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What Teens Say...
Name: Ashley Mund
Essay Theme: Ag Science in the City |
State: Oregon
School: Monument High School |
Agriculture: The backbone
of America |
Agriculture: The American way of life, the backbone of our great
nation, the source of life all around us. Today agriculture
has taken so many new and important tasks greater than ever
before, it is the utmost supplier for food, clothing and other
products around the world.
In the small community in which I live, agriculture is the way
of life for those who live here. Small farmers and ranchers
all make their living off of the land and/or the animals they
produce. Most people have not heard of Monument, Oregon, but
it does exist!
Located in beautiful Eastern Oregon, in the spacious Grant County
is my hometown of Monument. Everyone knows everyone else, and
children are raised with strong morals and a good sense of hard
work is instilled into their bones.
With a small town comes a small school. Here we have approximately
70 students from kindergarten all the way to the graduating
senior class. From day one students not only have the opportunity
to learn about agriculture in modern day America, but they have
the prospect to see and learn of these topics first hand. By
living in an agriculturally based community, children are able
to be involved in such organizations as 4-H and FFA which are
building and creating our leaders of tomorrow. They are able
to be put in positions of responsibility and learn from them,
and teach others along their way. Kids are able to respect hard
work by gaining these experiences and in return have a better
understanding of agriculture.
Agriculture has affected me in countless ways. From the tender
age of 12 I began my very own sheep-producing business. I started
with two simple bummer lambs, and since that day my flock has
grown to over 75 sheep at times. I learned of responsibility,
money, time and resource management, as well as the basic principles
of being involved in the agricultural way of life. By having
this opportunity and taking on the task of being active in sheep
producing, I have experienced a great thing which many kids
do not have the opportunity to be a part of, and I feel extremely
blessed to have been given this lifetime opportunity.
Growing up on a ranch was also another experience which I am
very grateful to have had and learned from. I know that being
raised with parents that expected hard work and strong work
ethics has helped me to become the person I am today. I believe
that strong influences from a country home are not as relevant
today, and could be very useful to parts of our nation.
One
of the greatest parts of the agricultural community for youth
would definitely be our leadership organizations of 4-H and
FFA. I believe that these two specific organizations hold a
very great role in producing effective, responsible and strong
leaders of tomorrow. By teaching leadership, citizenship and
basic agricultural knowledge, they have shined their bright
light onto the agricultural community and have brought in many
new members from around the globe in order that they too might
have the prospect of learning about agriculture. I have been
involved in these organizations for nine years now, and since
then I have grown into a mature young adult with a true respect
for agriculture, leadership and helping others. I am taking
on the responsibility of representing not only Grant County
4-H as a county ambassador, but also the state of Oregon as
I am part of the Statewide Oregon 4-H Ambassador team. Together
we work on promoting the program and the wide array of opportunities
available.
Agriculture has affected me immensely in many ways, for the
reasons stated above as well as many more. My friends, family
and community are all part of the agricultural way of life.
Together we have struggled in times of misfortune, and flourished
in times of good wealth and together we keep trudging forward
in order to maintain our way of life in an agricultural community.
This essay was part of a 2005 essay contest sponsored by
Oregon
Agriculture in the Classroom.
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