“What in the world are they thinking?” That was my reaction when I first learned that the University of Georgia was proposing the elimination of the entire 4-H system in the state. While there are many state and federal programs that should be eliminated, 4-H is not among them.

According to Georgia extension officials, Georgia schools have the largest 4-H participation in the country; and the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton is the largest in the country with 1,428 acres of forested land, including a 110-acre lake. The proposed cuts would require 116 immediate layoffs, the closure of five 4-H facilities across the state, and net a savings of only $6,304,861.

Eliminating 4-H was part of the University System of Georgia’s proposed additional $300 million budget reductions for FY 2011. What is even more incredible is that Georgia is not alone.

The University of Nevada at Reno has announced plans to close its College of Agriculture and eliminate some departments and degree programs to reduce its budget by $11 million to meet the 6.9 percent cut higher education mandated by the state. Not only are these developments a serious threat to the future of agriculture, they represent a misguided approach to government spending. It also begs the question: who is going to produce our food in the future?

This is not a new trend, just a few years ago my home county tried to cut all funding for 4-H. A year ago, before the FBI hauled him off to jail, the former governor of Illinois was planning on shutting down most of the 4-H and extension system in the state.
In counties large and small across the country, county fairs and 4-H programs have to fight for their lives. Government budgets are tight at all levels and tough choices do have to be made, but a tough choice does not have to be a stupid choice.

The targeting of these programs by leaders far removed from the situation demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the importance and value of 4-H and agricultural education. Baxter Black, in a recent national radio program summed it up even better, “They just don’t get it.”

Black pointed out that as the number of farmers continues to decline it becomes even more vital that parents, extension educators, ag teachers and 4-H leaders instill in the next generation the realities of life on which farming depends.
“Our kids who are fitting steers, doing chores, driving the grain trucks, riding fence, hosing out the milk barn, stacking hay, are assimilating the mountain of knowledge it takes to turn dirt and rain into food,” Black explained.

He pointed out that doing farm chores or participating in 4-H programs or FFA proficiency contests, is comparable to city kids taking piano lessons or marching band, although with a much more profound objective: feeding us all.

Black correctly observed that our culture spends a good deal of money on future NBA players, astronauts and computer wizards, “But for every 100 rock stars, Rhoades Scholars and Heisman Trophy winners, we had better spend enough to train at least 2 farmers so the rest can eat.”

He ended his program by saying, “Farm kids hold our future in their hands; they are learning to feed the world.”

It is up to the rest of us, however, to give them that chance and that training. We cannot take our 4-H or Ag Schools for granted, and we need to be articulate about the benefits they bring and the importance they represent.

When the money gets tight, bureaucrats start looking for quick, easy bucks. So stand up for our future and defend those programs and institutions that are the bedrock of the future of our food production system.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt may write to him in care of this publication.