Vo-tech has opened doors for me; Let’s open doors for more Arkansans with Issue 1

I am a fourth-generation farmer here in Arkansas, raising poultry and growing hay to help feed our state and nation. I am also proud to serve as President of the Arkansas Farm Bureau and to work to improve the lives of our 190,000 member families across the state.

Before becoming a farmer, I was a student at the former Rich Mountain Vo-Tech, where I learned the skills I needed to become a diesel mechanic. This education has opened doors for me, and I believe it can open doors for countless young Arkansans. That’s why I urge you to join me and vote YES on Issue 1 this November.

Issue 1 is about investing in our future by expanding access to career and technical education. Currently, scholarships funded by Arkansas Lottery proceeds can only be used at traditional two- and four-year colleges and universities. Issue 1 will allow these dollars to support students choosing valuable careers in technical schools and institutes.

We have a critical shortage of skilled workers in Arkansas. We need more electricians, welders, mechanics, plumbers, HVAC technicians – the list goes on. These are good-paying jobs that are critical to our economy, especially in our rural communities. And this shortage directly impacts our farmers and ranchers who rely on these skilled workers.

Issue 1 will help close these gaps by providing much-needed financial support for students pursuing these careers. It doesn’t matter whether the student is a recent high school graduate or an adult looking to learn new skills – Edition 1 opens doors to new possibilities.

This requires a constitutional change because the current regulation limits lottery money to traditional universities. We need Issue 1 to ensure all students have the opportunity to benefit from this valuable resource, regardless of their chosen path. In fact, in 2008, Arkansas voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 87, which allowed the state to create a lottery to fund scholarships. Issue 1 simply expands the types of schools eligible for these scholarship funds.

Currently, the lottery raises millions of dollars each year to support college students through programs such as the Arkansas Academic Challenge and the Workforce Challenge. Imagine how many young people we could help if these resources were also available to students in technical schools. We believe supporting Issue 1 provides the opportunity to train more electricians to keep our lights on, more welders to build our bridges, and more mechanics to keep our trucks running.

As a former Vo-Tech student, farmer and president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, I have seen firsthand how important skilled trades are to our state. The Vo-Tech education I received as a young man gave me the skills I needed to be successful, and I know it can do the same for others. Issue 1 is about more than just scholarships. it’s about opportunities. It’s about giving all Arkansans a fair chance at a good-paying job and a better future.

Join me and the Arkansas Farm Bureau in voting YES in Issue 1 this November. Let’s invest in our children, our economy and our future.

Editor’s Note: Dan Wright is president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the largest agricultural agency
Representation of interests in the state. He raises poultry and hay outside of Waldron in Scott
County. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

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