Traveling to the state’s capital for Olympia Days was a truly incredible experience, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to engage with so many different people and be a voice for Washington wheat growers. Although I enjoyed my entire trip to Olympia, what stood out the most to me were the unscheduled opportunities that I had to talk to both government officials and other individuals who were simply visiting the Capital for various reasons. It was these spontaneous conversations that were truly eye-opening and allowed me to engage with individuals from differing agricultural backgrounds.
One of the most enjoyable experiences during Olympia Days was when the other wheat ambassador, Luke Goetz, and I handed out cookies and other items in the Capitol Building rotunda to people walking by. Although it may seem simple, it was here that I was able to truly educate others about the wheat industry, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), and agriculture in general. There were countless people, ranging from little kids who were visiting with their parents to other individuals who were genuinely curious about ag, that stopped by our booth and were eager to ask questions. It was an amazing experience to be able to answer these questions for them and share a little piece of my own story growing up as a sixth-generation wheat farmer in Whitman County. It was during these few hours that I also learned firsthand the importance of ag literacy and education. Many people who we had the opportunity to talk to had little to no idea that wheat was even grown in Washington, let alone that it is one of the state’s top commodities. Educating the public, particularly those who are in a position to make and/or influence legislative decisions, on what agriculture truly entails was one of the main goals for WAWG during Olympia Days, and I am grateful to have been a part of such an amazing organization.
After working the booth for a few hours and spending the rest of the day in and out of meetings with various legislators, it was time for the event that proved to be my favorite: the legislative reception at Anthony’s. During the reception, I had the opportunity to talk to as many different legislators as I wanted for as long as the conversations lasted. Being able to discuss what issues were most important to myself and the industry in a more casual setting was truly an amazing experience. Particularly, I enjoyed talking to those with differing views compared to myself as I was able to inform them on my own stances on varying issues that are plaguing the wheat industry today. Additionally, by adding in some surprising facts and stories into the conversation, I was hopefully able to influence their future decisions regarding the issues discussed. Furthermore, I was able to educate them on some of the hardships involved with our industry, and how certain legislation that may seem irrelevant to agriculture for policymakers truly worsens farmers’ conditions and makes it increasingly more difficult to stay in business. By telling them stories from my own personal experience while also listening to their own perspectives on the issues, I was able to see where there is often a gap between legislation and the actual farmer that merely requires a simple conversation to fill. After taking the time to have these meaningful conversations, I not only felt as though they had learned something about agriculture, but I felt that I had learned more about their own views on the issues and various other factors that go into crafting legislation.
Overall, Olympia Days taught me countless new things about government policies, legislative processes, and how different laws impact agriculture throughout the state. However, the lesson that left the largest impression on me was the ability to engage in a conversation with individuals with the same views, similar views, or completely opposite views from myself. I was able to see firsthand the amount of progress that can be made when you simply listen to an opposing side’s claim and truly consider it before stating your own ideas on the issue. I plan to take this, along with the many other lessons learned over my time in Olympia, and apply them as I approach college and my future. Again, I am very grateful for this opportunity to travel to Olympia with WAWG, and I hope that in the future, I have another chance to educate the public on agriculture and be a voice for Washington wheat growers!
Tags
