Sean Dengler.

When you have an issue, you go straight to the source. This is what I did recently by taking a trip to Washington D.C. I went to receive advocacy training and advocate for family farms at the expense of the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU). Done through their national organization, this was the first time I went to D.C. for this type of purpose.

As an IFU member, I wanted to tell my story. As one of the few farm organizations with an interest in anti monopoly policies (i.e., IFU brought the FTC commissioner to Iowa last year), it made sense to repay the favor by advocating on behalf of family farms hurt by monopoly power.

While I talked about my story, I also advocated for other IFU issues such as the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs. These programs expanded market opportunities for farmers and increased direct connections between farmers and nutrition assistance opportunities. These programs were canceled in March, and the Farmers Union was hoping to have them reinstated or included in a future farm bill. Other issues we advocated for involved the proper labeling of American Beef, creating a pre-approval or pre-qualification process for loans through the Farm Service Agency, extending the beginning and veteran farmers crop insurance benefits eligibility period from five to 10 years, and a strong and united farm bill.

This worthwhile endeavor to meet the different Farmers Union staff and to speak with various legislators was an experience. While we only met with staff members from the offices of Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), we had good conversations.

While most of these offices appeared in agreement about the benefits of the LFPA and LFS programs, they deferred to President Trump wanting to cancel these programs so that is the way it is going to be. He had the power to do so, but Congress also has the power to write legislation which can put the program funding back on the books. Unfortunately, the trio did not seem interested in that part. If you are a major fan of President Trump calling the shots, this is great news. For those who wish the different branches of the government operated independently of each other, this was not surprising and a disappointment.

Despite this disappointment, the opportunity was still enjoyable. I never thought being a small-town kid advocating for what is right in the most powerful place on Earth was something remotely on my radar. Being in D.C. with the buzz of being in session was fascinating. It still gave me hope to see distinct groups and individuals walking through the different Senate and House office buildings advocating for what they believe in. Democracy was at work. It may not be perfect, but it is splendid to see people participating.

Outside of the gift of gab, I found time to explore D.C. While it was my second time seeing the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War Memorial, it is always a wonderful experience. I did not have time to explore the terrific museums around the National Mall, but I visited the Jefferson Memorial for the first time. For those who are not familiar, the Jefferson Memorial is a hike from the other memorials.

I was struck by the serenity of it overlooking the Tidal Basin. As President Jefferson faces north towards the White House, this statue represents a man who stood for a decentralized government where state and local levels had more power. He also believed in independent, self-sufficient farmers. While I stood beneath the 19-foot-tall statue, it almost felt like the cosmos had brought me to this place at this specific time in my life. Then I read one of his quotes on the wall:

“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”

With the changes needed to keep family farms on the land, to keep rural economies alive, and to protect against the concentration of economic power, it was not an almost, it was a must to be standing at the base of Jefferson’s statue. Institutions are meant to change with the times, and it is us who can deliver this change.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.