First Meets with Perry County Farmers, Citizens, on Economy & Farmland Preservation

Perry County, March 2010

On Wednesday, Match 24, 2010, Congressional candidate Josh First met with over a dozen Perry County farmers and leading citizens at the Linton Hill Farm. The meeting was held to discuss the economy and farmland preservation, among other election year subjects.

"Farmland preservation and a solid economy go hand-in-hand," said First.

Perry County, March 2010

"And farms are a big part of the landscape that sustains us and creates our American culture."

"As a long time land conservationist who has been personally and directly involved in the protection of about 60,000 acres of forests and farmland across Pennsylvania, voters know where my commitment to farmland preservation lies. Without farms, there's no food. If we cannot grow food and feed our nation, then we will be at the mercy of foreign countries who will exploit that weakness against us; it can become a national security issue. While we still have the opportunity, farmland must be set aside for present and future demand."

Perry County, March 2010

"As the situation has been explained to me, Perry County can afford to protect just one farm per year, which is far below the demand of both farmers and citizens. Under my plan of using royalties from new natural gas drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf to protect farmland, Perry County would be able to protect about a dozen farms per year."

"Our economy is based on production, and our farms are one of the last places where actual production takes place," said First.

"I oppose the newly proposed farm vehicle regulations from Washington, DC, as well as additional regulations that hinder our farmers' abilities to feed our citizens. Food does not magically appear in a Styrofoam container at the store; it must be grown and nurtured on a farm somewhere, then harvested, stored, shipped, and processed before it reaches our plates at home. So long as our farm products and processing remain in the United States, we have little to fear of food contamination or shortages, and much to expect in the way of jobs and a good economy," First concluded.

Perry County, March 2010

The discussion also covered illegal immigration, using the Constitution as the sole lens through which to create laws and policy, school prayer, and the Judeo-Christian texts that created the framework for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and American values.