Tracey Mann: “Last week in the Nation's Capital, 6.8 inches of snow closed Federal office buildings. Nearly 1,300 miles away in…”

“Last week in the Nation's Capital, 6.8 inches of snow closed Federal office buildings. Nearly 1,300 miles away in Kansas, blizzards brought more than 18 inches of snowfall to parts of the Big First District. Farmers, ranchers, and ag producers in the Big First didn't have the luxury of closing down for the week. When you answer the call to feed, fuel, and clothe the world, you are required to show up, even when the temperatures are far below freezing. My congressional district is one of the top agricultural producing districts in the country. It is home to more than 60,000 farms along with farmers, ranchers, feedlot managers, dairies, nutritionists, veterinarians, ethanol producers, ag lenders, and agribusiness owners who bring the agricultural ecosystem to life. When the snow piles and the temperatures refuse to rise past freezing, these men and women don't get a break. They throw on their warm layers, and they get the job done. Those of us in agriculture understand full well that Mother Nature is not a reliable business partner. At the end of October, much of my district was still navigating dry to severe drought conditions. On top of navigating an already challenging farm year, these droughts severely squeezed margins for farmers and ranchers. Approximately 2 months later, Mother Nature changed course once again with more than a foot of snow. In true Kansas fashion, families and neighbors came together to help one another in time of need.…”