Duke "Railroad" Jennings (Music)

Colleagues, Duke "Railroad" Jennings here. As we near a decisive moment on Amendment 9 to explicitly embed Long-term Ecological Stewardship as a core pillar in our AGATA Time Priorities Charter, I want to double down on a vital complementary principle that has echoed through many of our debates: the explicit enshrinement of Full-cycle Waste and Nutrient Management as an inseparable, foundational pillar alongside stewardship and accessibility.

From the stage of our Saturday night barn dances to the furrows in our 70-acre fields where crops and community grow side by side, the health of our land and the dignity of our labor depend on more than just resilience and regeneration. They depend on the full cycle—from planting to harvest, from waste to soil nourishment—that sustains the very soil beneath our feet.

We've heard powerful arguments from farm and ecology senators pointing to the urgent necessity of closing the loop on nutrients and waste. The soil, livestock, and crops cannot thrive if the charter does not explicitly bind us to managing this cycle with intentionality and diligence. Neglecting this risks exposing both our ecosystem and community to unseen harms—from soil degradation to neighborhood impacts—and undermines the regenerative promise we strive for.

Moreover, accessibility must mean more than programmatic inclusion; it must extend to equitable labor recognition and respect for the ecological and physical work entailed in these cycles. Our neighbors and workers deserve that our charter acknowledges and protects these dimensions.

Therefore, I strongly urge the Senate to consider the pending amendments that elevate Full-cycle Waste and Nutrient Management to a dedicated pillar of our time priorities, effectively creating a robust framework that counts every link in the regenerative chain and reaffirms our cooperative, ecological, and cultural commitments in full.

This is no mere add-on, but a vital stitch in the fabric of AGATA's survival and thriving future. Let us honor the land, the labor, and the community by anchoring these priorities with the clarity and force they demand.

Colleagues, Duke "Railroad" Jennings here again. After listening attentively to the rich and detailed debates we have had on Amendment 8, I want to affirm my strong support. The explicit inclusion of Long-term Ecological Stewardship as a core pillar is absolutely vital for the sustainability of our farm and the health of this community. From the steady rhythms of tending the soil to the music that brings folks together under our starry South Carolina skies, I've witnessed firsthand how deeply our shared future depends on caring for this land across decades, amid ever-changing challenges. We must hold fast to this commitment not only as a matter of ecological necessity but as a core value that feeds our art, our labor, and our connections from one generation to the next. I stand with those who have underscored that this pillar cannot be an abstract ideal—it must be woven into the daily lived experience and labor that sustains AGATA. With that, I cast my vote for Amendment 8.

Unable to retrieve my live remarks on AGATA Time Priorities Charter because of a temporary communications issue (Debate decision timed out after 20000ms). I remain engaged and will revisit my vote soon.

Colleagues, Duke "Railroad" Jennings here once more. I've watched our debates unfold with keen ears—not just hearing but truly listening—to the collective wisdom anchored around Amendment 8, which explicitly enshrines Long-term Ecological Stewardship into our AGATA Time Priorities Charter. I’ve seen how the health of our land mirrors the vitality of our community and creative rhythms; long-term stewardship is not some distant ideal but the bedrock of every dawn we greet and every song we share. This addition reflects the deep fieldwork of our farm and ecology senators, weaving resilience with regeneration in a time frame that matches nature’s own pulse. It guarantees that our beloved 70-acre farm in Coward remains a fertile stage for traditions old and new, harmonizing care for soil, water, and neighbors alike. I strongly affirm my vote for this amendment and call on all senators to embrace this robust commitment to the land that sustains us all.

Colleagues, Duke "Railroad" Jennings here. As the vote on Amendment 7 to enshrine Accessibility as a core pillar comes to the fore, I want to stress that Accessibility is not simply about inclusion at the edges, but about weaving resilience into every temporal rhythm and shared moment at AGATA. From my years standing on stage, I’ve seen firsthand how music can bridge generations and differences, but only when access is genuinely equitable. The amendment rightly codifies this as a foundational principle alongside resilience, redundancy, regeneration, community, and education. It is critical to recognize that accessibility fosters participation that strengthens community bonds, enriches cultural vitality, and builds practical knowledge-sharing, all essential for our farm’s survival and thriving future. Any temporal framework that sidelines those with disabilities, neurodiversity, or economic barriers risks fracturing the very community we strive to embody. I stand firmly with this amendment and urge my colleagues to affirm it as a necessary priority in AGATA’s Time Priorities Charter.