00:01 - All right.

00:02 - Well, I think we'll get we'll start back up with the program here.

00:06 - Please, please continue eating.

00:10 - And we'll, Well, we'll we'll

00:13 - we'll pick things up with a few introductions

00:16 - that, that I failed to make when I first stood up here and so,

00:21 - ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?

00:26 - Thank you.

00:27 - All right.

00:28 - I just want to pick up with a few introductions that I failed to make.

00:32 - I would like to introduce and ask to stand.

00:34 - If you recognize senior vice president for research.

00:37 - Doctor Andrew Reed, please stand up and be recognized.

00:45 - I would also like to recognize

00:47 - senior Vice President for Finance and Business Sarah Thorndyke.

00:51 - Please stand up and be recognized.

00:57 - We are pleased to be joined today

00:59 - by Bill Beem, the USDA administrator for FSA.

01:02 - Bill, could you please stand up and be recognized?

01:10 - And I would, please do recognize.

01:12 - Akhbar Hussain, second, Secretary for policy for the governor.

01:17 - Akbar.

01:17 - Please stand up and be recognized.

01:25 - And finally,

01:25 - I'd like to like to recognize Mike Kable, state director for rural development.

01:29 - Mike, can you please stand to be recognized?

01:37 - So please continue.

01:38 - But let me just have a take a few moments of your time to talk to you

01:41 - about why we're here today.

01:44 - It is this is the highlight of the year for the College of Agricultural Sciences.

01:49 - And we're so pleased that you're here.

01:51 - You know, Chairman Thompson has said many times

01:54 - that food security is national security.

01:58 - He's right.

02:00 - When we can feed ourselves, we protect our sovereignty,

02:04 - our economy, our communities, and the very fabric of our society.

02:10 - I would add

02:11 - that food security is also family security.

02:15 - It's the difference between stability and uncertainty,

02:20 - between hunger and healthy lifespans.

02:23 - In every household in Pennsylvania

02:25 - and across this nation.

02:28 - This message is also championed by our governor,

02:31 - our legislators, and our Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding.

02:36 - It unites county, state and federal agencies with Penn State

02:41 - and our college to deliver on the important mission that we have.

02:46 - Our president, Neely Ben deputy reminds us all the time

02:50 - that this college is at the core of the founding of Penn State.

02:55 - It is at the core of our mission, and she challenges

02:58 - us to work harder, to strive for more impact in Pennsylvania.

03:03 - And we could not find a better leader.

03:06 - Thank you.

03:06 - Nearly.

03:14 - I would also want to want to point out

03:16 - that we have just a fabulous senior vice president for research who understands

03:20 - how fast the world is moving and how much technology is changing.

03:25 - And he continues to challenge us to act faster

03:29 - in solving humanity's greatest challenges, and to do it with more urgency.

03:35 - As dean

03:36 - of the College of Agricultural Sciences, my role is clear.

03:40 - We are here to ensure food security for today, tomorrow,

03:46 - and for generations to come.

03:49 - We were founded in 1855 as the Farmers High School of Pennsylvania,

03:53 - and our goal was simple to bring the best agricultural science,

03:57 - to educate children of the working class

04:01 - and to help farmers.

04:03 - We were built for the sons and daughters of Pennsylvania's working families,

04:08 - making science practical, accessible

04:11 - and impactful on communities statewide.

04:15 - By 1863, we became Pennsylvania's land grant institution,

04:20 - part of a national network dedicated

04:23 - to research and education in agriculture.

04:26 - Greatest challenges.

04:29 - History proves the link

04:31 - between agriculture and national security

04:34 - in the Revolutionary War.

04:36 - Feeding the Continental Army was critical

04:39 - to winning battles in both World wars.

04:42 - Pennsylvania farmers fueled our troops and our allies

04:48 - during the Great Depression and Dustbowl.

04:50 - Research and extension.

04:53 - Restored soils and restored yields and rebuilt

04:58 - troubled communities across the nation.

05:02 - In the Cold War, US food aid became a tool

05:05 - for global stability and global leadership.

05:09 - The lesson is here.

05:11 - Pretty simple.

05:12 - There is no national strength without agricultural strength.

05:17 - But our responsibility now is more complex than ever.

05:21 - We face climate volatility,

05:24 - heat, floods, droughts.

05:28 - And when this happens, our scientists develop climate resilient

05:31 - crops, precision irrigation and soil health practices.

05:36 - We confront biological threats,

05:38 - from crop pests to food borne pathogens.

05:41 - So we create cures, tests and models

05:44 - to stop outbreaks early.

05:47 - We address supply chain vulnerabilities,

05:51 - working with farmers to diversify markets and adopt secure technologies.

05:57 - And we prepare the workforce

05:58 - farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers,

06:03 - policymakers ready to keep Pennsylvania's agriculture strong.

06:09 - I have no doubt that these challenges will grow.

06:12 - Water scarcity, soil degradation.

06:14 - Loss of genetic diversity in crops and animals.

06:18 - We must use technology to drive innovation,

06:22 - restore ecosystems and fuel agriculture.

06:25 - As Pennsylvania's economic engine.

06:28 - We must prepare for and guard against global instability,

06:32 - cyberattacks, and bio terrorism.

06:35 - Am I concerned?

06:38 - Well, yes and no.

06:42 - No, because our land grant model was built for this.

06:46 - Problems in the field come straight to our labs.

06:50 - They go to our classrooms and they go to our extension teams,

06:53 - bringing solutions to all 67 counties here in Pennsylvania.

06:59 - But yes, I have some concern

07:02 - because we risk taking this asset for granted.

07:06 - Costs rise, support lags in our capacity to meet

07:09 - these challenges wanes because it depends on continued investment.

07:15 - Pennsylvania is not just another agricultural state.

07:18 - We are a strategic asset in the national food system.

07:23 - We produce a wide variety of crops,

07:27 - animals and products,

07:29 - making us a microcosm for the nation's food system.

07:34 - We sit at the center of the northeast distribution network,

07:38 - so disruptions here ripple around the country.

07:42 - We must strengthen collaboration

07:44 - county, state, federal and Penn State.

07:48 - This partnership has always been our strength.

07:52 - What allowed us to overcome the challenges I spoke about before

07:57 - our university?

07:59 - Your university?

08:01 - The University of the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

08:04 - was started by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature

08:09 - with our 170 years history.

08:13 - Producers, consumers, community, state, local

08:17 - and federal government working hand in hand with Penn State.

08:20 - We will solve the greatest challenges, and we will.

08:24 - And we are strongest when we work together.

08:27 - We will continue because securing agriculture

08:30 - is securing Pennsylvania and America's future.

08:34 - I am so grateful to be able to serve as dean of this incredible college,

08:38 - and to work with such a dedicated, dedicated public servants

08:42 - to serve the citizens of the great Commonwealth.

08:44 - Thank you very much.

08:55 - Now is my distinct

08:56 - honor to introduce Penn State President Neely Ben Deputy.

