By Valentin Celaya
“I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.” - The FFA Creed written by E. M. Tiffany (1928)
Celaya’s father herding sheep in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho in the early 1970s
Preparing for the future isn’t easy. How many of us had a “2020 Vision” this year with plans for our time and our business that all changed due to factors beyond our control? The real value in preparing for the future is that when we encounter unexpected and disruptive change, we can maintain clarity in our purpose and values and convert challenges into opportunities. “The better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”
Effectively planning for the future starts with understanding our past and present. How has your unique experience with farming and food contributed to your present perspective and future vision for agriculture?
Agriculture and life are inseparable in my personal experience. My father and grandfather both immigrated to this country as farm laborers from the Basque country in Spain. My maternal grandparents were part of the “Greatest Generation” who defended our country during World War II and raised a family with a small farm and a schoolteacher’s salary. I’m grateful for my heritage. It sparked a love for farming in me as a child which only grew through my days as a high school student memorizing the FFA Creed, and eventually resulted in a professional career serving agriculture for over 20 years. I am excited to now serve as a board member with Oregon Agricultural Trust to work with others who share a similar passion for agriculture.
Celaya with his grandfather - his first spring planting beans at about 10 months old.
Your personal connection to farming or food is different than mine, but no less important. Whether you are a farm owner, a farm worker, or someone who simply takes pleasure in the country landscape and the bountiful harvest that farmers produce, your passion for agriculture and your contribution to keeping it viable are important.
Oregon Agricultural Trust is partnering with farmers and ranchers to prepare for the future in the following ways:
· Protecting the availability of good quality land, water, and air for agriculture and for our broader communities.
· Improving the lives of farm owners and farm workers who depend on the land for their livelihood by supporting the successful transition of ownership and management to future generations.
· Supporting the economic viability of farming to provide an adequate return for risk to those who do it well.
Celaya on the same tractor pictured above
· Embracing innovation and change while honoring tradition, recognizing that success in agriculture is realized in many different ways and may look different in the future than it has in the past.
· Connecting urban and rural communities with a shared appreciation for the essential role that agriculture plays in our health, economy, environment, livelihood and well-being.
· Advocating for regulatory and policy support for agriculture’s viability today and tomorrow
Even though I can’t always see it clearly, I do believe in the future of farming and I look forward to our work together through Oregon Agricultural Trust to prepare for that future!