Your Voice is Important

April 2023

Your Voice is Important

I have been on the road listening as many of you know but the last month, I spent a great deal of time being asked to share. As my twitter would show, I have spent a great deal of time in Richmond and some in Washington DC or with folks who work there. This is because they like so many of us, are making time to listen. Whether it is hearing us in their offices, or meeting with us at a Summit, they are listening.

And there are many voices all needing to be heard, however I have realized that when given a chance, an opportunity to speak up, we should, perhaps we must. I was asked on several occasions to share about our funding, our accomplishments, our needs. While sometimes we find it hard to speak our own truths, toot our own horns, I want to say—when someone asks—to be prepared.

What do I mean? Do you know what you are most proud of, can you share it briefly as a story? Do you know what your producers, families, communities need, are missing, would benefit from sometimes others need to know that too! We have those opportunities to make sure our voices are heard, and people know what we are doing. Whether it is a local Farm Bureau Board Meeting, Soil and Water Conservation Board, County Board of Supervisors; being present and sharing when appropriate is helping make sure your voice is heard.