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Johnson and fellow agent Matt Lewis try to identify
Westmoreland County extension agent Sam Johnson is retiring after 30 years of service. He worries that the political storm over illegal immigration may jeopardize the supply of migrant workers, on whom many area farmers rely.
Sam Johnson talks to students about growing vegetables during agricultural day at the Westmoreland Extension Agency. Johnson says he tries to solve the problems of county farmers and homeowners, 'no matter how big or small.' |
BY FRANK DELANO
Thirty years ago, when Samuel M. Johnson was a young, new agent of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service in Westmoreland County, only one farmer hired migrant workers to pick cantaloupes at his Leedstown farm.
Now on the verge of retirement, Johnson, 55, feels that the political storm surrounding illegal immigration may jeopardize the supply of migrant workers, on whom many farmers depend to grow and harvest vegetables, grapes and ornamental plants.
"Most of the local labor gradually left and didn't come back. Now it costs $5,000 to $6,000 to plant an acre of strawberries. You're at tremendous risk if you don't have anybody to pick them," Johnson said.
In 1998, Johnson helped start the Rappahannock Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Council. The council's members represent agricultural, medical, educational, employment, housing and church groups in contact with migrant workers in 14 counties.
The council, Johnson said, "doesn't have any money and doesn't do a whole lot, but it's a place to get things started." Over the years, the council has helped start clinics, classes and other programs for Hispanic workers.
Johnson estimates about 300 Latinos work on Westmoreland County farms, plus about 2,700 others on farms in other Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula counties.
"There are no good numbers," he said. "Farm workers are only a small part of the total number of Hispanic workers who work in seafood, forestry, manufacturing, construction and other jobs. A lot of them don't want to be counted."
Or even seen. A Cinco de Mayo festival in Colonial Beach was canceled last year because of fears that illegal immigrants would be identified, arrested and deported.
Recently, Johnson said, the migrant council invited some Hispanic farm workers to a meeting. None showed up.
"There's too much fear and anxiety for people to come out and say what their problems are. I guess they feel, if they just lay low and do their work, they won't have any problems. But it makes it hard for us as a council to know what the problems are and to come up with solutions," he said.
providing answers
Solutions have been the major part of his long career as a county agent, helping everyone from large farmers to homeowners deal with issues such as weather, insects, weeds, diseases, low crop prices and ever-rising costs of fertilizer, fuel and chemicals.
"The key has always been following through and working until you get something back to them--information, another contact or a referral," he said. "I've tried to work until I've gotten them some help, no matter how big or small.
"I usually try to defuse situations with facts. I try to look at that instead of emotions.
"But sometimes there is no solution. Sometimes it's just listening to them if they're having a bad year or a bad time."
Johnson grew up on a farm in Prince Edward County. The ink was barely dry on his Virginia Tech master's degree in agricultural economics when he came to Westmoreland in 1978 to help farmers manage their businesses.
Johnson became county agent in 1980 when his predecessor Nick Ptucha retired. Back then, Johnson was considered both a state and federal employee. He said he has continued to pay into the retirement plans of both governments.
His age and years of service now enable him to cash in and pursue other work.
"It was such a good deal. That's why they did away with it," he said.
a 'world-class' agent
Johnson has seen the extension service shrink over his career. Last month, he told the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors about his retirement in June. He said he hoped a new county agent would be appointed soon.
Johnson was at the supervisor's meeting to present a paper that the migrant council had prepared about the importance of Hispanic labor to local farmers.
"The county's vineyards and vegetable and ornamental growers wouldn't be able to operate without this labor," he said. "They need a continual, reliable work force. We all need to see that these workers are treated with respect."
Supervisor Lynn C. Brownley praised the messenger. "Sam Johnson is like a world-class extension agent. He's won every award possible in his job," Brownley said.
Board Chairman Darryl E. Fisher said to Johnson, "We would be all night trying to sum up the benefits that you've brought to Westmoreland County and the Northern Neck."
Frank Delano: 804/333-3834
Email: fpdelano@gmail.com
NAME: Sam Johnson AGE: 55 FAMILY: Married with two grown children BACKGROUND: Grew up on farm in Prince Edward County; master's degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech; Extension Service agent in Westmoreland County since 1980. RETIREMENT PLANS: Thinking of becoming a consultant for other state agencies. SECRET TO SUCCESS: "I've tried to work until I've gotten [farmers or homeowners] some help, no matter how big or small."
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