February is the month that the Chamber devotes its programming to agribusiness in greater Owensboro. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall spoke to a crowd of over 400 at our Rooster Booster on Feb. 7.His message was one of optimism, hope and pride. When he left the podium, he received a standing ovation.
He acknowledged that 2018 was a very tough year for farming. Yet he reminded the crowd that storms were to be weathered, and the way we weather those trials, storms and adversity is TOGETHER. In a room where the ages spanned from high school students to those in their 80s … from health care and banking execs to nonprofit managers and dairy farmers to owners or large grain operations to higher education leaders … the message was heard.
I have the honor every day to serve small business people — those small businesses range from everything imaginable, including all types of farming and ag-related businesses. Often, they talk about hardships they are encountering. They have the pressure of making payroll and putting food on their employees’ tables, they have put their own life savings on the line, they have to innovate and diversify to grow, they have trouble filling positions with employees that can help their business succeed. They are dealing with regulations that they feel are unfair, and sometimes they feel the system is rigged against them. Usually, these business owners do not get vacations and rarely get days off. And somewhere there is a hope that the business becomes or continues to be something that the owners’ children will want to continue.
The bottom line is that, while the details may be different, the themes are exactly the same, regardless of whether the business person is in farming or any other business.
At Rooster Booster, our local Farm Bureau Board representative Aaron Walker’s message was “lead where you stand.” Lead where you stand. That is exactly what I see every day. The men and women in our community — farming business owners and every other kind of business owners — are leading where they stand, getting the job done and making our community vibrant, innovative and entrepreneurial.
This Saturday, we are celebrating this common ground at our Farm City Breakfast. Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles will deliver our address. Quarles is an engaging speaker and will start your Saturday off on a great foot. I invite you to join us Saturday in the Daviess County High School cafeteria. Come and celebrate the rich contributions of agriculture here.
There is no “us and them.” Each sector has to support the other. Not just because it is good for business (and it is), but because it is the right thing to do.