NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2016
Almond Facts
37
Guest speaker Paul Wenger, president of the California
Farm Bureau Federation, and an almond grower from
the Modesto area, made a powerful case and plea for
grower support of political and regulatory advocacy at
the state and federal levels. “We cannot just sit back and
complain about the regulations and policies that impact
our businesses,” he said. “That accomplishes nothing. We
have to invest not only in our crop but also in public policy
and regulation by supporting organizations that speak
for agriculture, such as the California Farm Bureau. The
people who make policy do not know what we do or what
goes into producing the food they eat. They do not know
the risks we take. We need to explain how relevant we are.”
“Tonight is a starting point for you,” he said, urging the
young growers to get involved in political action and advocacy
for agriculture. Citing the struggles over water, Wenger said,
“We get more crop per drop than anyone else in the world.”
But policy makers think farmers are water wasters, he added,
pointing out that agriculture needs to convince the public and
government of how efficient farmers really are.
Speaking as a third-generation farmer, Wenger said, “If we
are going to be able to carry on the tradition and pass our
farms and way of life on to the next generation, we must
get involved in outreach programs. We have a battle on our
hands! We have to be better leaders in Sacramento and
Washington, DC. As a
Blue Diamond
member, you have a
brand to protect. So I urge you now to invest in your future.”
Young Leader Class of 2016
