Future farmers brief current lawmakers during ag committee meeting

As has become something of a tradition, the House Agriculture Finance Committee heard Tuesday from young constituents who are fighting for similar issues.

A farmer and former Future Farmers of America Association member himself, Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), the committee chair, invites attendees of the Minnesota FFA’s annual Agricultural Policy Experience conference to visit his committee and share their experiences.

Martha Moenning, a 10th-grade member of the Triton FFA chapter in southeast Minnesota, said conference attendees learned how to be “authentic leaders” and advocates for agriculture. She also expressed admiration for the work lawmakers do.

“One of the surprising things I hadn’t realized before is just how much of a sacrifice this is of your time and that you do that for the people of Minnesota,” Moenning said. “I’m so grateful for that, thank you.”

Keegan Zimmerman, a high school junior from Lamberton, Minn. and member of the Red Rock Central FFA, told members about the mock committee meeting attendees held and “legislation” they introduced on issues they believe are important to agriculture.  

WATCH Full video of Tuesday's House Agriculture Finance Committee meeting 

Some of those included soil management, agriculture education in schools, property taxes, agriculture media and wolf management. But while they intended to discuss each of those, the FFA members only had time to talk about property tax reductions and unauthorized use of “media” on farms that may cast agriculture in a bad light.

“We feel passionately that agriculture should have a good name,” Zimmerman said.

Rep. Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg) attended the mock meeting and came away very impressed.

“I can tell you the bills they were looking at were very much like the bills we’re looking at in this committee,” Miller said.

The FFA members finished their presentation by giving Hamilton an award honoring him for his ongoing support of FFA.

“That was completely unexpected,” Hamilton said.

This year’s Agricultural Policy Experience takes place Jan. 8–10 and includes meetings with lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton, a tour of the renovated Capitol and sessions that encourage attendees to grow as leaders in their schools and communities.