Proud to belong

By Angela Seng-Williams - Head of Engagement & Advocacy, QFVG

Why is it that in this current era of significant challenge within not only the horticultural industry, but wider agricultural industries, do we see voluntary membership numbers across the board to industry groups declining??

It's a paradox where, on one hand, growers want and expect their industry body to lobby loudly and bravely on their behalf while also offering value and benefits, yet on the other hand, there is a general apathy towards contributing to the membership which pays for these services.?

Nothing is free. And unfortunately, it often falls back on the minority who choose to pay their membership to subsidise the rest. Is this fair? And are there deeper reasons we should be seeking to understand in order to resolve the imbalance???

When asked about membership, growers have many questions:?

• Don’t our crop levies already pay for this work??

• What do we get for our money???

• Aren’t we a member already? Have you sent us an invoice? Has it got lost??

• We’re a member of our regional group, what do you do that’s any different??

• My father was a member, but I never knew why.?

• How does my membership save me money or make me money??

Insights are emerging from horticulture’s ‘now’ generation of growers aged 25 - 45 who say they either didn’t know their parents were members of an industry body or they are disengaged from the ‘association’ landscape due to being detached and disillusioned by politics in general.?

Recently a retiring QFVG member said to us, “When I was younger it was accepted that you were a member of your industry association. I see being a member as contracting out the advocacy work needed to get a timely result for me. Without my industry association our electricity and water prices may have been even higher, biosecurity threats greater, or disaster relief not forthcoming. Can we really afford not to be a member, especially now?”???

We all have more work to do in this space to create a true sense of belonging including the strength of combined voices particularly within the very diverse horticulture sector.?

At QFVG it is important that our members feel like they belong to the QFVG family and furthermore are proud to belong.??

To belong is a fundamental need for all of us. We search for it everywhere—in our homes, the arms of family, among friends, in sporting clubs, in our communities and amongst the familiar. Belonging anchors our hearts and minds and brings us a sense of peace and wellbeing. So, belonging not only feels good—it does us good.??

Whilst the landscape of horticulture continues to shift politically, is clear that the strength of our industry—and the future of our growers—depends on the collective power of belonging, where every voice matters, and every member contributes to the greater good.?