OP-ED: Written by UW-River Falls Collegiate Farm Bureau President Brooke Beardsley, Edited by the Mid-West Farm Report’s Teri Barr
Growing up on my family’s fifth-generation farm, I always imagined that someday I might take over the operation. It seemed achievable. Now, as a 21-year-old preparing for a future in agriculture, I’m not so sure.
Like many young people who hope to continue a family farm, I’m thinking about land access, affordability, insurance and the decisions that will shape agriculture over the next 10 or 20 years. The United States is losing nearly 15,000 farms each year. That raises an important question: How can we, as agriculturists and supporters of agriculture, help ensure a future for the next generation?
To me, part of the answer is voting. Throughout my education, I was taught that voting is a right and an important way to advocate for the issues that affect our communities and our quality of life.
When I think about taking over my family’s farm, I don’t just think about crops and cattle. I think about whether I’ll be able to afford the land, equipment, inputs and other costs of running the business when that time comes.
For a young person who wants to keep a generational farm going, those numbers aren’t abstract. They can determine whether that dream remains possible.
Land use and Wisconsin agriculture
One issue that deserves attention is the rapid growth of data centers, large-scale transmission projects, and other utility developments in Wisconsin.
These projects can create real tensions in rural communities, including questions about land use, and how development fits alongside agriculture. This isn’t about being against technology or progress. It’s about making sure agriculture remains part of the conversation.
Wisconsin’s farmers have long supported their local communities and economies. As development continues, we need policymakers who understand the complexities of land use and the importance of productive farmland. Once prime agricultural soil is developed, we can’t simply replace it.
Health insurance is part of the farm conversation
Healthcare and affordable insurance are another part of farming that doesn’t always receive enough attention.
Farm income is variable by nature, and farm families can face difficult choices when it comes to health coverage. For some, an off-farm job may provide the insurance they need. Others may struggle to find affordable options that allow them to remain on the farm.
Alternative coverage options, including Farm Bureau Health Plans, can give young farmers another avenue to consider while protecting their families’ health. For someone hoping to stay on the farm, access to affordable healthcare can be just as important as access to land.
The future of the family farm
When I say voting matters, I mean it in a practical sense.
The decisions being made today about land use, affordability, healthcare, and agriculture will help shape whether taking over a family farm remains a realistic option for my generation.
I can’t afford to ignore those decisions.
As a young person who wants to see my family’s farm continue into another generation, I want to have a voice in what Wisconsin agriculture looks like — the future of Wisconsin agriculture is being shaped right now. I believe young farmers need to be part of that conversation.
Read the entire OP-ED here.
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