Today is a special day, whether you like President Donald J. Trump or not. If you’ve watched the coverage leading up to this day, I’m sure you’ve heard it 100 times — the importance of a peaceful transition of power. But as I sit and work, with the television on in the background, I can’t help but think how special this day is, especially given how polarized the two parties are, and what the next four years will hold.
I have hope. And I have concerns, as I’m sure many of you do. I’m optimistic about what President Trump might be able to do for the economy, our national debt and rural America. But I’m concerned about trade, something agriculture as a whole hangs its hat on.
At the same time, we also welcomed this week the much-awaited news that Sonny Perdue will serve as the Secretary of Agriculture in Trump’s Administration. Coming from a family that’s still involved in raising livestock, I am hopeful that the business environment in which livestock farms operate will improve. However, many livestock producers also grow row crops. And, in the past, Perdue has not been supportive of ethanol and renewable fuels. While I believe that the markets should be allowed to work, I would hate to see the rug pulled out given the current commodity price environment.
I could speculate all day and many will, But for now, I’m just enjoying that democracy is still at work in the U.S. People along the parade route are cheering, and others along the route are protesting. And we, who live in the “Land of the Free,” get to watch one president say goodbye to his time as president and another one start — it is truly remarkable. I am proud to be an American.
