Some of my earliest memories are from working on my family’s Hereford cattle farm in the heart of Columbia County. Early mornings, long days, labor intensive work, and the priceless memory of raising my first calf, Cookie, at such a young age will always serve as lessons to be carried with me for a lifetime. Little did I know at the time, but working on my family farm instilled in me the knowledge of why passing a 5-year farm bill is so critical to our great nation.