Looking for potential farmers for open fields

The Oct. 21 article in The Maui News discussing state Rep. Lynn DeCoite’s assessment of agriculture in Hawaii was “spot on!” The fact that none of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) raised their hands when she asked the group how many would be farming in the future tells it all. Farming ain’t easy!

Having been involved in the ag community for over 40 years (and I am not a farmer), all farmers have my respect because it is a 24-7, 365-day occupation and there are not many people that want that stress all the time. Farmers are special people.

And I read in the Oct. 20 Maui News that Malamalama Maui is looking for 36,000 art pieces for the 36,000 acres at HC&S. I’m not sure how 36,000 creative art pieces will help put farmers in HC&S’ fields, but I was thinking, with 5,000 Central American migrants about to swarm our U.S.-Mexico borders in search of opportunities, “Please let us in, we want to work,” wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to “let them in” and allow them the chance to begin their lives as Americans farming these open fields in Maui’s central valley?

If you think about it, isn’t that how all of us got here — looking for an opportunity for a better life?

Obviously those of us living here don’t want to take advantage of the farming opportunity available to us, or we would have started farming at HC&S already!

Greg Heyd

Wailuku