Nurturing Agriculture: Committed to Supporting Youth and Educating the Public Supporting the Agricultural Community
March 13, 2024
Driving through the winding hills of southcentral Pennsylvania, it is easy to see how agriculture is one of the largest industries in the commonwealth. From the orchards, row crops, and cattle grazing, to local processing companies, agriculture reaches far and wide across our local community. Statewide the industry is responsible for contributing $132.5 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy and providing more than 593,000 jobs.
Knowing this, I believe that as a true community bank, it is not only our responsibility but our privilege to support our neighbors in this vital industry. Furthermore, I have found that the cornerstones to my own contribution as an agribusiness loan officer and local citizen are “supporting our youth” and “educating the public” in intentional and meaningful ways.
Programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) are important to our youth in agriculture because they are growing not only the leaders of our future but the future of the industry. Members learn business sense, interpersonal skills, and are able to save money for their education.
So, how can we support our youth and have a positive influence on these programs? Personally, I have embraced my passion for supporting our youth as the first cornerstone by delivering presentations on resume building and interviewing skills at 4-H and FFA club meetings and assisting during livestock shows. In my professional role at a community bank, my fellow lenders and I have attended Junior Livestock Sales and purchased market projects with the funds benefitting the youth. As a 4-H alumni and junior who previously sold market projects, it makes me proud to assist these young members in saving for their future.
My commitment to the second cornerstone --- educating the public --- is due to the ever-growing separation of each generation from the farm. It is crucial to help the public understand how their food is responsibly sourced in our community. As President of the Pennsylvania Livestock Association, I had the opportunity to attend the “Meat and Greet” event in Harrisburg at the Capitol Building for Beef Month in May of 2023. I spoke with state legislators and members of the public regarding the importance of Pennsylvania’s beef industry and supporting local producers. Attending events like this, as well as the Pennsylvania Farm Show and local fairs, provides an interface at which producers and friends of agriculture can come together with consumers to help support and address critical issues facing the industry.
These two cornerstones converge in my volunteer role as the York State Fair Queen Coordinator, a position I have held since creating the program in 2013. Each year the program serves to assist a winner and the runner-up in developing their professional skill set, provides a scholarship for their education, and the opportunity to discuss agriculture at a grass roots level with our community.
The combination of supporting organizations like these and working with local agribusinesses and family farms is a passion bred in me from birth on a fourth generation Registered Angus cow/calf operation in York County. I am committed to helping ensure the future of the agricultural community. The continued contributions we can make as dedicated volunteers --- by supporting our youth and educating the public --- will aid in providing food for our community, income for our farming families, and sustainability for our local and state economies.
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