09:00 - Neely began her tenure at Penn as Penn State's 19th president on May 9th.

09:06 - In 2022, with nearly a 30 year career

09:10 - as a leader in higher education and business.

09:13 - Neely is a renowned educator, academic, and executive.

09:17 - She leads Penn State with a keen focus on advancing excellence and creating

09:22 - opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to thrive.

09:28 - Before coming to Penn State,

09:29 - Neely was president of the University of Louisville, where she oversaw

09:33 - a series of transformative efforts spanning academics, finance,

09:39 - health, enterprise,

09:40 - philanthropy, athletics, and diversity.

09:44 - She previously served in a variety of administrative roles,

09:47 - including provost, executive vice president and chancellor,

09:51 - and dean of the School of Business at the University of Kansas.

09:55 - Welcome, President Ben Deputy.

10:09 - Hello, everybody.

10:12 - It is a joy to be here with you.

10:14 - I will just say it.

10:15 - There's no other way to put it.

10:17 - One of the first things I did when I came here as president

10:21 - in May of 2020 to August of that year, I came to add progress days.

10:27 - I couldn't believe it.

10:29 - I just could not believe that a university

10:33 - is able to do this, to thank the state,

10:37 - to thank the legislature, to thank our history,

10:40 - our history, our alumni, and that this is not something

10:44 - where we are explaining agriculture to laypeople.

10:48 - But this is folks in agriculture talking to one another.

10:52 - So very quickly, I was so impressed.

10:55 - Now the milkshakes and ice cream did not hurt.

10:58 - But really, it is such a joy to be here.

11:01 - There's a second reason why I so look forward to coming here every year.

11:06 - This is the start of my fourth year.

11:08 - So already this is my fourth and that is youth.

11:12 - Of course, my bosses, the legislators.

11:16 - The executive branch that's here elected officials at every level.

11:20 - We appreciate you.

11:22 - We love you. We're glad you're here.

11:24 - But I'm talking about the people who work in the field of agriculture.

11:29 - I'm talking about the producers, the processors,

11:32 - the transport folks, the supply chain in there.

11:36 - And of course, these young people that are here, whether it is.

11:40 - Yep, for FFA.

11:47 - And if you will permit me, I want to tell you why.

11:50 - From the very first day that I showed up here, you embraced me

11:54 - and my family and I, every time someone says this, I was stopping by.

11:59 - Say hi to Raymond, who had a scene a couple of years ago.

12:03 - I was like, hey, how's it going?

12:05 - And Nyla, the Kogan center back there, I hope I remember you right.

12:09 - Nyla says you're part of the family, Neely.

12:11 - You're one of us.

12:12 - Do you know how much that means? Thank you.

12:15 - Thank you for that spirit in Pennsylvania.

12:17 - Thank you for that gift of saying we're all in it together.

12:22 - We're working together.

12:23 - It means a lot.

12:25 - So I want to tell you two other things.

12:27 - My gift to you is I'll make it brief. How do you like that?

12:30 - That's going to be my gift as my thank you to my family.

12:33 - So one thing I want to say, I fully agree

12:37 - with what Troy said he is there.

12:41 - There's no better Dean at Penn State University than Troy, UT.

12:46 - There are some that are as good. We have to say that.

12:56 - And those

12:56 - of you who know me know that I have no poker face.

13:00 - So you know I won't be able to tell you that if I don't fully mean it.

13:03 - And that's because in the selection process, we were looking.

13:08 - I knew this was the most important college because it's our roots.

13:12 - Tara, wherever she is, give me this button.

13:14 - My very first and progress day.

13:17 - I always either wear it or it's on my desk.

13:20 - The only school that's represented and that is Penn State thing.

13:24 - And never forget that our roots are in agriculture.

13:28 - So, Troy, thank you.

13:30 - And I want to say to Congressman Thompson,

13:34 - I proudly have GT farm team

13:36 - in my office because we appreciate you.

13:40 - We appreciate the support and leadership you give us.

13:43 - And of course, Russell Redding.

13:46 - Secretary Redding is one of our board members.

13:49 - How lucky am I? That's really a great focus.

13:52 - And for one time I would like all my bosses to stand up.

13:56 - Current and previous Abe Harpster.

13:58 - That means you too.

13:59 - You need to stand up to all of the members of the Board of Trustees.

14:03 - Please stand one more time.

14:15 - When you

14:15 - say it in public, they can't do anything to you.

14:18 - But the.

14:19 - Seriously, the reason I wanted them all to stand is

14:23 - I want you to see as at any level that you work in Pennsylvania,

14:28 - you agree that without agriculture, this state will not be what it is.

14:32 - It is the backbone of what we do.

14:35 - Food security is national security.

14:37 - You don't just feed our bodies.

14:39 - What do you do? You nourish our souls.

14:42 - Nothing like bringing people together over a meal.

14:45 - And where else will you find board members

14:47 - that say we know how important this sector is?

14:51 - We will show up so special thank you

14:54 - to Chair Clevinger for making this possible.

14:57 - Thank you.

14:57 - Truly this I wanted people to see our dedication, commitment

15:01 - to the land grant mission.

15:03 - That's it for my students.

15:05 - Next time I will quiz you.

15:07 - What is a land grant university?

15:09 - You've heard that said this land was given to us, right?

15:13 - President Lincoln in the middle of the Civil War saying,

15:16 - we won't let the problems of today keep us from the promise of tomorrow.

15:21 - Give the land for the good of the people.

15:24 - And that's what we are.

15:25 - We are your loan land grant university.

15:29 - That means it doesn't matter if you didn't go to Penn State.

15:32 - Not everybody's got lucky, right?

15:34 - It's okay. Right?

15:36 - But what it means is, if you live in Pennsylvania, if you work

15:40 - in Pennsylvania, you play in Pennsylvania, raise your family in Pennsylvania,

15:44 - you have a claim on us.

15:45 - We are here to serve you.

15:48 - And for the students.

15:49 - Please know Penn State is and always

15:52 - will be a university where we do not tell you what to think.

15:57 - We teach you how to think.

16:00 - Hold on to your purpose.

16:02 - Hold on.

16:07 - And that's incredibly important.

16:08 - We welcome that.

16:10 - So, young people, you are our future.

16:12 - We really do need you.

16:14 - I sound like a song or something.

16:15 - No, but seriously, you are the future.

16:18 - And we want you to hold on to those values.

16:21 - That sense of purpose you get from your families,

16:24 - you get from the communities.

16:26 - But come to us, come to other institutions.

16:29 - Your purpose.

16:30 - We will give you agility.

16:32 - I brought this as show and tell.

16:35 - If you are very nice and you ask Dean what he might get you a copy.

16:39 - This showcases the science of what

16:41 - we are doing to help you be more productive.

16:44 - Whether it's an, apple orchard, whether it's Holstein calves,

16:49 - and you want to figure out what's going on.

16:50 - We are your go to.

16:52 - I won't mention every sector, but we want you to come to us.

16:56 - Purpose.

16:57 - Agility.

