Kylie Sellers

Cathy Moore
English Comp II
April 11, 2016
Diversity in a Small Town
Agriculture is one of the most diverse industries in the world. Everybody uses agriculture
in several forms every day. From the paper we write on at school, to the food we consume, to the
roof over our heads we are constantly surrounded by agriculture. Agriculture is a multi-billion
dollar industry and is effective in all parts of the world. In America alone, farmers make up two
percent of our nations workforce. Considering how readily available food is to us, this makes it
hard to imagine that only two percent of our nation's provide us with our food source. On
average, one farmer provides food for one hundred fifty-five people. This being said, we should
remember to thank our main source of food when given the chance.
Agriculture takes place all around the world. Depending on different assets each countries
has such as soil type, weather, and precipitation, depends on how well different crops grow. In
Oklahoma, with our red dirt clay, minimal precipitation, and warmer temperatures, this makes
for excellent wheat production. In certain parts of Oklahoma where rainfall is more frequent,
cotton is a plentiful crop to many farmers. This is how a good majority of our clothing is made.
Clothing is not the only asset we gain from cotton, though. The seeds from cotton and oils
extracted from the plant make for good, nutritious supplements to feed most species of livestock.
While most people would think this is a profitable business, it actually depletes the soil of all
natural nutrients, making it hard to grow other types of crops other than cotton for many years
after cotton production has ceased on that piece of land. In my hometown of Marlow, Oklahoma,

rain is very minimal. Because of this, this makes my hometown of Marlow an excellent land
source for growing peanuts. Resources like this allow us to have access to a wide variety of
goods and agricultural products. Our trades with other countries allow us to be one of the most
agriculturally diverse developed countries in the world.
I know Agriculture surrounds us in ways that the average person might not even think of.
One interesting idea that came about in agriculture is fish farming. Fish farming refers to the
breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments
including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Researchers and aquaculture producers are
"farming" all kinds of freshwater and marine species of fish, shellfish, and plants. Aquaculture
produces food fish, sport fish, bait fish, ornamental fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea
vegetables, and fish eggs. (Aquaculture)
Agriculture is beneficial to us and it is important we remain supportive in the production
of our daily needs. However, there is a constant battle with organizations like People for Ethical
Treatment of Animals, Humane Societies of the United States, and Sierra Club. Organizations
like this are constantly casting a negative light on the work of our industry. That is why I am so
passionate about my degree choice. As an agricultural communications major, I am constantly
learning how to tackle these horrible messages that are sent out to the public about my industry.
These organizations are beneficial when it comes to helping out animals that are being treated
inhumanely, but a good portion of their attacks are made against small family farms, like my
familys farm, who are just trying to produce for our fellow Americans. Organizations like these
will tend to leak false information to put a negative connotation on innocent operations just to
bring light to a situation that they know is currently happening. As an agricultural communicator,

it is my job to make sure that the public eye has a pleasant view of our industry, and help to
encourage the promotion of agriculture as a whole.
I was actively involved in showing pigs in high school. This allowed me to make all types
of new friends and make connections all across the country that could help me possible network
for a future career one day. This particular hobby helped me to feel confident in myself, help me
build respect for others, and teach me how to be responsible and use wise time management
skills. Without a hobby like this, I might not have chosen the career path that I am currently
traveling. Throughout my time showing, organizations and clubs I was involved in were
constantly attacked for treating animals inhumanely. The organizations I was involved in were
primarily focused on raising high quality meat and replacement sows for large herds to produce
more animals that would produce high quality meat to help feed our growing populations high
demand for leaner proteins.
Although these organizations constantly attacking innocent commercial farms and
organizations that support regular agricultural functions, this is not the most important issue at
hand when it comes to agriculture as a whole. One of the most serious and lethal problems we
face in agriculture today is the fact that we simply cannot feed our rapidly growing world
population. By the year 2050, the worlds population is expected to dramatically increase from
the current seven billion residents we currently have to a total of nine billion people. Many
efforts have already gone into this and much research has been done. For example, On the
Vulgamore farm near Scott City, Kansas, each combine can harvest up to 25 acres of wheat an
houras well as real-time data on crop yields. Most of the food Americans eat is now produced
on such large-scale, mechanized farms, which grow row after row of a single crop, allowing
farmers to cover more ground with less labor. (Foley) Also, At Granja Mantiqueira in Brazil

