Category: Opinion

Fall is a season of transition.

The summer heat and longer days start to fade, and the crisp air and changing leaves begin to arrive. The kids are back in school, football is back on weekends, and the holiday season is right around the corner.

While all of this is true, to me, fall also means the start of another endeavor: harvest season.

Idaho has been, currently is, and will always be an agriculture state. It is what we are known for. Ask anyone what they think of when they think of Idaho – more than likely their first response will be potatoes. This is understandable, as each year Idaho grows roughly 14 billion pounds of potatoes, enough to earn us the #1 spot for potato production in the country.

But contrary to popular belief, Idaho is also a top contributor of more than just potatoes. Idaho is:

• Ranked #1 in barley, peppermint, and alfalfa hay production.
• The 2nd largest grower of sugar beets and hops.
• The 3rd largest producer of milk and cheese.
• Ranked 4th in the production of onions, peas, spring wheat, and lentils.

The Gem State ranks in the top ten in the nation for 30 different agriculture commodities. Our farmers are the top exporters of many products that Americans rely on. The Idaho potato is world-famous for a reason – our potato farmers help feed the world.

It’s also important to note that unlike many of the traditional farm states in the Midwest, most of Idaho’s farms are not owned by a single entity. Idaho is home to nearly 25,000 individual farms and ranches. I am among that number – as a fourth-generation cattle rancher, my family is still running our cattle ranch in Oakley that was first established in the 1800’s by my great-grandfather.

Our mom-and-pop operations are the backbone of our agriculture industry; they have a direct or indirect effect in nearly every avenue, from our state economy to our everyday way of life. Idaho’s farming operations equate to more than 11.5 million acres of Idaho land that is used to raise cattle and grow crops for our country. These acres make an impact – 18% of Idaho’s total economic output is from agribusiness alone.

Idaho’s ag industry is only getting better. Last year, Idaho’s net farm income was estimated to be more than $3 billion – a 56% increase from 2021 and the highest net income Idaho has seen in recorded history. 2022 also saw the highest milk revenues ever at $4.2 billion, as well as cattle revenues, which came in at $1.9 billion.

We depend on our farmers and ranchers for more than food, too. One out of every eight jobs in Idaho is related to agriculture, whether it’s direct or indirect, one out of every six dollars in sales in our state was related to agriculture.

The importance of agriculture in Idaho cannot be overstated. Our farmers work hard year-round, from sunup to sundown, to feed our growing population. Idaho’s elected leaders understand the value of our farmers. Idaho continues to be proactive in supporting programs that improve the quality of our soil, water, and air, to ensure a sustainable, resilient, and economically viable agricultural system.

Idaho has been discovered. There are people moving to the Gem State every day who like the way we live and want to be a part of it. But what we all must keep in mind is that while growth is necessary, so is maintaining a viable industry and a historic part of Idaho’s identity. Our farm acres should be respected for the bounty they provide. We need our farmers and ranchers – the world needs Idaho ag producers.

So, this harvest season, let’s keep our agribusinesses in mind. Next time you gather friends and family for a backyard barbecue, thank an Idaho rancher. Next time you’re pouring your kids a glass of milk, thank an Idaho dairyman. Next time you’re enjoying a hot, fresh French fry – thank an Idaho farmer.

On the last day of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin was asked whether the government being proposed for the new nation was to be a republic or a monarchy. His now-famous retort was, “A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it.” Franklin knew how fragile this new union would be and how many conflicts and difficulties the separate states would confront on their way to becoming the United States of America.

Anyone who thinks governing is easy hasn’t actually tried it. And anyone who thinks the partisan bickering and divisive rhetoric of our present day are recent developments hasn’t learned our history – or at least the history surrounding the U.S. Constitution.

In the summer of 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia, with the stated purpose of revising the existing Articles of Confederation. But many delegates, including James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, had a much wider vision; they wanted to create a new government rather than fix the old one. Their vision won the day, and a new form of government was established, with three separate but co-equal branches and a mechanism to preserve the balance among them – the system under which we operate even today.

Of the 13 original states, one (Rhode Island) did not participate at all. The remaining 12 states appointed a total of 74 delegates, but only 55 showed up to begin the deliberations. Some famous Americans were notable by their absence: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were out of the country; John Hancock and Samuel Adams did not participate, possibly because they were occupied with local affairs in their states. Patrick Henry refused to participate because he “smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy.”

