Last summer, former County Executive Chris Collins and I attended the 4-H livestock auction at the Erie County Fair and watched as teens presented the animal they raised. The animals are sold to the highest bidder and the money paid is reinvested to repeat the process for next year’s fair. The funds raised from auction are also used to help fund college educations.

In a strange twist, I purchased a pig which was pardoned and donated to a local petting zoo. Whether the animal is purchased for food or salvation is not as important as the experience gained by the 4-H members who tend to the animals, preparing for months to present at the largest county fair in America.

Members of 4-H and similar programs, including Future Farmers of America, learn responsibility, entrepreneurship and hard work through their jobs on a farm. Recently, the continuation of such programs was threatened by a policy proposed by the Department of Labor that would take away the ability for youths to complete chores on a farm, even one owned by a family member. New regulations would have removed much-needed employment opportunities for youths by prohibiting teens from engaging in such simple tasks. The language in the proposal was broad enough it would have prohibited teens from common chores like carrying firewood, collecting eggs or shearing sheep.

Just recently, nearly nine months after the changes to child labor laws were first introduced, the proposal was removed; “public outcry” was the reason cited. Once again, the federal government put forth a policy without purpose, threatening more harm than good. Those that proposed the changes obviously did not apply common sense, and their ineptness forced farmers and members of the agriculture community to take time away from their jobs to fight this ridiculous policy. It should not be the citizens’ responsibility to demonstrate a “public outcry” to prevent the government from intruding into their family business. These businesses have operated for decades, successfully and safely, without the federal government intervening. In fact, the number of accidents on farms, involving youth, dropped 40 percent from 2001 to 2009.

As a small business owner, I have dealt with burdensome regulations and have seen how they can kill business. If these proposals had been implemented, it could have devastated the future of farming. The average age of a farmer is approximately 50. Training of young people is more important now than ever as the farming industry evolves and faces new challenges.

The Department of Labor demonstrated that it doesn’t understand the farming industry. I raised three children and have seven grandchildren, so I understand the importance of keeping children safe, whether they are at school, work, athletics, etc., but the regulations would not serve that purpose.

Government should assist businesses, creating an atmosphere that supports and promotes growth.