As your Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Vice President, I once asked MFBF President Al Christopherson “What is it you don’t like about being President of the state’s largest farm organization?” His answer was quick and direct-airports! As I write this month’s Voice of Agriculture column from the Washington, D.C. airport, I would like to talk about airports.

Sitting at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), I am reminded about all the great things about this country we live in, and the things we need to be thankful for this holiday season.

Families
The airport is full of families traveling to and from visits with friends and relatives. Please make and take the time this holiday season to spend it with your family and thank them for always being there for you.

Men and Women in Uniform
There is no better place than the airport to see first-hand the men and women who fight for this country being reunited with their families. As I sit here, I see seven members of our armed service not spending time with their families, but traveling alone. I cannot tell if they are on their way home or on their way back to war, but I know they have families worrying about them. MFBF sincerely thanks the men and women and their families for the sacrifice they make to protect our freedom. I am confident every Farm Bureau member knows that freedom is not free. It is paid for by the blood of our service men and women. Please make and take the time this holiday season to thank those men and women and their families for fighting for this great country and keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Elected Officials
The great thing about Washington, D.C. is there are always politicians somewhere in the airport! It is great time to engage them and remind them how important farming and ranching is to our country. I fully understand that every MFBF member cannot be engaged at the D.C. airport, but I also know that every MFBF member can be engaged with their elected officials by mail, email, fax or a cell phone call from the tractor, machine shed or livestock barn.

Farm Bureau Members
Whether at the airport, at the state or nation’s Capitol, at a Farm Bureau meeting or at home caring for the crops and animals we raise, it is our members that are the lifeblood of this organization. Our members are how we get things done. A special thank you to each and every member that help MFBF accomplish our mission to be an advocate for agriculture driven by the beliefs and policies of our members. Julie and I wish each and every one of you a safe and blessed holiday season.