Inspiring Young Rancher
The commodity markets were closed on Friday for Good Friday. Today I want to share the perspective of one of our region's up and coming ag producers. A past national FFA officer, junior at the University of Idaho and 5th generation rancher Seth Pratt was recently on a US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance panel of Next Generation of America's Farmers and Ranchers. He shares a little of what he spoke about on the panel.Pratt: "The unique perspective I had on the panel - now most of the folks on the panel were beginning farmers they were in the tractor's seat. I was still in school however, so my perspective was not only what do I think but what do all the students in my ag classes in Idaho think. Overall — and I hope I expressed this on the panel — there is a strong sense of optimism. We've got a burgeoning middle class across the entire globe that is pushing agriculture product demand in a way we haven't seen before. I think back to my father's generation that came through college during the farm crisis of the 80's — and the experience he had in school as to compared to the experience I now have. While there may be less farmers overall as a percentage of population — those that are here are today are incredibly excited, passionate and optimistic about the career they are beginning."
Pratt also encourages current farmers to connect with beginning farmers as mentors.