By Shala Watson
Multimedia Writer
Dawson County farmer Jeremy Brown landed in the national spotlight last year as one of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) new Faces of Farming and Ranching.
Brown is serving along with four other farmers and ranchers, sharing the stories of agriculture through public appearances, dialogues with consumers and media interviews.
Brown is a fourth generation farmer who always thought he would return to the family farm after college. But after his father made a career change, Brown cultivated another career path.
He was finally able to return to his roots after 10 years away from the farm. When his father-in-law saw Brown’s passion for farming, he gave him the opportunity to return to what he loved—the farm.
Brown has attended two national events since becoming a USFRA Face of Farming and Ranching. He said these opportunities have helped him become more comfortable and confident in what he does.
Brown shared his experience on returning to the farm with the public during a panel discussion session titled “Coming Home: Next Generation Returning to Rural America to Invest in Infrastructure and Communities” at the Bayer AgVocacy Forum in San Antonio held in late February.
Land availability, loans, rising input costs and the long hours involved are all factors keeping folks from coming back to the farm.
Brown explained to the diverse audience at the forum the difficulties the agricultural community is facing—making farming and ranching a less appealing industry to enter. It’s difficult for farmers to stay profitable and sustainable with higher input prices, Brown noted.
These events have allowed him to have conversations and connect with people from urban communities that he normally wouldn’t get to. Brown uses his platform as a voice for agriculture to remind folks of the safe and reliable food source that Texas and American farmers and ranchers provide.
“A lot of times, as farmers and ranchers, we do a great job of just talking with each other,” Brown said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “So we need to go beyond our fencepost and really get out there to those who don’t know anything about the farm.”
He said engaging with consumers and bridging the gap between the farm and the table is important to fight the false information about agriculture. Many folks don’t know where their food and fiber comes from.
“I think we have to be very diligent to get out there and tell our stories, engage the people, answer questions they may have to show them this is what we do,” Brown said. “We are stewards of this land, and we want to take care of it.”
But the role farmers play goes well beyond the farm.
“We are only two percent of the population. Therefore, we are a small part,” Brown said. “But we play such a vital role in making sure that this country is sustainable and that we’re not dependent upon other places for their food and fiber.”
Brown said farming is volatile and many factors, like weather, markets and inputs, are out of their control.
But despite the risks involved, numerous challenges and low commodity prices, Brown encourages those who are passionate about farming and ranching and willing to work hard at it that they can be successful.
Hear the full interview with Brown about his advocacy efforts and returning to the farm on the TFB Radio Network.