I Farm. I Vote. Here’s Why You Should, Too.

By Austin Vandertie, Door County Farm Bureau Member

The simple principle that decisions are made by those who show up may be as old as self-governance itself. As Americans, we are fortunate to have the opportunity and responsibility to choose who leads us, but as with everything else, life gets in the way if you let it. Long days in the barn or the field, family obligations and a never-ending to-do list can leave little time for political engagement.

That's why the I Farm. I Vote. campaign is important. It helps farmers and farm neighbors stay engaged and informed about issues and candidates and have their say on Election Day. It also helps ensure candidates pay attention to the issues that matter to farmers and rural areas.

I'm Austin Vandertie, a sixth-generation dairy farmer and new owner of Doorco Farms, LLC located on the Door County Peninsula. We operate a dairy and grain farm rooted in a long family history in agriculture, focused on producing quality genetics and safe, dependable food. As a family farm, our goal is to build upon the foundation established by previous generations, focusing on land stewardship, animal care and the long-term sustainability of our farm.

The number of farms and farmers has been decreasing nationwide for years, making it more important than ever for those of us who understand the challenges facing farmers and rural communities to be part of the process. As young farmers, those of us with skin in the game are obligated to make sure the people who are asking for our votes know what we are up against, as well as how the decisions we are empowering them to make directly affect us.

Elected officials who don't come from a farm background, and that's the majority these days, may not know what goes into keeping a farm going day-to-day. Through my work with Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Volunteers for Agriculture^®, I help bring the issues that are important to farmers to the attention of candidates, such as transportation, taxes, conservation, trade, energy, succession planning and regulation. We do outreach to candidates, educational events, farm visits, candidate endorsements and more. But when it comes to shaping outcomes in politics, nothing speaks louder than your vote in the ballot box.

I Farm. I Vote. is an ongoing effort to bring attention to the importance of voting and being informed through social media, signs, publications and peer-to-peer interactions at local events. It is intended to make it as easy as possible for farmers to keep track of their local races, the positions of state and federal candidates, election dates and opportunities to vote early, absentee or at your local polling place.

Your vote helps shape the future for your family, your community and our state and nation. No matter how hectic life gets, we cannot afford to let others make our choices for us at the ballot box. Keeping that top of mind is why the I Farm. I Vote. campaign matters; we all owe it to ourselves and our families to keep showing up.