16:59 - And that means when you combine those two things, you can create opportunity.

17:04 - And you can leverage opportunity. Thank you.

17:07 - And family. It's nice to see you all again.

17:10 - Thank you for embracing us.

17:12 - And we are pleased to be here with you.

17:15 - Thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh.

17:19 - You know,

17:21 - thank you, thank you, thank.

17:37 - And stay

17:39 - and stay.

17:41 - You're welcome.

17:47 - Well,

17:47 - I think you can see pretty clearly when you listen to Neeley.

17:52 - You can see the energy and the joy with which she leads this university.

17:57 - But what you may not see is the power and the vision of her leadership,

18:02 - which plays out through her team every day.

18:05 - She is positioning Penn State to be at the forefront

18:08 - of the land

18:09 - grant system for the next hundred and 70 years,

18:11 - and I couldn't be more delighted with her leadership.

18:13 - So thank you again, Neeley.

18:15 - Next, I'd like to introduce Russell Redding.

18:17 - Russell is going to introduce us and bring to the governor,

18:21 - bring to the podium, Governor Spiro.

18:23 - Secretary Redding, come on up.

18:27 - Thank you.

18:31 - Dean, I thank you.

18:32 - And, good afternoon, everybody.

18:34 - It is a pleasure to be here.

18:36 - It's an honor to be here.

18:38 - Every every day, that I get a chance

18:40 - to be with Dean, ot and, Doctor Ben, deputy and the trustees.

18:43 - And this institution is a good day, right?

18:47 - And to come together, I think it's the real honor of having an act.

18:50 - Progress days is the chance for us to join together, right?

18:54 - To really get a chance to sort of celebrate Pennsylvania's agriculture,

18:58 - and be reminded, I think, of times

19:01 - that we appreciate that what we invest in, as we've heard from the dean.

19:05 - So thank you.

19:06 - Dean. Doctor Ben. Deputy and the board.

19:09 - What a powerful team, by the way.

19:12 - I'm really,

19:13 - it brings all the energy to the table.

19:15 - I appreciate what you guys do.

19:17 - Thanks for saying yes.

19:19 - To both, the board and Dean for being being dean.

19:22 - Thank you for that.

19:25 - So in this story about,

19:28 - our land grant university we see in this week of ag progress days.

19:32 - Both the old and the new one, where tradition meets innovation

19:38 - and where progress honors the past

19:40 - even as it builds to the future.

19:43 - Penn State and our land grant, University,

19:47 - creation was a revolution, right?

19:49 - It was a revolutionary moment.

19:51 - It was a promise to bring education, research, outreach directly to the people

19:57 - who feed our nation, to our farmers and families and communities.

20:01 - It was a promise of practical knowledge and practical needs.

20:07 - And today, that mission lives on.

20:10 - And I would say it is more important than ever.

20:14 - While it looks different than it did

20:15 - in 1862,

20:19 - the core values are the same

20:23 - respect for the land,

20:25 - commitment to

20:26 - community, and dedication to nourishing people.

20:30 - We see these values in the faces of the young farmers learning new techniques.

20:35 - At the student farm just a few miles away,

20:39 - in the hands of the researchers who are on these grounds,

20:43 - or at the Fruit Research Center and the Grape Research centers in Erie.

20:48 - They're demonstrating the research in action.

20:51 - We saw it in the barn in Lawrence County, where farmers told us

20:54 - what a Western lab would mean for their operations and their future

20:59 - on a farm in Lithuania where pencil, Penn State's

21:03 - global reach shared insights on innovation.

21:07 - But I'm pleased we've got the Lithuanian, our delegation here today.

21:11 - Where's my doggies? Right.

21:14 - All the way from Lithuania.

21:18 - We see it

21:19 - at the Lion Pantry, where student volunteers

21:22 - make sure that their peers are fed and cared for.

21:25 - And then the vision of producers adopting sustainable practices.

21:29 - Accurate, anchored in science

21:32 - that protect their land and their livelihood.

21:36 - So today we stand.

21:38 - We stand in the center of Pennsylvania's agricultural landscape

21:42 - and at the heart of our land grant University story.

21:46 - Let's honor how far we've come

21:49 - and the commitment to how far we are ready to go,

21:52 - because the land grant mission is not just a piece of history.

21:56 - It is a living promise,

21:59 - a promise that we will keep learning,

22:01 - keep sharing, keep showing up for each other.

22:05 - A promise that Pennsylvania agriculture will continue to lead

22:08 - by blending the wisdom of the past with the technology of tomorrow.

22:12 - A promise that we will grow not just crops,

22:16 - but communities.

22:17 - And not just profits, but people.

22:20 - Not just yields, but opportunity

22:22 - for every farmer, every food business, every rural

22:26 - town, and every neighborhood connected by agriculture reach.

22:32 - And there's no one who is

22:33 - more committed to keeping that promise than Governor Shapiro,

22:37 - a leader who has shown up for farmers every time, who listens

22:42 - very carefully and intently, who invest, who believes as we do,

22:48 - that when agriculture is strong, Pennsylvania is strong.

22:53 - It's my honor to introduce a governor

22:55 - who understands the power of innovation and tradition, who has made agriculture

23:00 - a centerpiece of his vision for Pennsylvania's future,

23:04 - and is working every day to turn that promise into action.

23:09 - Please join me in welcoming Governor Shapiro.

23:19 - Thank you everybody.

23:21 - Thank you.

23:23 - Thank you.

23:27 - Thank you.

23:30 - Thank you all very, very much.

23:33 - I have a lot to say, and I'm glad to have the opportunity to be with you today on

23:38 - what is an opportunity for us to celebrate the earth and celebrate one another.

23:42 - But I want to just begin, by taking a moment

23:47 - to recognize that in the western part of our state

23:51 - this week, we lost two brave steel workers

23:55 - in the tragedy at the Claritin plant.

23:58 - I was there with their families yesterday and I shared with them

24:03 - that all 13 million Pennsylvanians were joining me in prayer,

24:08 - not only for the families who are suffering not only to pray for a

24:12 - speedy recovery for those who were injured and still in the hospital,

24:17 - but that we prayed to protect their way of life

24:19 - and that we pray to make sure that they have safety going forward.

24:23 - And so I know you all join me in taking a moment, to give

24:28 - thanks to the Lord and to pray for them and for their speedy recovery.

24:33 - I want to begin today by thanking

24:37 - the man who I consider to be the finest

24:41 - voice for agriculture church in the entire nation,

24:44 - a man that I am blessed to work with every day in my administration.

24:49 - And that is the great Secretary of Agriculture,

24:52 - Russell Redding.

24:59 - It is.

25:03 - It is rare to find an individual

25:06 - who is as devoted to the land

25:10 - as he is devoted to public service,

25:13 - devoted to helping his fellow Pennsylvanians.

25:17 - Secretary Redding has been threatening

25:19 - to retire for, like the last 30 years.

25:23 - I think we can all join together in agreeing that he's got to have

25:27 - at least 30 more in front of him, and we are all better off for his service.

