Margaret Hebel - I grew up on a ranch near Cameron, MT at the south end of the Madison Valley and currently reside in Dillon. My parents raised sheep, to stay in the cattle business, and cattle, to stay in the sheep business. There were also always lots of good horses. Much of my approach to life has been influenced by my relationship with horses.

My connection with Farm Bureau began in 2007 when my husband and I bought a ranch and chose Farm Bureau insurance. While working at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, I became involved with Collegiate Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) and chaperoned trips to national conferences. Those conferences hooked me, and I began attending MFBF State Summer and Winter Conferences. The pledge and a prayer at the beginning of each meeting is important to me. I learn new things with every educational speaker and tour. Talking to others in agriculture fills my reservoirs and enables me to center myself and approach life with renewed vigor.

I had been looking for ways to become more involved with Farm Bureau after I left the University and was no longer regularly involved with YF&R. I must have been quite wistful when discussing ACE with President Cyndi Johnson because she immediately encouraged me to apply.

I applied in October and suffered anticipation and dread until my acceptance in December. I have approached every ACE seminar with anticipation; sometimes that of Christmas and at other times that of a first date.

Agriculture has been my primary life interest and I find Farm Bureau fills gaps formed by no longer being actively involved in some form of production agriculture. Still, I found I craved something to stimulate my mind and push me to learn. I was looking for some way to become more involved with Farm Bureau and make a difference. ACE seemed the perfect start to a solution.

When my year in ACE concludes, I want to find ways to provide a positive influence on society’s views of agriculture. I don’t necessarily want a front page position in my local Farm Bureau but rather, a quiet way to support the culture and values of the agricultural community through education.

My efforts toward this will most likely focus on the struggle of many persons in agriculture with mental health issues and suicide. ACE has helped me realize that the smallest voice can have huge influence when it comes from a well-informed background and a desire to share rather than beat others into conceding to your way of thinking. How you present your information can often be as influential as the ideas you present.

ACE has provided me with the foundation on which to build my efforts to make a difference. ACE seminars have shown me that my ideas are valid and I now have the skills to encourage others to become involved in solutions.

Any organization benefits from having members who not only present ideas but are willing to work toward implementing them. I have been guilty of listening, nodding my head, and failing to do the legwork to help ensure the success of our programs. Others shouldn’t have to carry all the load.

Putting the Farm Bureau name in front of the public in a positive light, and often, could go a long way toward drawing in new members. As radio advertisers have found, if you repeat one piece of information often enough (i.e., phone numbers) people will remember it without conscious effort.

It is important for farmers and ranchers in rural Montana to continuously develop their leadership and advocacy skills so that the general populace remains aware of where their food, clothing and much of their shelter originates.

Agricultural people are independent. On one hand, independence is one of the attributes which makes them successful in their field. On the other hand, it can stand in the way of banding together to form a united front when challenged by activists espousing opposing views. Quiet, informed advocacy may not totally change minds, but it can present ideas for others to stop and consider. I am very interested in helping agriculture persons see the advantage of a united, educational presence when standing up for our culture and way of life.