Humans of Agriculture- Lester's Story.
“I decided to come here because of the politics in Nicaragua. I respect the government there and here but my parents can not work anymore and I need to help support them. My parents are really, really poor. I send them money to help them. I miss home, but I want to stay here.
We don’t come here because we really want to, we come here because we need to. Our government threatens us, so we leave. In Nicaragua, you really have to vote for the party in charge, they force you.
When I came here I got caught and I was in jail in New York for 3 months. I filed for political asylum. To get released a bail bondsman put this anklet on me and it tracks me. It’s to make sure I attend all my court dates, but I want to attend them anyways. I have to go all the way to Chicago for court. To get rid of the anklet, I have to pay more than $12,000.”
Lester is the man behind your food. Think of him when you buy dairy products.
To read more Humans of Agriculture stories, click HERE.
Kim Essex
Carrie. These stories are amazing. Thank you for all you do to tell the stories that go unnoticed ... farming!
Kier Salmon
Thank you, Carrie. I really appreciate these posts. I grew up in Mexico as an ex-pat embedded in the local culture. To a large extent, these are my people, the ones I grew up with and feel culturally connected to. And these are their stories. I am glad to read them.