"Foods Security Is National Security — And America Needs Farmers in Congress"
Most Americans don’t spend a lot of time thinking about where their food comes from. That’s actually a good thing.
OKEECHOBEE, FL — Most Americans don’t spend a lot of time thinking about where their food comes from. That’s actually a good thing.
It means grocery store shelves are stocked. It means families can put food on the table. It means America continues to enjoy something much of the world cannot take for granted: a safe, reliable, affordable food supply.
But as a dairy farmer and cattle rancher, I think about it every single day.
I think about it when I’m feeding livestock before sunrise. I think about it when input costs rise because of inflation. I think about it when fertilizer prices spike because of international conflicts halfway around the world. I think about it when regulations coming out of Washington make it harder for family farms to survive.
And I think about what happens if we stop taking America’s food supply for granted.
The truth is simple: food security is national security.
A nation that cannot feed itself is a nation that is vulnerable.
We have seen firsthand how fragile supply chains can become. During COVID, Americans watched store shelves empty. We watched prices soar. We watched disruptions ripple across the economy. Now imagine if those disruptions weren’t temporary.
Imagine a future where America becomes increasingly dependent on foreign countries for essential food products. Imagine allowing our domestic agricultural production to decline while competitors like China expand their influence over global food markets.
That isn’t just an agricultural problem.
It’s a national security problem.
No serious country should willingly place its food supply in the hands of foreign governments, foreign corporations, or unstable international markets. America’s farmers and ranchers are every bit as important to our national strength as our military, our energy sector, and our transportation infrastructure.
In many ways, they are the foundation that supports all three.
You cannot have a strong military if you cannot feed your troops.
You cannot have economic strength if you cannot feed your workforce.
You cannot have true independence if you rely on other nations for necessities.
That is why Congress should view agriculture through the lens of national security.
We should be reducing burdens on American producers, not adding new ones.
We should be protecting productive farmland, not paving over it.
We should be encouraging the next generation to enter agriculture, not creating barriers that make it impossible for young families to stay on the farm.
And we should recognize that when a family farm shuts down, it isn’t just a local economic loss. It’s a loss of American capacity and American independence.
Unfortunately, too many members of Congress talk about agriculture without ever having lived it. They discuss farming from committee rooms and conference tables. They read reports about agriculture but have never worried about making payroll during a drought, weathering a hurricane, or watching fuel prices erase months of hard work.
That’s one reason I decided to run for Congress.
I don’t come from politics.
I come from agriculture.
I understand the challenges facing farmers because I live them every day.
I know what inflation means when you’re buying feed, fertilizer, equipment, and fuel.
I know what excessive regulation looks like on the ground.
And I know that the decisions made in Washington have real consequences for the families who produce America’s food.
The people who grow our food deserve a voice in Congress.
Not because agriculture is just another industry. But because agriculture is a strategic national asset. America should never apologize for producing its own food. America should never become dependent on foreign countries to feed our families. And America should never forget that every meal begins with a farmer.
If we want a stronger, safer, more independent country, we need to start treating food security like the national security issue it truly is.
That starts by putting more farmers in Congress and giving rural America the voice it deserves.
Because when America can feed itself, America can stand on its own.
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Benjamin "Ben" Butler is a lifelong, ninth-generation Floridian, agricultural leader, businessman, and public servant rooted in the values of faith, hard work, stewardship, and service.
Raised in Central Florida, Ben helped build and operate Butler Oaks Farm, a multi-generational dairy and cattle operation. Through decades of hands-on experience, he managed employees, balanced budgets, navigated complex regulations, and made the real-world decisions necessary to keep a business running and families employed.
Governor DeSantis appointed Ben to the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board in 2019, 2021, and 2024, where he has helped oversee Everglades restoration, flood protection, water supply, and natural resource management across South Florida.
Ben has also served in leadership roles with the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida FFA Foundation, Southeast Milk Inc., and Newtrient. A former Florida FFA State President, Ben has long believed in investing in future generations and strengthening Florida's rural communities.
Ben earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in Animal Science from the University of Florida, with a focus on dairy management, agricultural economics, and natural resource management.
Ben is joined in his commitment to agriculture and youth development by his wife, April, a native Floridian, FSU graduate, and former law enforcement professional who volunteers with 4-H, FFA Alumni, and the South Florida Fair dairy shows. Their daughter Hannah raises registered dairy and beef heifers through FFA and 4-H, and is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Club America at her high school.
Together, the Butler family remains deeply rooted in Florida's Heartland, dedicated to preserving its agricultural heritage, supporting youth leadership, and serving their community.
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With the excitement of the campaign growing, Butler has picked up many endorsements, both federal and local, including:
Congressional:
Kat Cammack – Congresswoman, FL-03
Greg Steube – Congressman, FL-17
City of Okeechobee:
Dowling Watford, Jr. – Mayor
Monica Clark – Vice Mayor
Noel Chandler – Council Member
Bob Jarriel – Council Member
David McAuley – Council Member
Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners:
David Hazellief – Chair, Commissioner
Terry Burroughs – 1st Vice Chair, Commissioner
Bradley Goodbread – 2nd Vice Chair, Commissioner
Frank DeCarlo – Commissioner
Michael Sumner – Commissioner
Okeechobee County School Board:
Jill Holcomb – Board Chair, District 5
Christine Bishop – Vice Chair, District 1
Malissa Morgan – Board Member, District 2
Melisa Jahner – Board Member, District 3
Amanda Riedel – Board Member, District 4
Highlands County Board of County Commissioners:
Don Elwell – Chair, Commissioner
Chris Campbell – Vice Chair, Commissioner
Arlene Tuck – Commissioner
Scott Kirouac – Commissioner
Kevin Roberts – Commissioner
Scott Kirouac - Commissioner
Sheriffs:
Sheriff Paul Blackman – Highlands County
Sheriff David Hardin – Glades County
Sheriff Noel Stephen – Okeechobee County
Sheriff Eric Flowers – Indian River County
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Release Date:
June 10, 2026
Press Contact:
Derek Dufresne
Derek@ascent-strategic.com
