Overwhelmed and astonished is how Cornerstone Grill owner Dan Pittner feels after nearly two months of operating his new business on the square in downtown Minden, Nebraska. Pittner and his wife, Jennifer, purchased Mookies Restaurant from Alec Geist in December. It reopened for business on January 2, and things have taken off for the Minden natives.
An influential new farm bill proposal demonstrates that engaged citizens of conscience are making a difference in advancing critical reforms. I harp often that it is up to us – ordinary Americans – to prompt change in Washington. You are doing it.
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) recently introduced legislation to tighten payment limits on federal farm programs and close loopholes mega-farms use to evade those limits. Mega-farms use unlimited farm program payments to bid up land costs, thereby driving smaller, family farmers out of business and barring beginning farmers from ever getting started.