Governmental reach from all levels daily impacts our businesses. If you are being licensed, if you are being regulated and your permission or permissions come from this regulation you had best stay vigilant.

By Joe Sigg, Arizona Farm Bureau: I know many of our county organizations have great relationships with elected and appointed officials. I also know these officials can be found at many of our county Farm Bureau gatherings on specific issues or just there to exchange communications.

Joe Sigg

The joint gathering of Mohave County Farm Bureau and Mohave Livestock Association does it a little differently. They have a regular standing meeting that precedes their normal meeting time called their “agency” meeting. Officials come in to make a report, share information and answer questions. At their last meeting I noted they had two county supervisors, a representative from Game & Fish, a Sheriff’s Deputy, NRCS and a handful of folks from BLM. It’s a nice format, well done, and of course the Farm Bureau president has to keep it moving, but I noticed there were some sparks at times, as well as a passing around of understanding on a whole host of issues:  access, hunting, trespassing, road grading, compacts, land exchanges, licenses and permits.

I turned to one of the Farm Bureau members to make a comment and he said, “…Look, I am friends with all of these officials, but you have to stay on top of them, if you want to stay in business…”

You can approach it however you wish in your own county Farm Bureau organizations, but I thought I would pass along not only a good idea, but one that works out as foreseen.

It’s also a reminder of how much government from all levels touches our members. Not only does it reach out and touch them, but it does so almost every day. It also reminds me that as government moves further from its core functions, the less competent it becomes. I know it seems like an endless chore, but my friend is right. If you are being licensed, if you are being regulated and your permission or permissions come from this regulation you had best stay vigilant. Otherwise the requirements expand beyond the government’s ability to manage and beyond our ability to stay viable.

I am not echoing an environmentalist view, but I once heard a movie character say, “…Where is the logic of mankind pursuing a species to its extinction…” or what was the guy thinking who cut down the last tree on Easter Island? Within the context of my point here: where is the logic of regulation that winds up destroying legitimate commerce?

The beverage commercial says, “…stay thirsty my friend…” Listen to my friend above and stay on top of it!

  Join our Family!