When we called Joy one evening, she was still standing out in the fields finishing up the day’s work. At 51, Joy lives on the family farm she grew up at in tiny Bruning, Nebraska, with her 82-year-old father. She farms pigs and also grows corn and soybeans.Since she returned to Bruning (population: 300) to take over the farm 20 years ago, Joy has been fiercely involved in rural and agricultural issues, helping to draft the recent farm bill and serving on the Obama Agriculture Committee.
I’ve always been interested in politics and policy. My grandfather was a staunch Democrat who always said, “If we don’t say anything, nobody else is going to say it for us.” That’s how I got involved. People in rural areas are often afraid to speak up. We’re conservative people. We don’t brag about what we do, and when policies are being set they’re often set by people who don’t understand us. So I started championing farm issues to the government.People here are often afraid to speak up. I thought if I got involved, others might feel empowered to get involved too.
Joy is excited about the convention. She went to the 2004 convention as a spectator but not as a delegate. “It was such a great experience. At the time, I told my friend I was there with “someday I’ll come back as a delegate.” But I had no idea it would be only four years later! I think we’re going to walk out of the convention in a unified fashion. We have a golden opportunity this year to come together and make change happen.”Joy is working hard to highlight the interests of rural voters this election.
It’s important to make sure there’s fairness in agricultural regulation. And telecommunications is important in rural America. I like in the great state of Nebraska, and I have a terrible time getting a cell phone signal. We need better infrastructure in rural areas. Putting a better infrastructure into rural areas will help the whole country. It will have a huge impact on the rural economy, which will improve the economy of the whole country.
She says healthcare is also a big issue for rural voters. “It costs a lot to go to a doctor, and we have to drive a long way for some services. We need to make medical services more accessible to people. People don’t always spend money to take care of themselves when they have to pay bills. I really worry that people right now don’t have enough to make it all work.”Joy loves doing her part to speak up for rural Americans.
For those of us who run farms, our whole goal is to keep agriculture in the United States and produce good food for the country. If we’re going to feed the world, we need the right policies and attitudes to get it done.
She met Senator Obama at an agriculture event and is convinced he has what it takes to work for rural America. “He’s a good, sound thinker and that’s what we need. Obama is willing to listen to our concerns and try to address the rural issues. He’s got real common sense.”
With five days to go until the start of the Democratic National Convention, excitement is building in Denver and across America. Soon, delegates from all fifty states will convene in the Mile High City to cast their ballots for Barack Obama and witness his acceptance of the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States. Thursday, August 28th will be the biggest night of the campaign so far. Even if you can’t be in Denver, you can be a part of this historic convention by attending a Convention Watch Party in your area.
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