The discussions were far from amicable. Sharp divisions arose over how best to structure the federal government, how to balance federal powers with those of individual states, and how to assure the proportional representation we have come to take for granted. Making matters worse, the delegates labored in Philadelphia’s sweltering and stifling heat, which caused tempers to flare and made progress excruciatingly slow. One delegate, William Richardson Davie of North Carolina, put it this way: “We move slowly in our business, it is indeed a work of great delicacy and difficulty, impeded at every step by jealousies and jarring interests.” At one point, the windows in the room were nailed shut to keep the proceedings secret, a secrecy that delegates pledged to keep for the rest of their lives.

In the course of the Convention, 13 delegates gave up and went home, convinced that no good outcome was possible. After nearly four months of difficult but determined negotiations, a workable document awaited the signatures of the 42 delegates who remained. Even then, agreement was not unanimous. Three delegates refused to sign the Constitution, and in the end, just 39 names appear on the document. Still, optimism ruled the day: Benjamin Franklin, who said he had often wondered whether the design on the president’s chair depicted a rising or a setting sun, could declare: “Now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.”

What lessons can we take from this singular moment in our nation’s history? I think there are several. First, in order to make a difference in your world, you need to show up. The Constitution was not the product of the people who refused to attend the Convention. Second, solving big problems often requires a team of dedicated individuals who may differ in their approaches but who share a common vision and a common goal – and who are willing to keep working until they reach it. Third, sometimes the only way to arrive at a solution is to gather all parties, close the door, and nail the windows shut until a workable compromise is hammered out.

“Keeping the Republic” will not happen by accident. It will require vigilance, diligence, and a concerted effort. If you find yourself discouraged by the increasing rancor and discord in our politics today, get involved! At the very least, register to vote – and then faithfully vote in every election and on every ballot measure. Apathy will kill our Republic.

Our Founding Fathers fought through rancor, discord, and dissent, setting aside their own personal interests for the sake of the greater good. And in the end, they handed us a gift of incredible value: the United States Constitution. Under its guidance, we live in the freest and most prosperous nation on earth. I am deeply devoted to making sure that my children and grandchildren will enjoy the same opportunities I have had. I hope you will join me, because every citizen of this country needs to be engaged in this effort.

As we observe Constitution Day on September 17, each of us should take a moment to reflect on this inspired document and on its importance. And we should utter a prayer of gratitude for those who labored in Independence Hall in the summer heat of 1787 to set the course for this nation’s future.

For more than 20 years, I have had the honor of spending the beginning of each new year at the Idaho Capitol, working hard to do right by those who entrusted me to be their voice at the Statehouse and to continue to make Idaho the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. The 2023 Legislative Session was no different. While my role may have changed, as your new Lieutenant Governor, I am proud of the work my legislative colleagues and I accomplished this year for the betterment of Idaho and its citizens.

A successful business climate begins with a good education system. This year, the state legislature focused on school choice, empowering parents, supporting Idaho’s public schools, and recognizing the crucial role of good teachers in every classroom. It is now Idaho law to keep parents in the driver’s seat of their child’s education and encourage consistent, transparent communication between parents and schools.

In addition, the passage of the Idaho Launch Program is a huge step forward for our state. This grant of up to $8,000 per student is an investment in Idaho high school graduates that will pay dividends back in every business sector. This scholarship will give students who want to pursue a career in the trades or attend a workforce training program the means to help pay for that education. The Idaho Career Ready Students Program that passed this session will help us meet our local industry and workforce needs by creating a pool of well-trained, skilled workers. This program will move us forward to the day when an Idaho kid can always get an Idaho job.

As inflation continues to affect almost every aspect of our lives, your elected officials also addressed rising property taxes. Governor Brad Little’s initial veto of a bill that was disguised as property tax relief was the right choice. The first bill was a mixed bag of policies that would have made significant changes to education, transportation infrastructure, and public defense funding. The Legislature then drafted a series of “trailer” bills designed to keep property tax relief simple, competitive, and long-lasting.  Idahoans will now receive $117 million of ongoing property tax relief with no unintended consequences to local control, school bonding, ambulance and fire district funding, or needed transportation projects across Idaho counties. After back-to-back-to-back years of tax relief, no other state has given back more taxpayer money per capita than Idaho has.

Idaho is focusing on the future. This year, your state government continued to remove unnecessary red tape, make smart investments in key areas, and promote a positive business climate. From establishing grant programs to help improve roads and bridges, to furthering the development of emerging clean, domestic energy technologies, and to assuring that Idaho elections are safe, secure, and transparent, the 2023 Legislative Session continued to keep Idaho well positioned for the future.

As your 44th Lieutenant Governor, I am honored and humbled by your trust. My overriding goal is to continue implementing policies that are family-centered, business-friendly, and Idaho-focused. I am proud and excited to work with Governor Little as we make our state one that we can all be proud of.