25:32 - Thank you, Mr.

25:34 - Secretary.

25:38 - And I must say,

25:39 - it is great to be back here at I Progress Days

25:43 - to see all of the incredible innovation

25:46 - and to see it through the prism

25:49 - of the Penn State University.

25:52 - And I must say, to be here with my good friend, the president of Penn State.

25:57 - Neely Ben Deputy is a special privilege.

25:59 - Thank you for all you do. We appreciate you.

26:04 - Neely,

26:06 - you need to know this because you see, Neely here at this setting.

26:10 - You got the AG pen on, right? Okay.

26:13 - She wears that ag pen even behind your backs.

26:16 - Okay. She wears it wherever she goes.

26:19 - She is a partner of mine in making progress on so many different fronts.

26:25 - I'm going to talk more about the integral role Penn State

26:28 - plays in our economy, but just know we are blessed to have Neely been deputy

26:32 - at the helm of Penn State, together with Dean Troy.

26:35 - So we thank you very, very much for your leadership here.

26:39 - I also want to acknowledge some of the leaders who are with us.

26:42 - We have members of our federal delegation, our congressional delegation.

26:46 - We have county commissioners, from Mark Higgins here

26:49 - in Senator County to all across our great Commonwealth

26:52 - secretary Walker, from my administration joins us, and I want to just single out

26:57 - I know we have members of the legislature here for particular leaders who join us.

27:02 - Senators Vogel and Schwenk, who lead the Agriculture.

27:05 - Committee in the Senate, and Representative.

27:09 - Linsky and Mao, who lead the Agriculture Committee in the House.

27:12 - We thank them all for their leadership. Thank you.

27:18 - You know.

27:20 - I talk all the time in places

27:23 - all across this commonwealth, on our farmlands and in our skyscrapers,

27:28 - about the importance of agriculture

27:31 - here in our Commonwealth, about its role in the traditions

27:36 - and the heritage of this great Commonwealth.

27:39 - You can literally trace back, I think, to the book of Genesis

27:44 - and the work Adam did in the Garden of Eden, to some of the work

27:48 - that happens on our farms here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania today.

27:54 - But I think it does this group and all of you a great disservice

27:59 - to simply speak about agriculture in those rich terms of heritage.

28:05 - To me, agriculture is richly important

28:09 - to the future of our great Commonwealth.

28:14 - Farmers do noble work every single day to feed thy neighbor.

28:20 - Farmers are also critically important

28:23 - to the future of this great commonwealth.

28:26 - That is why last year, working together with Secretary Redding,

28:31 - we unveiled for the first time in 20 years,

28:35 - an economic development strategy for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

28:39 - We didn't have one before.

28:41 - We do now.

28:42 - And we focus on five key areas of our economy.

28:46 - One of those five key areas is agriculture.

28:50 - Hear me on this.

28:51 - For the first time in decades.

28:54 - The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is betting its economic future

29:00 - on the work you are doing on your farmlands.

29:03 - On the work you are doing in your classrooms.

29:07 - We believe in what you are doing, and we believe it is critical

29:11 - to the future of all 13 million Pennsylvanians.

29:15 - No longer is our economic growth strategy

29:19 - focused on high rises and suburban office parks alone.

29:23 - It is squarely focused on our farmlands and on our rural communities.

29:30 - You all know the statistics.

29:32 - Pennsylvania is home to 53,000 farms,

29:36 - 600,000 of our fellow Pennsylvanians.

29:39 - Our neighbors work in agriculture, and AG contributes

29:44 - $132 billion to our state's economy.

29:49 - To ignore that is disrespectful.

29:52 - And to ignore that, frankly, doesn't make good economic sense.

29:56 - We have to focus on making agriculture continue

30:00 - to be a center of our work going forward.

30:05 - AG is playing an essential role in my vision

30:08 - for the future of what I see for Pennsylvania, and I know AG plays

30:13 - a central role in the mission of this fine university.

30:18 - Over the last many years, Penn State's College of Agriculture Sciences

30:22 - has played a vital role in Pennsylvania's ag industry, with a long tradition

30:28 - of being a leading pioneer on agriculture science.

30:32 - In fact, I don't know if you know this.

30:33 - I'm sure Neeley does.

30:35 - Penn State offered the first Bachelor degree for agriculture studies

30:40 - in the entire nation back in 1861.

30:43 - I believe it was.

30:45 - And today you carry that legacy forward

30:50 - as a world leader in agriculture research and training,

30:53 - driving the innovation that we are seeing on our farmlands.

30:58 - I was in a tractor the other day in central Pennsylvania,

31:01 - where a farmer was bragging about the computer technology

31:06 - that was on his tractor that has its roots traced back to some of the work

31:11 - that's been done in classrooms right here at Penn State.

31:16 - You can see it all around us, not just on that one

31:19 - particular farmers tractor at this expo here.

31:23 - Penn State is literally connecting our farmers with the world.

31:27 - With nearly 400 different industry innovators from all across North America.

31:33 - All of those exhibitors are key to the future

31:37 - of making agriculture more efficient and making agriculture more profitable,

31:43 - and making agriculture more central to our economic growth strategy.

31:48 - In my administration, we are working to support the work

31:52 - you're doing by making meaningful investments to help our farmers get ahead

31:57 - and address some of the biggest challenges that I know you face.

32:01 - Let me give you just three examples of the dozens.

32:04 - I could go on and on about.

32:05 - First, we know that the ag industry is facing critical workforce shortages.

32:11 - So we have worked with Penn State, among others, to help develop

32:15 - critical workforce pipelines that connect young people to careers in agriculture.

32:22 - To that end, my administration has already created 11

32:26 - new apprenticeship programs just focused on training young farmers,

32:33 - from dairy herd management to urban agriculture.

32:36 - We have worked with Penn State to create a greater pipeline

32:40 - for young people to go into agriculture,

32:43 - and we have invested millions of dollars through the Department of Labor

32:47 - and Industry, led by Secretary Walker, in initiatives led by the Penn State.

32:52 - Extension to provide targeted technical assistance for ag employers

32:57 - who need to hire and retain these skilled workers for their farms.

33:03 - Creating a pipeline for the jobs of

33:05 - not just today, but tomorrow is critically important.

33:09 - Let me give you a second example.

33:11 - We have funded HPD Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program

33:16 - with $35 million to help farmers take care of their resources,

33:20 - improve their water quality, and adopt sustainable practices.

33:24 - That has been a priority of Penn State, and we've worked together

33:28 - to make that investment.

33:30 - I know that farmers are amongst the most dedicated conservationists

33:34 - in this entire commonwealth and indeed across the country,

33:38 - and you are proving that.

33:39 - And we're going to make these investments.

33:41 - Let me just give you a third quick example.

33:44 - We have strengthened our research partnership with Penn State,

33:48 - partnering with them to open up a new Western lab at Penn State.

33:53 - Beaver, we are doing now be able to finally expand

33:57 - our testing capacity and help mitigate future outbreaks, future diseases,

34:03 - something I know folks talked about in the Capitol for years and years and years.

