“I would never be away from my family if it didn’t pay!” A dear friend told me this when I was preparing for my next advocacy journey. At first, I was offended, then shocked, then determined to explain.

My mind began to reason—maybe in the world of agriculture we are attached to our livelihood a little differently. Perhaps it’s because our heartstrings are tied tightly to this thing we call our job.

We show our children what hard work is all about. We care for this beautiful land, work all hours of the day and night and sometimes miss bedtime prayers and goodnight kisses even when we aren’t guaranteed a paycheck for our blood, sweat and tears. Making sacrifices seem to be the way of the agricultural world. I think it’s because we see the value—the long-term investment that turns into value.

It’s not always about the money in the bank today. What if the work and the advocacy we do today determine our children’s paycheck tomorrow? Whether it’s the grassroots of the family farm or the grassroots of an organization, there is no growth without a solid root system and a little bit of sacrifice.

My involvement in grassroots organizations like National Sorghum Producers and Kansas Farm Bureau was not driven by a particular policy or even at first a strong passion for agriculture. It began as a need—a need for knowledge and a deeper understanding of this third-generation farm I had married into coupled with my newfound longing to keep it going.

Grassroots organizations are a safe place to ask questions, gather knowledge and take advantage of opportunities to grow and support a worthwhile cause.

My own root system grew stronger by the minute. Asking questions, seeking knowledge and connecting with wonderful people has been critical to my own growth and success. From testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee for the first 2014 farm bill hearing in Kansas to hosting food bloggers on my farm and traveling to Washington with fellow sorghum growers, I’ve never stopped learning and improving the tools in my advocacy arsenal.

Mentors have been key and are a sounding board and continual source of knowledge, support and encouragement. As my knowledge grew and my involvement increased, I was encouraged to take risks and say “yes” to bigger opportunities, including leadership positions like on the NSP board of directors. Feeling like you lack the knowledge to serve was a reality for me, but I’m grateful I sought those leadership positions anyway. My background wasn’t rooted in agriculture and I was new to this arena, but I quickly learned even I can make a difference.

Less than one percent of the U.S. population is involved in farming today—I was not the minority. The questions I asked in lawmaker offices were probably very similar to questions other non-farming consumers might ask. It also gives me hope to know the way I see things and the explanations I offer may resonate with congressmen who have never left the city limits but are determining whether or not we can use [insert your favorite chemical here].

As our world gets further away from sorghum fields and green pastures, we, the grassroots of our country, have to leave the comfort of our dirt roads a little more often and take our place at the table. The best part is we have a safety net in a grassroots organization like NSP.

They do the homework for us. They keep us informed on the policies that affect us as growers, and they give us the tools to make decisions in planting and caring for our crops. When it is time for action and we cannot get away, they do the fighting for us until we can join them again on the front line.

So next time you are invited to become involved and you think about the time it takes you away from the farm and the sacrifices it requires, I urge you to take a moment and consider your actions today are for the next generation of farmers who will benefit from your investment in their future—and your own.

Amy and her husband Clint farm sorghum, corn, soybeans and wheat with their son Caleb and his wife Kennedie near Marienthal, Kansas. They have four other children—Madison, Delaney, Calli and Jury and a grandaughter, Prim. Amy is a director on the National Sorghum Producers board and an active member of Kansas Farm Bureau.

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This story originally appeared in the Fall 2019 Issue of Sorghum Grower magazine as a Feature story.