In the beginning...

Although this blog came about as an assignment for my agricultural technology and media class, my journey as an agricultural advocate began over eight years ago. My involvement in 4-H, FFA and majoring in agricultural education at Ohio State originally set the adventure into motion. However, it was my experience with a gentleman on a flight during my year as a National FFA Officer that catapulted my efforts into overdrive...

I've always enjoyed flying because of the unique conversations that can arise from the people you sit beside. When this particular gentleman sat down next to me in his bright orange Hawaiian shirt for the flight to Chicago from Atlanta, I knew I was in for a treat. We started off with the traditional "What's your name?" Where are you from?" and "What's your reason for traveling?" questions, but it wasn't long before I threw him the curveball: "What do you do for a living?". He replied that he was in real estate and returned the question to me. I told him that I was involved in agriculture in several capacities and that I hoped to teach high school agricultural education some day. He paused for a second and stared at me like I was kidding. Then he said something I'll never forget - "Miss, I'm going to give you a little advice. Agriculture is dead." I scoffed. Then laughed, thinking he must be kidding. But he wasn't. In fact, he began to lecture me about how agriculture is a "dying industry" and how someday "we won't even need it".

To say that I was appalled would be a drastic understatement. As I tried to explain to him that it's the largest industry in the world, employing hundreds of thousands of people; and literally provided his home, the bag of peanuts he just ate and even his dreadfully awful shirt - he stopped me by putting his hand in my face and saying, "No, no, no - if you want to make money someday and have a meaningful career, go into real estate." That was about all I could handle, but with over an hour left on the flight, I calmly turned away from him and put my iPod earbuds in; cranking the music so I couldn't hear his lecturing anymore.

When I got to the terminal and made sure the gentleman wasn't in ear shot, I called my mom and recounted what had just happened through frustrated tears. She simply said, "Hannah, people don't love and understand agriculture the way that you do." As if that wasn't painfully obvious to me. However, I realized she had a point. That man couldn't love (or even appreciate) something he didn't truly understand.

That experience was a slap in the face to the reality that agricultural illiteracy is a HUGE problem. People don't know where their food, fiber and resources come from. I wish this story was the only one I could share of this kind, but unfortunately there are far too many instances like this to count. And that's why I've chosen to complete my assignment for class by beginning to detail the "Adventures of an Agricultural Advocate" as a blog about my cause and my passion. I hope you'll come along for the journey!

God Bless,

Hannah