34:08 - We came together on a bipartisan basis to get it done and working with Penn State.

34:13 - We are going to have a state of the art lab.

34:16 - In addition to that, we are creating a new center for Plant.

34:19 - Excellence housed right here at Penn State to help drive the new research.

34:25 - We need the innovation we need and the business growth

34:28 - in our growing green industry.

34:31 - These are just three examples of how we have been able to partner

34:35 - with Penn State in order to move ag innovation forward.

34:40 - Because, listen, if we really want to lead,

34:43 - we've got to take advantage of the resources and the know how

34:46 - that we have right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

34:50 - And that includes the valuable work happening right here

34:53 - at Penn State University.

34:54 - But we also can't stop there.

34:57 - I have heard loud and clear from our farmers.

34:59 - We need to invest real capital in helping them grow,

35:03 - and we need to make sure that they have the latest technologies in their hands.

35:08 - We need to help them increase output by putting those technologies like

35:12 - I talked about before, on our tractors and in the hands of our farmers.

35:17 - So last year we came together.

35:20 - Democrat and Republican alike.

35:22 - I think it's important for folks in this room to understand

35:25 - we're one of the only states in the nation with a divided legislature.

35:29 - Senate led by Republicans and House led by Democrats.

35:32 - And so when we make these kinds of investments in agriculture,

35:36 - it is done with my vision and on a bipartisan basis.

35:41 - People coming together to get that done.

35:44 - And last year is a great example of that.

35:46 - We became the first state in the nation with the new agriculture innovation.

35:52 - Fund to put these latest technologies into the hands of our farmers.

35:57 - We seeded it with $10 million.

36:00 - And I think it is important for you to know that all $10 million has made

36:04 - its way into farms across Pennsylvania under Secretary Reddings leadership.

36:09 - We had 88 awardees in 45 different counties,

36:14 - accounting for all $10 million driven out across Pennsylvania.

36:18 - And I heard loud and clear

36:20 - from Chris

36:21 - Hoffman, everybody else on our farms that they want more.

36:25 - Chris always wants more, and we're happy to try and oblige.

36:28 - Right.

36:29 - And so we have asked lawmakers to come back with $15 million in addition

36:34 - to that baseline, ten for a total funding ag innovation

36:38 - that is going to help us grow and create more opportunities for our farmers.

36:43 - Well, listen, driving down dollars that's only part of the equation

36:47 - is only part of our responsibility to help our farmers going forward.

36:52 - We know we need to move at the speed of farming

36:55 - and at the speed of business in order to keep up with you.

36:58 - Farmers work a long and tough day.

37:01 - You should count on a state government that is working just as hard for you,

37:07 - and that means a state government that get stuff

37:10 - done and moves quickly to get you answers.

37:13 - I am proud of the fact that we are working now collaboratively

37:17 - in our state government, across all different agencies to streamline

37:21 - all of our permits, our licenses, and our applications

37:25 - to make state government a help, not a hindrance to our farmers.

37:31 - And boy oh boy, have we made real progress.

37:33 - Pennsylvania went from the bottom of the pack in the nation

37:37 - when it came to permitting times, and now we are leaders in the nation.

37:41 - Heck, I even chair a bipartisan committee of governors

37:45 - focusing on now Pennsylvania being a national model

37:49 - for how to do permitting for our farmers and our businesses

37:52 - and how to get it done quickly.

37:54 - Let me give you just one example of that at the Department of Agriculture.

37:58 - One of the most important permits they have to issue

38:01 - is the food establishment registration permit.

38:05 - The processing

38:06 - time used to take 20 days to get that permit.

38:10 - That's how long it took today.

38:12 - Secretary Redding and I got sworn in 20 days.

38:14 - Now you're getting it in under three days.

38:19 - We have decreased that permit time by 85%.

38:23 - And that is just one example of the more than 24

38:27 - 100 permits we issue across Pennsylvania.

38:30 - Since I took office, the Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Redding's

38:34 - leadership has processed nearly 77,000 permits

38:39 - just in that one agency alone.

38:42 - And hear me on this.

38:43 - They have processed those 77,000 permits

38:47 - in saving 70% of the time it used to take.

38:51 - They have cut down on the wait time by 70%.

38:54 - We are so confident in our ability

38:57 - to deliver a government that is responsive and quick.

39:01 - We're now, I think, the only state in the nation

39:05 - where we will give you a money back guarantee on your permit.

39:09 - If we tell you it's going to take 14 days to get a permit

39:13 - and we get to day 15, we will issue you a money back guarantee.

39:18 - We have issued hundreds of thousands of permits over just the last 18 months.

39:24 - Since that money back guarantee has been in place,

39:27 - and we've only had to issue five refunds during that time.

39:30 - And by the way, of the 77,000 permits, Secretary Redding process,

39:35 - Department of Agriculture, they only had to issue one refund.

39:39 - There are moving at the speed of farmers.

39:41 - They are moving at the speed of business.

39:43 - Pennsylvania is moving again.

39:45 - I know you were demanding speed, and we now have

39:48 - delivered speed to you through these reforms.

39:52 - We are going to continue to have our farmers backs.

39:54 - We're going to continue to back.

39:56 - Agriculture is central to Pennsylvania's economy and our growth strategy.

40:01 - But I know that for the rich tradition and history we have,

40:05 - for all of the investments and the changes and the speed

40:08 - that we've brought in during just my two and a half years as your governor.

40:13 - I know that you face continued challenges today.

40:16 - I know that tariffs are having a negative impact.

40:20 - I know that markets are closing and prices are going up as a result of it.

40:24 - We saw how devastating

40:26 - those tariffs were to the hardwoods industry here in Pennsylvania.

40:30 - The last go around.

40:31 - You remember what happened back in 2018.

40:34 - The hardwoods industry lost $1 billion in sales as a result of those tariffs.

40:40 - And Pennsylvania was especially hard hit.

40:43 - I'm worried about these new tariffs. I know you are too.

40:45 - We've had conversations on your farms about it.

40:49 - I also know that you're worried about workforce issues on your farms

40:53 - with the uncertainty that has been created there.

40:57 - But I want you to know that even with all the noise out there,

40:59 - even with all those challenges, you've got a friend in my administration.

41:04 - We are going to continue to work with you to help you through these challenges.

41:09 - We're going to continue to make government move speedily.

41:12 - We're going to continue to work in a bipartisan manner

41:15 - to make the investments necessary for our farms to be able to prosper,

41:21 - and for you to be a central part of our growth here in this Commonwealth.

41:26 - I take the work you do very seriously.

41:28 - I take the challenges that you face very seriously.

41:31 - I believe Pennsylvania agriculture is the best

41:34 - not just in the nation, but in the entire world.

41:37 - And I believe it is our job to work together with you,

41:41 - to give you every resource you need to be able to survive and to be able to thrive.

41:46 - I want to thank you for the noble work you do every day, for our fellow.

