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IRT&a4J<4CU/ASh£ jpACUj&i, IfCl CUA \j4iAAhseW
MU \ Tommy
Irvin
/ \ Decently
___Mm while tak
\ T f^^T~ *ng my
JtKL \AZ_evening
walk, I stopped to experience the
crispness of the fall air and to lis
ten to the gentle breeze rustling
the fragile, yet colorful leaves
gracefully adorning the formidable
trees. The sound of the night crea
tures communicating with each
other was musical in the quietness
of the eve.
1 thought to myself, “the breath
taking beauty of this scene surely
can only be witnessed in my
beloved North Georgia Mountains
at dusk.’ These serene surround
ings gave me a great sense of secu
rity and calmness. I became acute
ly aware that I was experiencing
the miracle of the good Lord’s cre
ation.
I reflected on this wonderful
time of year, thanking Father for
his love, my family, my career and
my health. 1 mostly thanked him
for giving me so much beauty to
enjoy.
As I continued down my drive-
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way that leads to the two-lane
highway. I leaned against the
white fence personally acknowl
edging that it was God’s grace to
whom I owed all my strength and
belongings. He allowed me to move
ahead when my father died In a
work accident at the age of 36.
Replacing my pain with loving
memories. He gave me strength to
assume the head of our house
hold. And I know that it was
because of His grace and my hav
ing the common sense to listen to
him that 1 have been so fortunate
to be able to serve you for so long
in this office.
1 truly believe that we are all
endowed with certain gifts and
God expects us to use them as He
instructs, not as we desire. I pray 1
have followed His will serving Him
through my service to you. This
personal reaffirmation of my belief
lent itself to the miracle that I
know can happen for our farmers.
As Georgia’s Commissioner of
Agriculture. 1 know we can count
on God’s grace and mercy to give
our farmers the strength to pull
through. This past decade has
been tough for farmers across the
nation. With 1999 appearing to be
the most trying. I have written
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Thanksgiving Blessings & Cookbook, November 1999
more letters to Congress, talked
directly to the President of the
United States, made more phone
calls to federal farm administra
tors and talked to more farmers
about their plight than I have ever
had to do in my 31 years your
Agriculture Commissioner. I have
fought for a workable crop insur
ance. a safety net under commodi
ty prices, a dairy compact, assis
tance for tobacco farmers during
their transition, and emergency
and disaster assistance.
We've had victories, but we’ve
had some tough losses. And until
we get the majority of Americans
to understand the true value of
our farmers, I fear we may be fac
ing a true crisis in our farming
communities in the millennium
and beyond. Think about it, there
are so many farmers who need our
support. Even our beekeepers,
producers of insects essential for
the pollination for many of our
crops are facing devastation due to
tracheal mites.
Most of us are enjoying the
greatest economic prosperity of
our lives. For this we are thankful.
But. this year, as we come togeth
er to celebrate the holiday season,
beginning with Thanksgiving. 1 beg
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of you all to include our farmers in
your prayers, without whom, the
feast we take for granted each year
and the clothes we wear daily
would not be possible. Pray that
Mother Nature will give them a
much-needed break. Pray that our
legislators on the state and nation
al level will put aside party differ
ences long enough to be just and
fair to the providers of our food
and fiber.
In short, we need to remove the
regional variances from Congress
as they pertain to agricultural
production. Midwestern, north
ern, southern and eastern law
makers representing farmers
must not think geographically,
but should work together for all
farmers. Those of us who arc not
farmers, but depend on them for
our daily bread, must remember
that whatever happens in our
rural communities will have a
domino effect in our urban set
tings. We must never lose sight of
who is responsible for our many
blessings.
Lastly. I ask that you pray for a
greater personal understanding of
our farmers thereby giving us the
inspiration to fight and advocate
on their behalf.
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