I came across this Indiana conference that begins July 20th….it struck me because I believe ‘Top Farmer” is a known term in agriculture…also “Top Producer” as in Top Producer Magazine. Not to be naive, but does it make ANY sense to segregate agriculture in this way? What about the ‘Not So Top” Farmers?
The Conference agenda (http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/topfarmer/conference2008.asp) is as interesting as the conference title. My educational background is from a small Indiana engineering school, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, so I understand the drift of the conference sessions; but the ‘industrialization’ of the language of farming and the penchant for words from the world of sports is sad.
Don’t misunderstand, I understand the sincerity and the good intentions of the conference and the participants….I just wonder how quickly we can change the concepts to be kinder (ecologically inclusive) and broader (more farmers in the door).
Richard Pace 