CROP CHANGE There are certain things you hope will some day "come true"..."exist".."come to be."
I'm talking about "real" things, too - not about fanciful dream things such as eager, not-to-young men putting the finishing touches on the reality of World War II read about how we , by this time - actually a decade or two ago, now - would all be riding around our own little "air car" all of us were to have by that time. Other such encouraging ideas were held in front of us who were "getting out" - as in out of a prison of some sort and wondering what changes the rather vague times ahead held for us. Most of us came out in a better mood than you might be thinking.
Blessed with that strange American gift called "a fine sense of humor" I must have been among those returning who are said to have asked: "Where do I go to get my ten thousand dollar bonus and may new air car helicopter?" Let me illustrate that same type of inconsistent thing that happens in our lives - often without our even being aware of such changes taking place.
I am a mere four or five years behind time this one, too.
Until yesterday I did not realize that the Commonwealth of Virginia - my native state and chosen dwelling place - no longer lists tobacco as its main agricultural crop!
That's the sort of news that would set ole Walter Raleigh and other early Virginians a-twirling in their what and where-evers.
I can remember hedging a bit when tobacco was being discussed. It was easy to shift the callers questions and comments on how well our State of Virginia did in producing apples, chickens, turkeys, beef cattle and soon on until the day's allotted air time was gone.
It was just yesterday that I discovered on reading and item in a local paper which mentioned that soybeans - not tobacco - is the leading agricultural crop in Virginia and that it has been increasing each year. I have long been disturbed by the fact that tobacco was our leading crop in the mind of people world-wide - disturbed almost to a point of being ashamed because of the evils we know to be associated with it. I am not a rabid "agin-anything-er". I understand what all such changes hit the tobacco growers. I'm pleased we see a way out and are taking that pathway.
Soybeans are doing well in the Old Dominion; corn is holding up as are other crops. Peanut production is down somewhat because of the end of a certain subsidy law in '02. Let's eat more peanut butter or do whatever is good for goobers! Let's take more pride in our agricultural accomplishment and it's forwardness and innovative ways.
Let's become known as the 'BOLD' Dominion!
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 6-9-06 [c489wds]
