Recognizing our nation's future farmers

As a third-generation farmer from Sunnyside, I understand the crucial role agriculture plays in our region. From tree fruits and hops to apples, potatoes, and wine grapes, Central Washington farmers produce over 300 different products and contribute over $9 billion in agriculture production to our economy. But without prioritizing our next generation of farmers, this level of impact will soon become impossible to replicate.

The average age of farmers in the United States is 57 and a half years old, with only 9% under the age of 35. Children growing up on family farms today often want to leave to seek out other professions, and there is a great degree of difficulty — both in interest and due to barriers to entry — in getting younger Americans without an agricultural background to become agricultural producers. Our nation’s future ability to feed our population and support international trade largely depends on our youth being interested and engaged in farming and agricultural sciences.

This week is National FFA Week, and there is no better time to recognize the incredible work this program does. As a former member of the FFA, I know firsthand how vital this program is for youth not only in Central Washington, but across the country. FFA helps to advance a student’s knowledge of agriculture, and teaches them how to cultivate community relationships, take on leadership opportunities, and become further educated on the changing world around us. While learning all about agriculture, FFA also prioritizes science, math, and other skills that will help members work on the current and future problems our rural communities face. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, this is a topic I discuss with my colleagues on a regular basis.

In order for our family farms to survive, we not only need the younger generations to join the agricultural workforce — we also need to keep farms in the family. Today, we see a major threat to this: the death tax. In January, I co-sponsored the re-introduction of the Death Tax Repeal Act to protect the operations of family farms and ranches from the unfair and burdensome federal estate tax, also known as the death tax. Family farms should not be forced to close or sell out in order to pay an unfair tax. Part of the American Dream is about sustainability; working hard so you can pass the fruits of your labor on to your family. Repealing this tax once and for all is the best way for our small business owners to protect that sustainability and pass their farms on to the next generation.

Every step we can take to make entry to agriculture easier and more appealing for younger Americans means more of them will go into farming in the future. The work the FFA does to build interest in agriculture in our next generation is critical, so this National FFA Week, let’s all look to our future farmers and thank them for the work they do to pave the way for the next generation.