Utah Legislature: Farmers, ranchers gather for tasty rally

SALT LAKE CITY — A group of Utah farmers and ranchers took to Capitol Hill on Monday in a tasty show of force that featured samples of locally produced beef jerky, string cheese and succulent slices of Norbest turkey.

The "Celebrate Agriculture" rally coordinated by the Utah Farm Bureau also included remarks by Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden, a dairy farmer, and Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, a cattle rancher.

Both touted the critical importance of Utah's agricultural industry and said the time-honored profession of producing food and fiber is under assault.

"We really have nothing to fear but apathy," Gibson said, adding that farmers and ranchers often suffer personal attacks despite being the "ultimate environmentalists."

A sixth-generation dairy farmer, Gibson said his livelihood is "an honor and privilege that I will never take for granted." Such traditions, he said, should be "important enough to save" in an era of multiple unfunded state and federal mandates that threaten the industry.

Noel took his turn at the bully pulpit to call for the defeat of cap-and-trade legislation under consideration by Congress that he says would "crush" agriculture in Utah.

"We are literally under attack in this state and in this country" through a proposed tax that would put Utah farmers and ranchers out of business.

He also rallied the farmers and ranchers to remain at the Capitol for the afternoon debate on a controversial bill that spells out access to public streams and waterways on private property.

HB80 sponsored by Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, has drawn fierce opposition from the Utah Farm Bureau because it contends the measure would decimate private property rights. Several ranchers and farmers have testified against it because say it gives them little ability to control what happens on their property.

The rally also kicks of National Food Checkout Week, which runs through Saturday and is being celebrated by farm bureau organizations throughout the country.

Locally, the Utah Farm Bureau State Women's Committee will make a financial contribution to the Salt Lake Ronald McDonald House to be used to help provide food for families staying at the house. Ronald McDonald houses offer a "home away from home'" for the families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment at area hospitals.

For information on county specific events, contact the local county Farm Bureau women's committee chairwoman or Aurline Boyack at 801-233-3010. Contact information for county farm bureaus can be found at utfb.fb.org/Website/WomensComm.html.

HB80 can be seen at le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0080.htm.

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com