I had the opportunity recently to interview several university students interested in serving an educational internship at the Western Producer. After the obvious questions about journalism and career goals were asked and answered, we moved on to questions about agriculture.
The candidates, all of them eager and intelligent, talked about recent troubles facing the industry. Given those challenges, I asked, why do you think people still want to farm?
The question proved to be a stumper. And that is troubling.
It’s no reflection on the applicants, any one of whom I’d be happy to work with here at the Producer.
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But if you consider this group to be representative of the next generation, it means that those of us now involved in agriculture, and in agricultural news, have failed to adequately communicate the benefits, the advantages and yes, the joys of farm life and lifestyle.
Every farmer and rancher has his or her own reasons for this career choice – reasons plural because it’s likely a combination of many things: independence; heritage; destiny; locale and community; being your own boss; working close to nature; working with animals; land stewardship; mechanical aptitude; agronomic aptitude; the thrill of the gamble; family environment; and yes, economics.
Whatever the reasons, it appears we need to do a better job of communicating the benefits of this amazing business to those looking at it from the outside. How we go about that is another stumper. But let’s think on it.
Questions aside, a columnist with some insights into farming and ranching debuts this week on page 26.
Noel McNaughton, a writer, broadcaster, speaker, consultant and farmer with property near Winfield, Alta., has written a series of columns called Ranching After 50. The title is a reference to age, not farm income.
The series talks about attitudes toward the job, helping the kids take over the ranch, dividing management duties, setting goals and making plans for future spending. The list as I’ve presented it sounds dry but the series isn’t, and has appeal to those over and under the age of 50.
Some readers will recognize McNaughton as a speaker and consultant on holistic management and intensive grazing. He is also a frequent guest on CBC radio call-in shows in Edmonton.
The series has been previously published in Mississippi-based Stockman Grass Farmer and now we’re pleased to have it in the Producer for the next few months.
