01/25/05 Alterntive Careers for Id Farmers, pt 2

You have to wonder what would have happened to Daunya Peterson, husband Curtis and their two kids had it not been for ACIF, the Alternative Careers for Idaho Farmers program. PETERSON "I'm a farm woman. I raise a big garden. I do all my own home canning. I sew a lot of the kids' clothes. You know cutting corners we still just weren't making it." They both got into the program. Curtis has a paycheck by driving a big rig during the winter. Daunya went back to school and her registered nursing income has helped stabilize the family finances. She says there's no way they could have paid for tuition, books, childcare and transportation without help from ACIF. PETERSON "We all have a lot of ideas on how to make the farm better but this is one that they just give you enough so you can improve yourself. It ultimately comes down to yourself. You have to make the decision and take the steps improve yourself and then improve the family farm." Instead of going bankrupt, losing the farm and possibly their marriage, the Petersons are contributors to American society and the rural way of life. PETERSON "I just feel like I'm contributing to the family, I'm contributing to the farm, I'm contributing to the people that made an investment in me." Teaching, nursing and truck driving are three of the most popular options that farmers and their spouses have chosen in Idaho through the Alternative Careers program. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott