Planting the seeds

April 14, 2006

JOEL DAVIDSON

Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - The era when young men and women operated millions of family farms across America may be long gone, but that hasn't stopped a group of local volunteers and educators from trying to spark an agricultural revolution in this age of tech-loving, Internet-savvy youth.

These days, gray and balding farmers dominate the U.S. agricultural landscape, where small farms continually give way to mega-agricultural corporations, urban sprawl and the inevitable march of time.

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average U.S. farmer is 55 years old, and most have no one to pass the business to when they retire. Alaska is no exception. Each summer, subdivisions and commercial developments eat away at the state's best farmland in the Mat-Su.

&#8220Basically, farming throughout the nation is an older person's game anymore,” said Karen Olson, executive director of the Mat-Su chapter of the Alaska Farm Bureau. &#8220Most kids now are two or three generations removed from having any relatives who grew up on a farm.”

Olson and others, however, are not ready to give up the fight for the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals. This spring, a series of events throughout the Valley will highlight the role agriculture plays in everyday life.

On May 2, local groups and non-profits will mark Alaska Ag Day with a series of presentations, games, and events meant to bring 21st Century Americans face-to-face with agriculture.

Part of the problem of recruiting future farmers is that most kids have no idea what farm life is like. Even in the Mat-Su, the site of much of Alaska's prime agriculture land, farms increasingly have less affect on younger generations, Olson said. That lack of contact is perpetuated as each generation has less reason or desire to take up farming or agricultural careers.

At Palmer High School, agriculture and natural resources teacher Don Berberich is doing his part to inspire young green thumbs. Berberich incorporates Future Farmers of America programming into his classes to show students that agricultural careers still are readily available.

In the past, Berberich's students have raised a wide range of plants and animals. Everything from rats, pigeons and alligators to pheasants have waddled through Berberich's program. These days, he focuses more on flowers, trees, shrubs and vegetables, while encouraging kids to raise their own animals at home.

&#8220Everyone wants to have a calf or a chicken,” he said. &#8220At this beginning level, I push them all into production because you can learn so much from having just a couple of rabbits.”

In the long term, Berberich is aware that most of his students won't become full-time farmers.

&#8220We are looking at 1 percent of the population that is in farm production,” he said. &#8220Thirty percent, though, are in the marketing and developing of agricultural products.”

With that in mind, Berberich encourages his students to look at the full range of agricultural careers available.

&#8220Long term, I'm pushing landscape design, golf course management, crop research, and the emerging agricultural technologies,” he said.

Each summer, Berberich works with a handful of students who grow flowers, vegetables or other products to sell them for a profit.

The money goes toward their FFA projects or agricultural-related scholarships, and gives students a taste of the monetary benefits of farming.

&#8220We have a mini farm,” Berberich said. &#8220We sell to parents and teachers. The kids are always excited about money - not just having it, but the challenge of making it.”

Berberich's daughter, Taylor, is a student at Palmer High, where she grows approximately 200 dahlia plants to sell at Friday Flings, a summer outdoor market in Palmer. At age 15, she's not sure whether or not agriculture will be a career, but she's already hooked on growing things.

&#8220I definitely want to have a big garden,” she said.

&#8220I've thought of having a business where people could come in and make their own heart-felt (floral) arrangements.”

It's never too soon to introduce agriculture to kids, said FFA volunteer Carol Kenley. Kenley works with high school students who present agricultural talks to area elementary students about how agriculture affects almost every area of their lives.

&#8220A lot of kids don't connect agriculture to everyday life,” she said. High school students explain how clothing, pizza, and even footballs relate to agriculture.

Ultimately, Berberich believes there's plenty of opportunity for the next generation to get into agricultural careers. It may not be the same as it was a generation ago, but opportunities still abound, he said. Even smaller-scale family farms have a future, he said, pointing out that Mat-Su farmer River Bean has operated a viable small business selling organic vegetables on a special-order basis.

&#8220Some of the best products come off small farms,” Berberich said, while admitting that the industry is changing.

&#8220Agriculture is always changing,” he explained. &#8220The technology is dynamic and constantly improving and evolving - that's why 1 percent of the population can provide food for everyone else.”

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.