Depew students caught up in farm bill debate

One of Oklahoma's oldest industries, and the workd's largest commercial industry is agriculture.<br><br>It brings in more than a trillion dollar in assets and employs more than twenty-one million

Sunday, September 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

One of Oklahoma's oldest industries, and the workd's largest commercial industry is agriculture.

It brings in more than a trillion dollar in assets and employs more than twenty-one million Americans.

A group of students from Depew fins themselves part of a debate that will impact that industry, and the Oklahoma economy.

News on Six Reporter Patrina Adger went to talk to them.

Recently, President George Bush signed the 2002 Farm Bill encouraging farmers to produce for the market rather than overproduce for farm bill benefits.

The students are part of the Agriculture Education program at Depew High School.

They're part of the FFA and engage in all areas of agriculture. They competed in the Ag Issues Forum at OSU where they had to debate the importance of the Farm Bill, more specifically farm subsidies.

Depew FFA President Beth Spangler says the whole nation needs farm subsidies in order for the nation's economy to thrive.

"American agriculture is the number one commercial industry and it employs 21 million Americans. And those 21 million Americans need agriculture and needs subsidies to strive and more importantly we need the subsidies so we don't have to depend on foreign countries for our food."

The Depew F-F-A group won the state title. They will head to Louisville, Kentucky in October to compete in the national F-F-A contest there.