eight million hens lay 5.4 million eggs a day. Conveyor belts whisk the eggs to a packaging
facility. Demand for meat has tripled in the developing world in four decades, while egg
consumption has increased sevenfold, driving a huge expansion of large-scale animal
operations. (Foley)
One of the hottest topics in agriculture and main problem we try to find a solution to is
this rapidly growing population. One of our main resources to be able to produce more food for
our growing economy is land. Land is something that is a nonrenewable resource, so we cannot
make more of it. On average, for the earth to create one inch of soil takes almost five hundred
thousand years. This being said, it is critical for agriculturalists to start forming different ways to
utilize the land we have. Some ways farmers are doing this are by using genetically modified
organisms and vertical farming. Genetically modified organisms, better known as GMO's, are not
the harsh chemicals people think they are. A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result
of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially
forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from bacteria,
viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Because this involves the transfer of genes, GMOs are
also known as transgenic organisms. (GMO) We see all of these food labels that say GMOFree, but do we actually know what that means? GMO's are just a scientifically advanced type of
breeding to breed different plants and types of agriculture together to produce either more, larger,
or tastier products. Without GMOs we could not even feed the current population. Vertical
farming, on the other hand, this is a way to utilize more space. Vertical farming is typically used
in larger cities to grow crops. Vertical farming is basically a type of shelving to stack crops on
top of each other. This maximizes years by using less space. These are all innovatives ways to
help agriculture grow so rapidly. Technology advances in agriculture have made this possible.

One thing that my education through Oklahoma State University has taught me is the
importance of innovations. Innovations are a new idea, practice, or product that is diffused at
different rates through a society. (Rogers) Innovations play a crucial roles in bringing about new
ideas to our daily lives. People adopt innovations at different rates. There are five groups of
adopters. These five groups are innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and
laggards. (Rogers) Innovators are the ones to bring about a new innovation to a group. Early
adopters are the first to participate in this new innovation. Early majority members wait to see
some success in the innovation before adopting. Late majority are among the last to find out
about an innovation. Laggards are the very last to adopt an innovation, if they do at all. (Rogers)
Innovations are crucial to helping new and improved ideas make their way throughout different
industries.
Agriculture is something that is near and dear to my heart. I wish I could stress just how
important this multi-billion dollar industry is. One way to do this is by encouraging people to do
their own research. There are many types of social media platforms, websites, books, and articles
that range over a wide variety of topics that describe just how important these aspects and
products are to our daily living. With the technologically advanced world we live in now, these
resources, especially social media, make for great advertisement and communication channels
for people from my generation and older to be able to seek information on just about any topic.
Social media is an excellent tool to utilize, as long as it is being used properly and not in a
slanderous manner.
Although this is my degree choice, and I have talked in over these topics multiple times.
These are crucial topics to be discussed. Although they challenge me to think academically, I
also have to take this into perspective on how it will effect me in the future. This is an ongoing

problem that will affect not only me, but my family, friends, future children, grandchildren and
more.
One of my favorite books that discusses an important role that we play in agriculture and
discusses one of the most critical topics in agriculture today is 40 Chances. (Buffett) This story
talks about the struggles of learning how to feed a quick growing population that currently has a
hard time seeking food.
Overall, I think that we face many difficult issues in this industry. I know that it is my job
as an agricultural communicator to make my voice be heard and help to be that change, that
innovation, that helps people to see how beneficial agriculture is to our lives. I hope that I can do
my part in helping at least one person realize this importance. These issues might not seem
detrimental to our society, but they are. With more awareness, we will be able to help others
realize the potential this industry holds for everyone.

Annotated Bibliographies

Buffett, Howard G., Warren Buffett, and Howard W. Buffett. Forty Chances: Finding Hope in a
Hungry World. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2013. Print.
Rogers, Everett M. Diffusion of Innovations. New York: Free, 1983. Print.
"Global Agriculture towards 2050." How to Feed the World. 13 Oct. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
"What Is Aquaculture?" :: Office of Aquaculture. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
"GMO Education - Institute for Responsible Technology." Institute for Responsible Technology.
Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
Foley, Jonathon. "Feeding 9 Billion - National Geographic." Feeding 9 Billion - National
Geographic. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.