So
there I was...
posted
Sept. 29, 2006
How
many times have you heard a friend barge into a conversation
with that catch line? Usually some funny story follows this
well- worn phrase, however tonight I use the line with a tad
bit of remorse.
So there
I was.....at "skit night" tonight joining the celebration
of "CAFNR Week." For those of you who are lucky
enough to not know what CAFNR week is, I'll try to fill you
in. Formally known as AG Week, CAFNR Week is meant to promote
fellowship, fun, and agriculture in the College of Agriculture,
Food, and Natural Resources. Activities during this week are
supposed to reflect the fore-mentioned goals.
Tonight
though, I felt a certain amount of distance from the crowd.
There I was....sitting upright in my seat, clapping for those
performing on stage, and all the while trying to contain the
intense amount of dissatisfaction that was brewing inside
of me. Because to me, the name change of AG Week to CAFNR
Week reflected more the general attitude of people regarding
production agriculture than a need to better identify with
the entire student body of the College of Agriculture, Food,
and Natural Resources. And for the most part, tonight I felt
in the minority.
College
is not the only place that I detect this sentiment. From conversations
with my neighbors to my teachers, it is clear that public
acceptance of AGRICULTURE is on the decline. People don't
want to be called "Farmers" for fear of being ridiculed
as a simple-minded, poverty-stricken fool. It is obvious that
both CAFNR and the majority of students don't want to be known
as "Agriculturists", it doesn't sound exciting or
prestigious enough. "Farming" was something that
our grandparents did, and only because they lacked the education
to do anything better. It seems that to be a Farmer today
means failure, worthy of the same association that "stay
at home mom" earns. This stigmatism in American society
is a parasite that robs our nation of some of the most capable
people in their field merely because public acceptance ranks
these tasks lower than others. It is hurting our nation, our
future, and MY pride.
I am a
Farmer. I am not a simple-minded, poverty-stricken fool, but
rather an investor and caretaker in the production of LIFE.
What I grow is not someone else’s, I am not a servant
to any other than God. I toil for the benefit of society as
a whole. It should not be surprising to anyone with the knowledge
of my situation that I take offense to the actions of the
College of Agriculture, the CAFNR Week planning committee,
and the students in general. By glossing over agriculture,
by referring to my friends and I as "hicks" or "rednecks",
these people have neglected one key point-- we are still the
group that feeds and clothes, that cares for the natural cycle
of life and death, creation and destruction. We are the cornerstone
upon which all other progress has been and will be achieved,
and we are beginning to feel like the off-color brick in a
mono-color wall.
I feel
remorse because as I sat there, I reflected upon the times
that I took my title for granted, or misrepresented my vocational
calling. I feel remorse because I allowed this to happen,
for these people to dilute the potency of the agricultural
ink. But most of all, I feel remorse because I know that tomorrows
generation of students will be completely oblivious to this
abrupt change in priorities, and I know my generation will
be partially responsible for their ignorance.
So there
I was………surrounded by at least 100 people…..and
I felt alone.
Scott Coleman
CAFNR senior