41:50 - Pennsylvanians, for feeding those who are hungry for showing people

41:55 - the value of a hard day's work, for showing them

41:59 - the pride that comes from the earth and the land here in our commonwealth.

42:05 - For showing them the nexus between the classrooms at Penn State

42:09 - and the work that farmers do when they're on their hands and knees on the land.

42:14 - Together, we're going to continue to grow Pennsylvania together.

42:18 - We're going to continue to improve agriculture and together.

42:22 - I know Pennsylvania is on the rise.

42:24 - Thanks to all of you. God bless you all very, very much.

42:27 - Thank you very much for having me.

42:29 - Appreciate you. Thank you.

42:32 - Thank you.

42:34 - Thank you very much.

42:36 - Thank you.

42:38 - Thank you.

42:40 - Thank you.

42:43 - Thank you.

42:43 - Everybody.

42:51 - Thank you, Governor Shapiro.

42:55 - As governor's

42:55 - comments highlighted, this partnership is only effective

43:00 - when we have vision, passion, strategy and leadership.

43:04 - And we're so grateful for the governor's advocacy and support of agriculture.

43:08 - Thank you again.

43:11 - Now let's talk about the final and critical part of this partnership.

43:14 - And that is our federal partners.

43:17 - I really feel as Dean, if you've heard the people speak this morning,

43:21 - how powerful we are in agriculture.

43:25 - And one of the reasons is because we have chairman G.T.

43:28 - Thompson leading the federal effort to advocate

43:32 - for farms nationally, but also here in Pennsylvania.

43:36 - Chairman Thompson was first elected to Congress in 2008,

43:39 - representing the state's fifth congressional district,

43:42 - which has redistricted in 2018

43:45 - into the 15th congressional district, which he has served since 2019.

43:50 - Since 2023, he has chaired the House Committee on Agriculture.

43:55 - We are especially grateful for you

43:58 - for leading

43:59 - the charge for Congress to fund agricultural research facilities, land

44:03 - grant universities for the next ten years, a historic and remarkable investment.

44:09 - Thank you.

44:10 - The podium is yours.

44:15 - Thank you.

44:19 - We are.

44:22 - And you know what?

44:23 - Pennsylvania is better for it.

44:25 - There's no doubt about it.

44:29 - An economic engine, an innovative engine.

44:33 - A workforce engine.

44:36 - I love my university. We,

44:41 - You know, it's the first member of Congress

44:42 - from Pennsylvania 170 years, and the first Penn State.

44:46 - Or to chair the U.S.

44:47 - House Agriculture Committee.

44:52 - I've led more than 150 listening

44:54 - sessions, 42 states and one territory.

44:59 - In many of these.

45:00 - Those listening sessions right here in the Keystone Commonwealth.

45:05 - I'm proud to be joined today by two of my colleagues

45:08 - as as dean of the delegation, I am blessed.

45:10 - I, I am the dean of the entire delegation, both House and Senate.

45:15 - Doesn't mean I'm the oldest.

45:17 - I've just been there the longest.

45:19 - I like to point out, make sure that points clear.

45:22 - And I'm joined here by Dan Musa.

45:25 - And he was already introduced once.

45:27 - But Congressman Users is a great member.

45:30 - Stalwart on our Financial Services Committee and,

45:35 - a, a member that was,

45:38 - he's in his first term, but he's a veteran already with this stuff.

45:42 - I give him about a week, and then they got to stop claiming being a newbie.

45:46 - And I am really proud, to have another Pennsylvanian on the U.S.

45:51 - House Agriculture Committee.

45:53 - Rob Bresnahan.

46:01 - I'll tell you, I take time for a shameless plug

46:04 - and to be joined by the, the dean and and our secretary.

46:09 - For a listening session.

46:12 - Starting at 2:00.

46:13 - And anyone who would like to attend, please join us.

46:17 - Our two members are going to other two members going to be with us.

46:20 - You know, I am so thankful to,

46:23 - our nation's land grant universities because they they hosted me

46:27 - as I crisscrossed the nation preparing for for the farm bill.

46:33 - And, and I gotta say, as, as,

46:36 - as a national ag chairman, I love all my land grant universities.

46:40 - There's no doubt about it.

46:42 - But I make it very clear, for the record, when I'm out there with them, that I am

46:46 - proud to be a graduate of the greatest land grant university, Penn State.

46:54 - You know, this is,

46:56 - this is a university that took, a,

47:01 - I don't know,

47:02 - you know, if I was up to average, quite frankly,

47:05 - honestly, Pennsylvania guy

47:08 - and provided a world class, education.

47:11 - You know, this led me to the privilege and honor of being

47:14 - the national agriculture leader, and,

47:19 - and I couldn't have done that without Penn State and in my background.

47:22 - And I'm so thankful for that.

47:24 - You know, in 1862, my

47:27 - predecessors in Congress passed the Morrill Act, providing

47:31 - land to help fund a system of land grant universities

47:35 - aimed at providing a higher education to a broader set of the public.

47:40 - I'm so thankful for that, because I fit within that broader

47:43 - segment of the public.

47:46 - Abraham Lincoln, our president at that time,

47:49 - he stressed at that time how the importance of education fit

47:53 - with his broad interpretation of the purpose of government.

48:00 - When, July 4th,

48:01 - 1861 message to the convened session

48:06 - of Congress to respond to the growing Civil War crisis.

48:11 - Lincoln explicitly connected the Union's mission with his belief

48:15 - that government should provide opportunity for personal advancement.

48:20 - I couldn't agree more with him today.

48:23 - It's so important.

48:24 - You know, the union was fighting for a government who?

48:29 - Who's leading?

48:29 - Our object is to elevate the condition of men,

48:33 - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders,

48:36 - to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all, to afford all

48:41 - and unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.

48:45 - You know, I think government or I think President Lincoln would be

48:48 - well pleased with what this university has accomplished in the years.

48:53 - Since then, and that objective

48:56 - really 160 years since that passed.

48:59 - And, and thank you for the opportunity to to join you

49:01 - today, reflect on the state of America and Pennsylvania's number one industry,

49:05 - which is agriculture, for all those hardworking families

49:08 - and brightest food and fiber building, material energy resources.

49:13 - You know, our commonwealth is home to a diverse agriculture economy.

49:17 - And I'm fortunate to join these distinguished agriculture advocates.

49:22 - No industry has as significant of a daily impact

49:26 - on our lives as agriculture.

49:29 - And we we're here to showcase the exceptional, hard working.

49:33 - Pennsylvanians there are in this field and work our fields.

49:38 - Pennsylvanians, farm

49:38 - families, and rural communities really are the backbone of our country.

49:43 - And the importance of Pennsylvania agriculture cannot be understated.

49:48 - Agriculture is a substantial part of Pennsylvania's economy, with farms

49:52 - and related businesses generating significant economic output.

49:56 - Jobs and earnings.

49:58 - Pennsylvania's agriculture's diverse,

50:01 - producing a wide array of agricultural products

50:04 - including livestock, dairy, poultry, cattle,

50:08 - crops, hay, corn, wheat, soybeans, and mushrooms.

