11/17/06 The 9-1-1 of family farms

Washington Ag November 17, 2006 Focusing on the convention theme of "taking on the tough jobs", Washington Farm Bureau president Steve Appel told delegates attending the organization's annual meeting in Yakima this week that the Farm Bureau's willingness to take on the tough jobs is what keeps it growing and has made it the 9-1-1- of family farms. Appel said Farm Bureau takes on jobs even at the risk of failing. He cited Initiative 933 as an example, but Appel also questioned whether the property rights initiative's failure at the polls was really a defeat or was it just caught up and swept away in the national trend that put Democrats in control of congress and solidified their control in the Washington legislature. And Appel had a warning for those who would interpret this year's election results as a call for a shift in philosophy. Appel: "Let me clarify if you haven't gotten it yet. We were disappointed because many people forgot what they promised to do and what they stood for when they were elected. We are hoping that officials remember that they were elected for a purpose and if they don't stick with what they promised, they can get fired just like happened last week." And back to 933, Appel said come the next legislative session, we'll see if lawmakers and the governor were serious about correcting the injustices imposed by the Growth Management Act and Critical Area Ordinances. I'm Bob Hoff.