Greenhouse Growers Offer Personal Experience on Why Advocacy Works
Note: This story was written by Marlo Hicks from AmericanHort’s Advocacy Team.
AmericanHort’s Impact Washington Summit is the leading biennial legislative conference for the green industry. It takes place Sept. 18-20 in our nation’s Capital. During this event, attendees will hear from subject matter experts, industry champions in Congress and administration officials, and will also participate in pre-arranged sit-down meetings with members of Congress from the participants’ respective states.
AmericanHort recently sat down with Bert Lemkes of Tri-Hishtil LLC in Mills River, NC, and Tyler Francis of Francis Roses in Phoenix, AZ, to gain their insights on past advocacy summits and the significance of advocating for our industry.
According to Lemkes, members of Congress value hearing from individuals who “are actually dealing with the result of legislation and regulation.”
Speaking with members of Congress may seem daunting, as some may worry that their conversation will not be productive. However, Francis emphasizes that all interactions are positive interactions. He says your experience has inherent value to lawmakers, and if you share your personal story and are clear about your goals, there will always be interest.
“There are no negative conversations,” he says.
Francis also emphasized the importance of establishing a personal rapport with lawmakers. He speaks from personal experience, having faced challenges with inconsistency in plant inspections during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, Francis was able to contact Mark Davidson, administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), with whom he had built a relationship through advocacy meetings. Their collaboration enabled APHIS to establish a more consistent regulatory framework to prevent inventory loss.
“There can be a disconnect between what lawmakers experience in Washington and what is going on in their communities,” says Francis. He sympathized with the feeling of not being represented and not being heard by those who are meant to serve your interests.
Francis stressed that these conferences allow you to make the lawmaking process more collaborative by describing the problems you are facing and what you would like to be done to address the situation.
“If you do not make these connections and have these conversations, then you’re really not being heard,” he says.
Lemkes reflected on the value of reaching out to his elected representatives following these summits to expand on issues and work toward solutions. When representatives have the chance to meet you face to face in Washington and hear your story, “they know that you’re honest.”
If you’re struggling with issues, such as H-2A labor delays, “it’s nice to be able to call your Representative or Senator,” he says.
During his previous experience at the Impact Washington Summit, Lemkes reflected on the benefit of having pre-scheduled appointments and being able to go with a small group to meet with lawmakers.
“Showing [lawmakers] that several of us share the same concerns is important,” he says.
Both Lemkes and Francis stress the importance of taking a broader perspective and uniting as an industry.
“We need to stand together, and advocacy is critical. AmericanHort has always been a great partner in helping to make our voice heard,” says Francis.
“It is extremely important, if you want to have some kind of influence on the future of our industry, to invest the time coming to the AmericanHort meeting in Washington, DC,” says Lemkes. “It is a great opportunity to build a unified voice.”
At AmericanHort, we believe it is crucial for those who are most affected by the legislation discussed in Congress to actively engage in the conversation. We are committed to supporting our members through this process, facilitating meetings, and making connections so you can get the most out of your time in DC. To join your colleagues and participate in shaping legislation, register for our Impact Washington Summit this September.
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