50:12 - You got to love the fungus. No,

50:15 - with the

50:16 - state being a national leader in mushroom production.

50:20 - Timber, including the world's finest hardwoods right here in Pennsylvania.

50:25 - Oh, by the way, in the Pennsylvania 15th Congressional district.

50:28 - Real proud of that of all of our folks.

50:30 - Work in timber.

50:32 - You know, Pennsylvania is also leader in farm to market sales,

50:35 - organic food production and food processing.

50:39 - We are the snack capital of the world.

50:42 - In, in the Keystone State. And,

50:46 - and we foster innovation every day in the agricultural sector.

50:52 - You know, my appreciation to the Pennsylvania farm team,

50:55 - who were a big part of informing the farm bill 1.0,

50:59 - that if you didn't know, it is now law 80% of the farm bill.

51:03 - We put the farm back in the farm bill

51:06 - from farmers and ranchers and foresters through our ag processors,

51:11 - our Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary

51:15 - Redding to the Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State,

51:19 - University agriculture,

51:22 - Penn State College of Agriculture Sciences, led by Dean on.

51:25 - They were all at the table contributing to to this success

51:29 - and the future of agriculture.

51:31 - And I'm also thankful for your input.

51:33 - That has shaped 80% of the farm bill.

51:36 - The, the Congress that was able to deliver and the one big, beautiful bill.

51:41 - Kind of a strange name, but that is the official title.

51:44 - I call it the, one big, beautiful farm bill 1.0.

51:50 - This bill is pro work, pro farmer and pro America.

51:54 - The one big, beautiful bill includes the largest investment in agriculture.

51:57 - American agriculture in a generation.

52:01 - It includes sweeping reforms that protect Pennsylvania

52:03 - family farms, restores accountability of safety net programs

52:07 - like Snap and delivers long overdue tax relief to rural communities.

52:13 - Yet many producers across the state don't realize that that much of the next farm

52:17 - bill has already passed and was signed into law on July 4th by President Trump.

52:23 - The one big, beautiful bill puts the farm back in the farm bill and includes

52:28 - really the first meaningful improvements to the farm safety net since 2002.

52:34 - We also secured key

52:35 - livestock provisions that matter deeply to livestock producers,

52:39 - including expanded coverage for losses caused by federally protected predators

52:45 - and increased support for drought stricken grazing lands.

52:49 - The bill invest $1.5 billion

52:52 - in livestock bio security, helping prevent the spread of foreign animal

52:57 - diseases like African swine fever, highly pathogenic avian influenza

53:03 - and what we hear a lot about right now, the New World screw worm

53:07 - that threaten our all those which threaten our food security,

53:12 - our agriculture sectors all will also benefit

53:15 - from a doubling of trade, promotion, funding

53:18 - and giving our farmers the tools to reach new customers around the world.

53:22 - As President Trump reopens markets and strikes trade deals, that puts

53:26 - American producers first,

53:29 - combined with investments in agriculture research.

53:33 - Absolutely. A big clap for that. We,

53:40 - I think

53:40 - any time trades talked about it creates a certain anxiety.

53:43 - And I get that,

53:45 - but quite frankly, I'm very impressed with what we've accomplished in just,

53:50 - what what amounts to, seven months with this administration.

53:55 - We've got more than 150 countries at the table.

53:58 - You know, you realize that's where we came from with trade policy.

54:03 - America always tried to do what is best for the world.

54:07 - And after World War two, when most of Asia

54:10 - and Europe was in rubble,

54:13 - following that war, America chose to put herself in second place

54:18 - and chose to, to be, to take on the higher tariffs and allow,

54:24 - so that the economies can get rebuilt in Asia, in Europe.

54:29 - And it was the right thing to do.

54:30 - The world is a safer place when there are strong economies everywhere.

54:34 - But this is 2025.

54:36 - It is time to just set the rebalance.

54:38 - And I think we're getting that done.

54:41 - You know, combined with investments in agriculture research, specialty crop

54:44 - grants and conservation programs, the one big beautiful bill lays

54:48 - the groundwork for long term growth and rooted, rooted in our soil

54:52 - and driven by global demand and what our farmers grow best overall.

54:57 - The one big, beautiful bill will deliver a host of benefits to Pennsylvania,

55:01 - including more than $155 million

55:05 - in farm safety net support, $30 million in crop insurance savings,

55:10 - more than $40 million in new conservation funding.

55:14 - By the way, the conservation title, where

55:16 - I was able to increase that by 25%, within the farm bill,

55:22 - the double support for the 2.2 billion and annual egg exports

55:26 - and investments for 1.5 billion specialty crop industry

55:31 - and increased bio security for our $5.8 billion livestock industry.

55:37 - As agriculture can be

55:39 - defined as science, technology and innovation.

55:42 - We have delivered a significant increase to ag research funding.

55:47 - And additionally, I was very proud of this.

55:50 - And this came a lot of discussions

55:52 - with, my leaders here at Penn State

55:55 - and in reinforce across the country at land, great universities.

55:59 - We have created a $155 million,

56:03 - annually mandatory and mandatory funding for ag research facilities

56:09 - for universities like Penn State.

56:15 - As I like to say,

56:16 - we have very successful and very generous graduates, alumni at Penn State.

56:21 - You see a few of their names on the classrooms.

56:25 - But other than than Chris Hoffman, I've yet to meet

56:28 - anybody who's willing to put your name on a salad bar.

56:32 - And those are the types of research facilities

56:34 - that we need today, to really get it done.

56:37 - But this bill just isn't just about agriculture.

56:40 - It's about accountability to the taxpayers.

56:43 - You know, the one big you know,

56:44 - we all make common sense changes, integrity measures

56:48 - to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as Snap.

56:52 - A program is near and dear to my heart.

56:54 - We are restoring integrity to a supplemental program

56:58 - that has ballooned to over $100 billion a year, with 42 million participants.

57:02 - We're leaving too many,

57:05 - too many Pennsylvanians,

57:06 - too many Americans left behind in poverty,

57:10 - and nearly three quarters of which are not currently working.

57:14 - The one you beautiful farm Bill 1.0 ensures that able bodied.

57:19 - Snap participants without young children have the opportunity

57:23 - to perform an average of 80 hours a month in work,

57:28 - funded career and technical education,

57:31 - or a community volunteer service to extend their Snap benefits.

57:36 - This requires states with high payment errors to Snap to contribute

57:40 - to the cost of Snap benefits, just like they do for Medicaid.

57:44 - So what's that old adage?

57:45 - When you're spending someone else's money, you're not quite as careful

57:49 - as when you're spending your own?

57:52 - States can no longer send billions of overpaid

57:55 - billions of dollars in overpayments a year,

57:57 - resulting in tens of millions of fines paid by state taxpayers,

58:02 - without being held accountable.

58:05 - State errors across the country that include a combination

58:08 - of both overpayments and underpayments, overpayments

58:13 - or unfortunate, you would think an overpayment would be a good thing,

58:15 - where the family is living paycheck to paycheck and struggling financially.

