2009-2010 Sweetheart
Jennifer Shuller
Manatee County

What a great Holiday Season! The month of December started out as a very busy month. With finals drawing close it was also very stressful. The first weekend of December consisted of the Winter Quarterly as well as the Hendry County Ag- Tour. On Thursday the third of December, I arrived at the Winter Quarterly where I enjoyed yet another delicious steak dinner. Friday morning we held our business meeting as usual, and then it was off to Clewiston. I would like to thank Mrs. Lindsey Wiggins and her husband for opening up their home and for allowing my mom and me to stay there. The next morning we were off and running to LaBelle, where we attended the Hendry County Ag-Tour. On this tour I was able to visit some of the ranches in the area, such as Alico, and A. Duda & Sons. I think that these tours are important for not only the consumer, but also for the ranchers. As ranchers we can learn from each other, and we can better ourselves in many different ways. I also think that it is important that as an industry we present the public and the consumer with one unified educated message, and these farm tours are the perfect opportunity to do so. After the tour my mom and I headed back home. The next week consisted of a lot of studying and the last of my semester finals. I was very relieved, and ready for the Christmas Break to begin. The following weekend I traveled to Wachula to the first annual Prospect and Preview show, this was a lot of fun, and turned out to be a very successful event. I would like to thank Mrs. Petteway and her family for their generous hospitality. The next week began my Christmas Break, and I was off to Montana to see my big brother home. We arrived back in Florida ready for Christmas. I was blessed to be surrounded by family and friends during this Holiday season, and I hope that you and your families had a great Christmas Season as well as a very Happy New Year.

As part of my New Year’s Resolution I made a promise to myself to become more politically active and more vocal in the defense of my industry. While giving some thought to this month’s articles I came across a quote by President Calvin Coolidge,
“We pay to little attention to the reserve power of the people to take care of themselves. We are too solicitous for government intervention, on the theory, first, that people themselves are helpless, and second, that the government has superior capacity for action. Often times both of these conclusions are wrong.”

When the new administration took power last January, they promised hope and change. I am not sure about the hope, but I am for certain there has been some dramatic change, that will devastate not only our industry but our country. What I am referring to is the Christmas Eve vote for socialized medicine in America. This legislation will put a burden on all of us in the beef industry. Like President Coolidge said, some people are too anxious for the government to control every aspect of our lives and they are helpless and feel the government can do a better job of running health care then private industry. My fear is like Coolidge said that the people who support this push toward socialism, as well as the Legislators who voted in favor of it, will be wrong on both accounts. As of the writing of this article the Health Care Bill is now in Committee working out the differences between the Senate and the House versions. There is still time to call your Congressmen and Senator and oppose this Legislation. Last month I quoted Thomas Jefferson on how to deal with tyrants and show them no mercy. This past summer at the Tea Parties and Town Hall meetings the message was loud and clear, Americans do not want socialized medicine, yet these elected tyrants ignored our voices and voted in favor of this legislation. My motto has been” To Educate Before They Legislate”, but when these leaders do not listen we must then educate the public on the damage that this Legislation will do to our country and our beef industry, and work tirelessly in these upcoming elections on getting these tyrants thrown out of office. Please get involved in the political process. I know our industry is small but we need to become very vocal. With your voices we can save our industry. We are in a David vs. Goliath battle to save our way of life, but always remember that A mighty oak was just a tiny nut that held its ground!

If I can be of any assistance in the upcoming months please let me know!! Thanks so much, and stay warm!

Thanks!
Jenny Schuller
RealflCowgirl@aol.com
321-403-090