03/20/07 Field of Dreams Part 2

Field of Dreams Part 2. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Washington State Representative Bruce Chandler of Zillah has introduced new legislation to help not only help young adults to get an education but put capable workers back in the fields and orchards. House Bill 2082 is being called the Field of Dreams and would give students college tuition assistance programs credits for workers aged 16 to 21 who work in agriculture for farmers and ranchers. Farm Bureau's Dan Fazio call the bill a win, win, win FAZIO: Last year they say we only had 45-thousand peak seasonal workers and that's down from the 60 or 65-thousand that was traditional so if we can attract some students into the fields then that's kind of a good deal. It's a second good deal because working in agriculture is a good thing for kids. They learn the value of hard work. Fazio says it's a merit program so there are no income limitations. The more students work, the more credits they accrue. FAZIO: The maximum they can earn is a 100 GET credits and they can do that over the 5 year period so they would have to be working summers and during the school year in order to get that 100 GET credits. He also says the program is open to anyone who wants to contribute. FAZIO: Someone like Farm Bureau could have a bake sale and donate money into that master account and buy some more units for that master account. You and I could make a donation into that master account and buy some units for that Master account t so there would be more units there for kids to purchase. The bill is up for hearing this Thursday. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.