58:19 - But it's not.

58:21 - Overpayments have to be clawed back, creating further hardship for families.

58:26 - Through no fault of their own.

58:28 - They find themselves, whether snapped card

58:31 - in a given month has zero value

58:34 - because it's been clawed back, and that may be for several months.

58:37 - That's really hard for a family, the struggling financially.

58:41 - The bottom line is all of our states can do better.

58:43 - I have confidence in Pennsylvania, and I've got confidence in our states.

58:46 - I know we can do better.

58:48 - These historical reforms and the one big, beautiful bill strengthen

58:51 - and preserve Snap benefits for those who truly need them.

58:55 - And for Pennsylvanians, small farms and rural businesses.

58:58 - This bill delivers real tax relief.

59:00 - It makes a death tax relief permanent.

59:04 - 98% of our family farms will not have to sell

59:08 - parts of their farm in order to buy it back from the government.

59:12 - It makes, it ensures that family farms can be passed down to the next generation

59:18 - so they can produce

59:19 - and sell the crops of tomorrow, not sell off their family legacy.

59:24 - It preserves and expands the small business deduction, which 98% of U.S.

59:29 - farms rely on to stay afloat,

59:31 - and a double small business ex pen sing limits and renews

59:34 - the Opportunity Zone programs to drive investment into rural and underserved

59:41 - communities, including many right here in the Commonwealth.

59:45 - Changes to the,

59:49 - student financial aid.

59:51 - We, there was, change made by the previous administration

59:54 - that prevented many of our farm kids from accessing,

59:58 - 440 financial educational assistance.

01:00 - 06.302 The, the change that we've always based had on revenue, and it's worked out well.

01:00 - 09.706 But for whatever reason, the last administration,

01:00 - 12.084 changed that to assets.

01:00 - 15.612 And we all know that farmers are asset rich and cash poor.

01:00 - 18.757 And the question you ask

01:00 - 22.528 is, what part of a farm would a family liquidate to send their child

01:00 - 26.022 to a post-secondary education and still have a farm?

01:00 - 30.293 So as a senior member of the House Education Committee, I'm proud to report

01:00 - 35.040 that this was changed back to revenue and reopened the door to opportunities

01:00 - 41.137 through education for our farm kids and our kids of of, small business owners,

01:00 - 45.508 from restoring discipline to Washington's welfare programs

01:00 - 49.746 to investing in the tools of our producers need to compete and win.

01:00 - 52.891 The one big, big, beautiful bill.

01:00 - 58.287 Our farm Bill 1.0 delivers on the promises made to rural America.

01:00 - 01.233 I'm proud to champion these wins for Pennsylvania.

01:01 - 03.793 And quite frankly, I'm just getting started.

01:01 - 07.806 Under my leadership, the House Agriculture Committee is going to deliver

01:01 - 12.378 on the rest of the remainder of the farm bill with my good friend and former House

01:01 - 16.849 colleague, Senator John Bozeman, the Senate senior senator from Arkansas,

01:01 - 19.976 who serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee,

01:01 - 23.413 and my new friend, Secretary Brooke Rollins.

01:01 - 25.691 Leading USDA.

01:01 - 28.661 I have, strong partners to help

01:01 - 31.688 help get this bill across the finish line,

01:01 - 34.733 for our farm families.

01:01 - 37.760 Tell you a little bit story about, Secretary Rollins.

01:01 - 40.906 Probably about two months ago,

01:01 - 43.933 where I was in my apartment in Arlington.

01:01 - 46.178 It's about a 600ft².

01:01 - 49.172 I call it A11 bedroom mausoleum.

01:01 - 51.550 One. Yeah.

01:01 - 52.152 And my.

01:01 - 55.244 And it's 5:00 in the morning and my phone rings.

01:01 - 59.282 Well, my first thought is, it's one of my dairy farmers.

01:01 - 01.260 I mean, they're the only ones that call

01:02 - 03.844 at that time in the morning when they're on their way out to the,

01:02 - 06.732 out to the barn or in the milk house.

01:02 - 10.059 Or maybe they're on their way back for a second breakfast, and,

01:02 - 13.463 and so I think they'll leave a message

01:02 - 16.208 that they left a message.

01:02 - 17.710 I started to feel guilty.

01:02 - 21.370 So I got out of bed and I checked it, and my caller ID said,

01:02 - 24.841 Brooke Rollins, secretary of Agriculture.

01:02 - 28.420 And my first thought was, I love this woman.

01:02 - 31.356 She's got the work ethic of a dairy farmer,

01:02 - 34.383 you know, and we,

01:02 - 37.396 And so I listened to her message and she was calling.

01:02 - 41.657 She'd already somewhat briefed me on the, the what we were doing to,

01:02 - 44.927 you know, to to deal with,

01:02 - 49.632 you know, the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

01:02 - 53.102 But she had made some modifications since she was going to be briefing.

01:02 - 57.306 It was on the, President Trump's first cabinet meeting was that morning,

01:02 - 00.543 and they were going to be talking about chickens.

01:03 - 02.955 Well, that impressed me, because I don't think we've ever

01:03 - 06.716 had a presidential cabinet meeting where poultry was on the agenda.

01:03 - 08.827 And then she left this message.

01:03 - 13.532 She says, you got to call me back before seven or after 8:00.

01:03 - 16.559 Don't call in between because I'm going to be in Bible study.

01:03 - 20.272 And I'm thinking, this is the person I want leading the U.S.

01:03 - 21.673 Department of Agriculture.

01:03 - 24.009 I know where her foundation is.

01:03 - 25.768 And so, and which

01:03 - 30.439 absolutely.

01:03 - 34.577 Secretary Rollins,

01:03 - 36.790 she considers us

01:03 - 39.816 partners, and she's sincere about that.

01:03 - 43.128 And so I just want to thank you all again for the opportunity

01:03 - 46.823 to be here today and, quite frankly, for being partners

01:03 - 52.061 in pence in America and Pennsylvania's number one industry, agriculture.

01:03 - 55.832 Thank you so much.

01:04 - 14.293 So in my first year,

01:04 - 17.320 many people have asked me why I'm so optimistic.

01:04 - 21.390 The reason I'm so optimistic is because of what you heard here today.

01:04 - 25.561 Leadership at Penn State, leadership at the state level.

01:04 - 27.406 Leadership at the federal level.

01:04 - 30.542 We couldn't do without without these, without these leaders.

01:04 - 32.611 So I want to thank you all for coming.

01:04 - 36.038 I want to thank you for all that you do for the College of Agricultural Sciences.

01:04 - 39.742 Please take time to visit our college building down the road there,

01:04 - 43.088 which focuses on ag innovation.

01:04 - 46.082 And I hope you enjoy your time here at AG Progress Days.

01:04 - 50.686 Would our speakers join me briefly up front for, at the podium for a photograph?

01:04 - 51.800 Thank you so much everyone.

01:05 - 10.705 And.