Agrarian Values
March 23, 2006
I believe in the values of sincerity, hard work, responsibility, and dedication. These beliefs stem from a family who has supported me to live true to my values, from witnessing peers approach life respectful of others, and from interacting with people who were born with little and strive for betterment. These examples have taught me the value of honest work and to look beyond one’s self interest.
My family has been involved in California agriculture for 125 years. Thus, the presence of agriculture in California has always served as a stabilizing force in my life as working with the land has been a unique opportunity to connect with my heritage and community. While it is a challenging field, I view participating in agriculture as an opportunity to take part in a tradition, provide for people, and protect essential resources, namely fertile land, water and habitat.
Ironically, I first took my agricultural background to a university in New England, a region known for its extreme weather, a short growing season and thin topsoil. There my peers were not farmers but rather came from places like Vermont and Taiwan, Alabama and Singapore, Florida and the Middle East. My stomach still remembers the shocking culinary differences, created by my colleagues. Cooking trials ranging from moose stew to hominy grits to fish ball soup and fermented duck eggs were rarely enjoyed but somehow appreciated. I am forever grateful for this time in my life as it fostered sharing and understanding.
Following my graduation from college, I managed two small farms. While my focus was to ensure the farms succeeded financially, I learned that an effective manager must be active in creating a healthy work environment. Looking back, I am proud of the relationship we established with our harvesting crews. In our efforts to reduce the common occurrence of crew abandonment, we realized that this is not only an economic problem but a social issue concerning people in need of consistent work to stabilize themselves and their families. Through crop diversification and communication we now contract with a smaller harvesting crew for nine consecutive months each year. Together, through cooperation, we plan and prepare for the coming seasons.
We live in a world where the forces of profit and competition are strong. These forces seek to divide and reduce those working alongside us into costs that must be measured and lowered unto the lowest marginal level. Without action and control, this system is bound to result in bare subsistence for some and grand affluence for others. To overcome these forces, we must act beyond our own self-interest and in support of others.
I admit I am an imperfect example of such behavior as I have been given many privileges. I recognize that one of these privileges is my education. However, I believe this education comes with the responsibility to engage life as an effective thinker strengthened by values and driven by optimism. This is my personal compass.