriculture.
But 4-H is about more than pro-
moting agriculture to young people. Participation also instills the passion to pursue those careers.
“At Nationwide, we recognize the skills learned by young people in 4-H can be applied across all aspects of their personal and professional lives,” said Mark Berven, President and COO of Nationwide Property and Casualty.
“Regardless of the industry someone chooses for a career, 4-H provides the foundation for a successful future. And you never know where it will take you. Nationwide’s current CEO Kirt Walker is a proud 4-H alumnus,” Berven added.
4-H provides real-world experience
Participation in 4-H helps members develop career skills. Those skills are also important to their communities. 4-H programs foster diversity of thought and inclusion. They’re both critical skills in today’s ag workforce.
Moving forward, 4-H will continue to offer real-world, practical education and experience to members. Programs like the 4-H National Youth Summit Serieswill prepare them for agricultural careers. And
Nationwide will continue to support the organization that’s been so formative to millions.
“Nationwide isa company founded by agricultural leaders. Oursteadfast support for National 4-H Council is something we’re very proud of. That’s especially true as we explore new ways to encourage diversity in agriculture,” Berven said.
“We all need to eat.I feel it is our responsibility to help develop new pathways for young people to get involved in agriculture. That may be directly or indirectly. 4-H is a pipeline for future talent. Nationwide will continue doing our part to help assure American agriculture is led by our very best and brightest,” Berven added.
Visit AgInsightCenter.com for more tips and information to help you navigate the changing agricultural landscape, run a successful business and maintain the safety of yourfarm operation.
*A.M. Best Market Share Report 2019. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.© 2021 Nationwide
