GFB News Magazine
I Farm. I Vote. Each vote makes a difference
Posted on September 10, 2020 12:00 AM
By Katie Duvall
My first opportunity to cast a ballot in an election was my freshman year in college. It was a presidential election, so, bulletin boards across UGA’s campus and at football tailgates were plastered with candidate stickers and political propaganda. Athens’ streets
adorned with yard signs promoting candidates.
I left the polling booth that crisp November morning wearing my Georgia peach “I Voted” sticker with pride. On election night, I stayed up with the rest of America to see who won.
After the election, I returned to my old self: uninspired and uninvested in politics until the next election rolled around. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of voting and how instrumental a role the names on the ballot would play in my future.
Until I began working in policy, I never truly comprehended the significance of voting and the impact my one vote could have on an election and my family’s livelihood - agriculture.
Jones County dairy producer Judd Chambers understands the importance of voting.
Photo by Payton Butler
Until I began working in policy, I never truly comprehended the significance of voting and the impact my one vote could have on an election and my family’s livelihood - agriculture.
In 2018, Georgia Farm Bureau’s I Farm. I Vote. campaign showed me that when many individual votes come together, big results can happen.
2020 is an important election year. This November, Georgians will elect the president of the United States, two U.S. senators, 14 U.S. representatives and 236 state legislators. Georgia’s elected officials shape state and federal appropriations, decide which bills pass the legislature, and determine the health and well-being of our state, particularly agriculture.
Peach County cattle & row crop farmer Jade Brown encourages farmers to vote.
Photo by Payton Butler
As we enter full speed into the last leg of this election cycle, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) needs your help. We are encouraging our members to engage in the I Farm. I Vote. campaign.
This initiative was created to encourage GFB members and Georgia’s agricultural community to engage in the electoral process.
Centered around voter registration, candidate education, and encouraging Georgians to vote, the campaign targets not only Georgia farmers but every citizen impacted by agriculture - the state’s No. 1 industry.
Farm Bureau’s large membership can significantly impact the outcome of these elections if we are actively involved so our collective voices are heard.
Georgia Farm Bureau is offering resources to help you make the most informed decision possible when you vote. On our I Farm. I Vote. website - ifarmivotega.com - you will find an interactive Election Guide that highlights all of the races on November’s ballot.
Please visit this guide to learn the candidates’ positions on issues important to Georgia agriculture. The website can also help ensure you’re registered to vote, locate your polling place, and find key dates/deadlines for this year’s elections.
As farmers, you have the unique opportunity to serve as a resource to friends and family who may not be as well-versed in issues affecting agriculture. We hope our website, and the I Farm. I Vote. campaign will be a valuable asset in casting your ballot. As you head to the polls this fall, take pride in the impact that your vote and others like it can have on the future of Georgia agriculture.
Visit www.ifarmivotega.com to learn candidates’ position on issues, register to vote and locate your polling place.
Katie Duvall is the Georgia Farm Bureau Advocacy & Policy Development Coordinator. She may be reached at kgduvall@gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5217.