812-l_ancaster Farming, Saturday, March 8, 2003 Agri-Education Seminar Addresses Emotional Stresses That Impact Family Farming LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Times are tough economically for farmers. All agricultural com modity prices are low. Bio-securi t\ concerns, changing technolo gy, government policies, and harsh weather patterns combine to put more stress on farm fami lies. Dwindling prices, bank loans, and the results of last year’s drought-withered crops are hav ing a detrimental affect on family relationships. Concerned that the negative dynamics of human re lationships can destroy family farms, First Union’s Agri-Educa tion Seminar last week included a session of helping families learn to handle stresses and resolve conflict. “During extended periods of farm stress from being over worked with little rest, constant worry, low market prices, and financial hardships,” Hanson said, “it is often the ones that we love the most that are the first to experience our frustrations. Our sense of helplessness in not being able to change the present situa tion builds up anger that spills out on those we love the most.” “I have spent 24 years counsel ing farm families that are being pulled apart from stresses,” Dr. Ronald Hanson, Nebraska, said. “I know what it’s like. I came from one of those families.” Growing up in a farm family in the Mid-West, Hanson learned from experience that low farm prices force many farm producers to leave agriculture. “But the real tragedy is that many farm family relationships will be destroyed during this pro cess,” Hanson said. Demands on time and econom ic stresses cause families to lose perspective on what is most im portant family relationships. “Farms can be replaced, but if you destroy a marriage or lose a family, you are not always given a second chance,” Hanson said. Hanson outlined potential areas of disagreements that many '• v « v '* sr > r West Snyder FFA Farm Safety Team The West Snyder FFA Chapter Farm Safety Challenge Team placed second in the state competition in the Farm Safety Challenge at the PA Farm Show. From left: West Snyder FFA Safety Challenge Team Jeremy Waite, Brad Novinger, Derek Fetterolf, John Tackelosky, PA Depart ment of Agriculture, Sam Hayes, PA Secretary of Agricul ture, Tiffany Esbenshade, Hannah Etzler, Jenna Briggs, and a sponsor from Ford New Holland. Dr. Ronald Hanson, left, Nebraska, knows from first hand experience that stresses from farming can destroy family relationships. In addition to teaching ag economics at the University of Nebraska, Hanson spends much of his time teaching and counseling farm families on how to re solve conflicts. families especially those with several generations farming to gether face. Conflicts on decision making, implementing new ideas, and money-spending are at the top of the list. Families must learn to commu nicate their viewpoints but at the same time be respectful of differ ing opinions within the family. They must be willing to compro mise, Hanson said. Fathers, especially, must allow their adult children to learn from mistakes without condemning them with the attitude of “I told you so.” Hanson said that fathers and sons have many more conflicts than fathers and daughters in family partnerships. “In my 24 years of counseling, I never had a father and daugh ter come for counseling,” Hanson said. “Dads don’t see daughters as a threat.” FFfl-75 One Mission: Student Success Instead, Hanson believes, dads see sons as an extension of them selves and raise them to be like them and do things “my way.” Hanson’s outlined numerous strategies to resolve family con flicts. “To operate a successful farm ing operation takes a lot of effort with all family members,” Han son said. “It takes patience, per sistence, understanding, courage, personal strength, and forgiv eness.” Families can benefit from hav ing a third party such as a coun selor help them work through differences in a more objective and professional matter. “Too many times we keep things bottled up inside. The atti tude is ‘I have to find a way to work this out myself. This sense of isolation solves nothing and depression can result.” Manor FFA Members, Alumni MILLERSVILLE (Lancaster Co.) The Manor FFA Career Development Meats team recent ly competed at the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Ken tucky. The team, composed of Jenna Bleacher, Ben Railing, Scott Gingrich, and Jeremy Appel placed first at FFA Activi ties Week at Penn State in June and earned the opportunity to compete in Louisville. At nationals the team placed bronze and Scott Gingrich placed silver individually. During