Column of the Month
July 2008

     Weather is one extreme that quickly comes to mind. During the last couple of years in Kansas alone, harsh droughts have been broken by record snowfalls resulting in lifetime yields. In other areas of the state, there has been repeated flooding. We’ve experienced extreme tornados that have flattened entire towns, destructive baseball-sized hail and massive ice storms.

     How about the extreme oil prices? Did you ever think you would say gas "coming down" to $3 per gallon would be welcome?

     And, of course, there are extreme commodity prices, agricultural and otherwise. We’ve experienced daily swings that move the market more than used to be the case in the life of a contract.

     Input costs will take your breath away, proposed livestock industry acquisitions by JBS total an eye-popping $3 billion and don’t forget the extremely large expansion proposed for the coal plant near Holcomb.

     Mainstream entertainment is extreme. There are extreme "reality" television shows and extreme radio talk show hosts, both conservative and liberal.

     Of course there’s politics. Doesn’t it sound extreme to say Hillary Clinton was the moderate Democratic candidate? We are living in a world filled with extremes.

     This is not to suggest all these extremes are necessarily bad, but one of our basic human fears is change. And when the changes, even those considered good, are so extreme, we quickly can be overcome by anxiety. Many of the extreme changes are outside of our control. So, what do we do?

     One way to help is by influencing who serves in the Kansas Legislature and Congress. As painful as this may sound at times, government is simply a reflection of our society. And there is no shortage of extreme ideas being generated by the lawmakers, from immigration to water rights to animal rights. It is vital, especially during times of extreme change, that we have wise and prudent individuals serving in Topeka and Washington, D.C. This year, all 125 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives and all 40 seats in the state Senate are up for election. Learn who is running in your district. Find the candidate who has an open ear and explain the livestock industry’s concerns. We need steady hands at the wheel, especially now.

     Also, would you consider making a financial contribution to KLA PAC, the association’s political action committee? A group of livestock producers serve on the

KLA PAC committee. They research and recommend which candidates should receive the livestock industry’s support. These recommendations are presented to the KLA Board of Directors for final approval.

     KLA PAC is funded entirely from voluntary contributions, with the proceeds used to help elect legislative candidates who support the livestock industry. No KLA dues are used for KLA PAC. As our population (and representation in the Legislature) continues to shift away from rural areas, the importance of KLA PAC increases. How the Legislature performs will be based largely on who comes to Topeka. Please consider taking time right now to send a check to KLA PAC. For the many who already have contributed, thank you!