Heart racing. Pulse pounding. Tears welling. I remember it all like it was yesterday. Standing in the huddle, surrounded by my fellow Northern California students, affectionately known as members of the Superior Region FFA; here, we were waiting for the election results. And then the moment came. California FFA’s 2017-2018 State Treasurer Armando Nevarez sprinted onto the stage, holding an envelope that may hold the key to my future. And it did; he called my name! I became the 2018-2019 California FFA State Treasurer.
I sprinted on stage and leaped into the arms of two of my new teammates, the first step in our new journey. Flash forward twelve months and I’m sitting here in a little office down on H street in Sacramento, known as the California Cattlemen’s Association office. This summer, I am incredibly blessed in order to learn from a talented (and unquestionably fun) staff as their Creative Media Intern.
This is a position I find myself naturally comfortable in. As an agriculture communications major who has always had a passion for the cattle industry and a knack for anything media related, I am more than excited to be here in Sacramento. But something I have developed an even deeper passion for is educating my peers about the importance and value of agriculture.
Serving as a state officer is a phenomenal opportunity because of the influence we are granted to push students. Out of 365 days, my teammates and I spend 300 of those on the road and approximately 260 days in our official dress. We attend numerous conferences, facilitate 115 chapter visit workshops and at the end of the year lead the California FFA State Leadership Conference; all focused on developing students in agriculture education courses. As an officer I found myself pushing students to believe in their own abilities, future and what they are rooted in. Sometimes, this included agriculture, but many times it did not. As a young adult, it is disheartening to see how many of my peers are veering away from the agriculture industry and into other career fields. While it is true, youth should be encouraged to follow their passions, it is just as true that the agriculture industry will be entirely dependent on these same people.
A well-known statistic is that the average age of a farmer is increasing, now reaching approximately 57 years of age, according to Food Dialogues. This statistic has been promoted to the point where it has tarnished and has lost its shock. But the reason why it is so commonly advertised is the fact that this an apparent issue that our industry is going to have to address in the near future. And what’s even more frightening is that the average age of today’s cattlemen is 60, says Small Business Trends; this being even higher than the average age of farmers.
As a progressive youth in our industry, it is clear that a change is glaringly necessary. However, there is a silver lining; young adults are fascinated by the cattle industry. For example, take my teammate, Orrin Jones from Gridley, Calif. After a long day of traveling together from visiting our teammates, Orrin agreed to stay at my house in Williams before heading back to Gridley the next day. I let him know that my family would be processing cattle and that he was more than welcome to join, and to my great joy, he agreed to come.
Orrin previously had no experience working cattle, his mother a teacher at the local elementary school in Gridley and his father ran equipment for T&P Farms in Colusa County. However, he hopped in our Dodge pick up eagerly the next morning and we drove exactly seven minutes to the ranch where we would process heifers and cows. We handed Orrin a sorting paddle and had him push cattle from the tub into the alley then into the chute in order to safely vaccinate.
Orrin’s work ethic and interest in what our family considered a simple work day was refreshing. He asked intelligent questions, quickly responded whenever we asked something of him and loaded up supplies when we finished. After finishing five hours later, I was sure Orrin would have at least one complaint (I sure knew I did), but instead, he thanked me and told me he has always wanted to work cattle. He simply never had the opportunity
Orrin had no complaints after we finished working, so why should I? I viewed processing cattle as a chore, which yes, it is. But he viewed it as joy; an opportunity to learn and be apart of an industry he previously had never experienced. Orrin reminded me to be grateful for the lifestyle I was raised in; whether he did it on purpose or not.
One thing I encourage you to do. No matter if you are 18 or 81; dig your roots. Embrace this lifestyle that is as old as time. As California farmers and ranchers, we are more than fortunate to be involved in an industry that values integrity, earnest work and the immaculately beautiful tradition that is agriculture. A lifestyle that many, like Orrin Jones, are genuinely curious about and interested in. A lifestyle that should not be exclusive to simply those who are raised in it. This is the first step. While it may be a small one, we should be expected to extend an invitation to allow others to taste this lifestyle. Who knows? Maybe you will be the person who encourages someone to be the future of this industry.