INDIANAPOLIS — The month of July is usually a fairly patriotic time when people reflect on America and what it means to them.
Several agriculture leaders throughout the state and the country took the time to answer what America and, specifically, the Fourth of July means to them, along with the importance of having freedom in the agriculture industry.
“If I had to express the meaning of the American experiment in one word, it would be freedom. That is what makes America so special to me and countless others. In the United States we have the ability to pursue our passions and dreams for family, business and lifestyle without interference from the government. The power of free people may be most evident when you look at America’s farmers. Since our founding, the American people have enjoyed a rich bounty of natural resources that have allowed the cultivation of our land and provided resources and food for generations. This gift of tillable land and the right to own and develop that land has made the United States a model for how free markets and agriculture can work together. America’s response for individual property rights has built a viable and plentiful system for providing quality food and natural resources for our nation and beyond. Smart agriculture policy should begin and end with meeting the needs of farmers and producers. As America’s agriculture industry continues to grow and innovate, we must always remain committed to freedom and farmers.”
Suzanne Crouch, lieutenant governor
Indiana
“The Fourth of July means pausing and celebrating the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the greatest country in the world because we know that freedom isn’t free. Just this past weekend, I had the honor of witnessing six military veterans conduct an official flag-burning ceremony at an FFA Camp in Ohio. Just as those veterans have conducted their service to this great nation, so did those flags, and when it came time for us to do so, we paid our respect to our nation’s colors and retired them with honor. Celebrating the Fourth of July means celebrating our beautiful flag and all that it represents, as well as the brave men and women who have dawned a uniform to protect it. One of the many freedoms we enjoy as American citizens is the freedom to work in any career we choose, and without hesitation, I believe I will one day choose work in the industry of agriculture. The FFA is a great organization rooted in agriculture and leadership development and it is what had led me to find a strong passion for production agriculture research. Working in agriculture means a lot to me because of the FFA and all that it has done to make me a better person and leader. No matter what, I’ll always exercise my freedoms to support my local FFA chapter and the agriculture industry and I am very thankful I have the opportunity to do so.”
Doster Harper,…
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