There are so many assumptions in agriculture, especially when it comes to politics. I\u2019ve often faced criticism from both sides, being called both a \u201cTrumper\u201d and a \u201clibtard.\u201d Why? It\u2019s because I advocate for agriculture based on facts, not party lines, and sometimes this means calling out both sides<\/em>.<\/p>\n One thing I want to get straight is that I will never publicly discuss my political leanings and who I did or did not vote for in any election. Both in general and in agriculture, I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s about being right or left. It\u2019s actually about doing what\u2019s right for farmers and following credible science. My job as an advocate has nothing to do with telling people how to vote, but I do give people the knowledge they need to think critically about agriculture.<\/p>\n Attaching a political label to things means we lose the opportunity to have meaningful connections and conversations based on fact. Political statements cloud the entire conversation. I want the conversations we have about food and farming to be one thing: fact-based. Land use, rural communities, farming practices, and more are debated in politics, with each side claiming the moral \u201cright\u201d side. In reality, each side is missing the nuances of ag and often ignoring the science, economics, and actual feedback from real farmers and ranchers.<\/p>\n Each issue that\u2019s debated can easily become a political talking point used to call attention to the party or politician instead of creating a real solution to help our ag industry.<\/p>\n Both sides have done things that are not great for agriculture, which is why we need to think critically about everything. Lets call out things that politicians and elected officials say and do that spreads misinformation (or worse, disinformation) or has a negative impact on ag. It\u2019s especially hard when many politicians themselves are removed from the farm, so they are often supporting causes based on party lines, not because it\u2019s what is actually right for our industry.<\/p>\n When I look at politics through the lens of ag, I don\u2019t care about most things. I care that those who make decisions about our food, farmers, and rural communities make decisions based on facts, not just what follows party precedence. Ensuring those individual decision makers have at least some experience and background in ag is key. For example, I was excited to see Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins take Robert F. Kennedy, our Secretary of Health and Human Services, to a Texas farm in April. This was a good step to help him gain a little first-hand knowledge that can hopefully help him see what farmers need and what will actually make America healthy again.<\/p>\n![\"AFT\"](\"https:\/\/www.agdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bg-american-flag-shed-By-ThomasPhoto.jpg\")