Kip Tom and Kassi Rowland gave a presentation to 150 Wawasee students on Friday, Feb. 16 to kick off National FFA Week. Pictured from left are Emma Jackson, Jazlyn Weimer, Emerson Krull, Coltin Bucher, Tom, Lucas Wilkinson, Libby Haab, Josie Melton, and Rowland. Photo by Breanna Bartman.

News Release

SYRACUSE — Ambassador Kip Tom and Kassi Rowland presented “Food Security Is National Security” to 150 FFA Members, Student Council, Advanced Placement and Family and Consumer Science students to kick off National FFA Week.

Ambassador Tom spoke at his alma mater, Wawasee High School, to educate, challenge, and inspire students to stretch themselves to do more for humanity and serve our world on Friday, Feb. 16.

While serving as US Ambassador, Tom saw firsthand how much of the world is vastly different than the United States. Many people in developing nations live on less than $2, eating around 400 calories per day. They often have little or no access to health care, electricity and basic education or schooling. When in such poverty, terror groups rise up into power, threatening peace in the world and to our homeland, the United States.

Furthermore, the BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are working to combine powers to become the new world leaders. Foundations to a strong nation include diplomacy, strong economy, good information, strong military and food and energy security.

While the United States has remained strong in these areas for well over a century, the complexities and challenges within our food system such as declining infrastructure, shortage of farm labor, and our dependence on foreign products must be solved to remain a strong nation.

Valadimir Lenin once said, “Every society is just three meals away from chaos.” As a nation, we rose up as an economic power because of the ability to provide food for our people we must remain diligent in advocating for agriculture, providing affordable food for our people, and protecting our food systems, because food security is national security.