More than a decade ago, I wrote a series of articles for an agricultural paper. The series was called The Seven Bank Accounts of a Farmer. Whether you are a farmer or not, the same seven bank accounts still apply.
Soil is what everything comes from. Food, water (either surface wells, deep wells, a spring, or a river or creek), what we wear, and where we live, all comes from the ground. Seed can be what plants come from, the quality of bull that a farmer buys or the semen that the herd is inseminated with, or the quality of a partner that you pick to be your mate and parent to your children.
Dad used to say, “any day that you don’t learn something is a lost day.” The team is what makes up all the people that you rely on to make your farm, or your life the best possible: your veterinarian, medical doctor, carpenter, plumber, electrician, banker, financial adviser, spiritual adviser, eye doctor, nutritionist, crop specialist or grocery store, employees, and finally a mortician. Neighbours are what can make life fun or a never-ending problem. Having great neighbours starts with yourself.
Politics and how involved you get can be a huge asset to your farm or yourself, or you can leave that bank account empty and depend on others to guide the politicians. Sometimes others didn’t do a very good job. The last bank account is money. If you keep the other six bank accounts topped up, the money will be there. If you depend solely on money as being your guide, you will find out that life is missing something.
Now back to politics. If you think that politics has nothing to do with success, maybe think about your union, general farm union, milk board, beef board, grain boards, honey board, hog producers board, egg producer board, chicken board, turkey board, junior farmers, lady farmers, organic farmer board, or the union at work that watches out for your future, our municipal council, our MRCs, the provincial MNAs, our federal MPs, and all the staff and advisors to all those politicians who remain employees no matter who is in power.
There are countless groups that help to keep our country safe and everyone looked after like the churches, Lions clubs, Rotary clubs, Knights of Columbus, our consumer association which keeps an eye on our food costs, and a dozen others that I just didn’t remember. Most of those politicians rely on someone to keep them informed about everything and it’s up to us to all do our part to supply them with accurate and timely information. No matter who is in power, it is our obligation to work with them to help them do the best job possible while they are there, whether we agree with everything that they do or not.
Before they are elected, we must be aware of their intentions and thoughts and tell them what our thoughts are. We should attend every information night and all candidates debates that we can squeeze in and ask questions when the time comes. If they get squeamish when a few constituents ask tough questions, how will they behave at council, annual meetings of associations, or in parliament? Have you noticed that it is often the least informed and seldom seen at pre-election events that complain the loudest when things don’t go their way?
As you attend more of those pre-election events, you will notice that politicians listen politely while people complain but listen attentively when a possible solution is put forth or just factual information. It is interesting to watch hordes of taxpayers ask for the moon but in the next breath they want their taxes cut. Many of the politicians do not know everything but rely on factual information given to them. Every time that new politicians arrive or a different political party takes power, the process of re-education starts all over again. We have all noticed some very smart members arrive while some, we wonder how they ever got elected.
While listening to a group of my elders over a coffee, I often heard them say, “If you don’t vote or attend pre-election debates, then you have no right to complain after.” I have sat on different boards and councils and always appreciated older, deep-thinking citizens who talked to me about items that might or should come up at future meetings. There have been and always will be complainers in every political situation, and they will be heard. Facts and maybe possible solutions will always be welcomed at any meeting. Always thank future politicians for their interest in our future. Politics has been in our world for thousands of years and will continue to give us an opportunity to choose the best people to represent us. Please, everyone do your part.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
