Getting your foot in the door is half the battle when it comes to advocacy. As a farmer, it’s important I stay in front of those who are crafting policies impacting my bottom line, and that’s why I have always been a staunch supporter of political action committees that support my interests here at home.

When my wife Mary Ann and I decided to move to the old 160-acre family farm I grew up on in South Texas near Corpus Christi, it took the help of my two uncles and many sideline jobs to become a farmer, but I also needed some type of insurance and affiliation with an agriculture organization. That led to the start of a long advocacy journey that began with Texas Farm Bureau (TXFB) where I became familiar with PACs and how important they were to supporting people.

With TXFB, I learned the value of being involved in discussions about the farm bill and regulations where on-farm input was sought. As a TXFB director, I had the opportunity during the 2008 farm bill to meet with Collin Peterson and other important lawmakers. I’ve met with President Obama, both Texas Governor and President George W. Bush, and I worked on Rick Perry’s campaign, both for Texas agriculture commissioner and governor.

I started contributing to the ag fund with TXFB and to individual candidates, and I am as passionate about giving today to the Sorghum PAC. Sorghum is a staple in South Texas and on my farm, and while every commodity is in the game fighting for fair treatment, I have a responsibility to this commodity and devote my time and financial resources to ensure it has a seat at the table.

Perhaps we needed it most when tariffs with China were enacted and sorghum was dealt a heavy blow from their ministry of commerce. Sorghum needed representation—quick—and fortunately years of relationships built in Washington, D.C., helped resolve the issue.

The whole thing boils down to the fact you cannot be different than anyone else if you do not support a campaign or someone who is going to speak on behalf of you or your area, and there is a cost for you to be considered a player or as someone who cares. Once you establish a relationship or friendship through that commitment, it’s easier to call on those individuals when you do have a real problem.

No one knows or feels the circumstances that producers feel at the farm level any more than farmers. It brings a passion for farming into those conversations with political leaders and regulators that makes all the information in a conversation genuine.

It gives me a great bit of satisfaction to realize that effort is extremely important and supports what needs to be done to preserve sorghum’s profitability. It does not happen by itself though, and it is incredible how much good is done with so little in the sorghum business. That’s why I give to the Sorghum PAC.

Bobby is a National Sorghum Producers board member from Sinton, Texas. He operates a 6,000-acre farm with his family, growing grain sorghum and cotton. Nedbalek is also a past Vice President of Texas Farm Bureau.

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This story originally appeared in the Fall 2019 Issue of Sorghum Grower magazine in the features department.