their competition the team identified forty retail cuts, yield and quality graded beef carcasses, took a written test, judged lamb and hog carcasses, placing of retail cuts, and a team event where they an swered questions on beef car casses. Sponsors of the event include Excel Corporation, Hormel Foods Corp., Oscar Mayer Foods Corp., Premium Standard Farms, and Tyson Foods as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. It is one of 23 career development events held annually at the National FFA Convention. Farm families are very private, but personal pride and stubborn ness that keep them from sharing personal feelings also keeps them from solving family differences. Often expressions of “1 love you,” and “1 appreciate you” are left unsaid when family members are farming together. Hanson said appreciation needs to be ex pressed in family relationships. Sharing a few simple words of appreciation and love can make a dramatic difference in any farm family relationship. Other Topics Other topics addressed at the agri-educational seminar on Un usual Times, Unusual Actions in cluded a keynote address by Dr. Robert Steele, dean of Penn State’s College of Agriculture Sciences. Steele told how the uni versity pursues innovative solu tions to biosecurity and technolo gy advances in agriculture despite budget cuts. “Only a small percentage of farmers east of the Mississippi are influencing federal Farm Pol icy. This must change,” Steele said. It’s important for local fanners to become involved in legislative affairs because Federal farm poli cy will drive agriculture for the next 10 years. According to Jay Bryson, glob al economist for Wachovia Secu rities, the U.S. economic outlook is set for recovery if low interest rates continue, the war with Iraq is short, there are no more terror ists’ attacks or other unforesee able events. Dr. David Kohl, ag economist from Virginia Polytechnical Insti tute, encouraged the audience to plan for the changing face of ag riculture. Some of the changes he foresees are women becoming more involved in agriculture and ag finance. Consolidation in food companies with WalMart leading the pact in demanding how, when, where and why they want a product will force farmers to find innovative niches in market ing their products. Kohl divided farmers into four Retired Penn Manor High School ag teacher Gus Birchler is pictured with American FFA degree winners. Back row, from left, Gus Birchler, Adam Nissley, Michael Hess, Jason Martin, Jeremy Railing, Allan Herr Jr. Front, Audrey Nissly. Six Manor FFA alumni mem bers were honored at the nation al convention. Jason Martin, Mike Hess, Allan Herr Jr., Au drey Nissly, Adam Nissley, and Jeremy Railing earned their American FFA Degree and were presented with their awards on stage at Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. The American Degree is a national award and the highest award that the FFA can bestow upon its members. groups: hot shots with no wealth accumulation, achievers with positive wealth accumulation, coasters with negative wealth ac cumulation, and strugglers with no wealth accumulation. Kohl explained the 10 charac teristics of each group and what changes are needed to remain in farming. Four out of five farmers are living off the wealth of the past generation, and it will cause eventual problems. “It is not how much you make, but how much you spend,” Kohl said. “Cash is king,” he said of the economy. Youth and the future of agri culture was addressed by Penn sylvania Dairy Princess Raechel Kilgore, who told how 4-H, FFA, and the dairy princess program shows the immensity of agricul ture’s role in the world. Reporting from Washington D.C. was John Blanchfield, di rector for American Bankers As sociation. Reactions to current ag market forces by Penn State professors Dr. Lou Moore and Dr. Ken Bai ley were reported in previous Lancaster Farming articles. “You are not a weakling for seeking professional help (when dealing with stress),” said Darvin Boyd, senior vice president of agri-finance at First Union. Honored At Convention Mifflinburg FFA Team Brings Home Gold The Miminburg Area High School FFA Safety Bowl team proved to be the best of the best at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Team members Jamie Camp, Danielle Murphy, Nicole Mur phy, Joe Spangler, and Jessica Zimmerman won first place in the competition. They qualified for the competition by placing at Ag Progress Days in August. For the competition, students were quizzed on the topic of safe ty, including agriculture, home safety, tractor safety and more.
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