Importance of Ag Literacy

Importance of Ag Literacy

Have you heard the term Ag Literacy? Colorado State University Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education Dr. Mike Martin says It begins with connections and understanding others values —- which is what Ag Literacy entails.

Martin: "When it comes to agriculture — whether you are on the left or the right of the issue — it is a value for you. It is something you take deeply personal. You aren't going to come in and change their mind. The real trick in making a connection is understanding the language being spoken. You don't have to necessarily speak that language — it doesn't have to be your language. But when you go to a rural area and they start talking about small farms, tradition and family values — I need to know what that means. When I go into a more suburban/urban area and the group starts talking about food justice and environmentalism. You have to listen to what is important to them and what makes them tick. Being able to think about that language, understand what it means and then really honing in on what is important to them that is key. It's not that someone who shares an opposite view is bad. They do have an opposite view — but it doesn't mean they are bad. It just means they value different things. So getting to that point of realizing that when it comes to our food system and thinking of feeding our population. It's going to take everybody on board in our food system to do that. There ain't no silver bullet. We are going to need every solution out there and it is going to take everybody on the same team."

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