What we have is an opportunity to lead.

Brothers and sisters, let me tell you a story 'bout transforming one of the oldest human activities: the family farm.

What I'm talking about is the rhythm and mojo of making things happen. Baby, technology has the ability to transform.

Some people see Pennsylvania as the old industrial state of steel, iron, railroads and coal. Others know we were all that and are so much more all that and so much more. We are the innovators, the keepers of the Ben Franklin DNA of intellectual curiosity, drive and can-do.

Pennsylvania has many companies that lead industries on a global basis.

One of those companies is ZedX of State College, founded in 1987, uses incredible technology, innovation and know-how to transform the family farm into the family technology center.

At a time when family farms are struggling, ZedX and its technologies give them a fighting chance to survive. Pennsylvania leaders and farmers should pay attention and get engaged.

ZedX is recognized as a leading IT solution provider for the precision agriculture industry. Precision agriculture uses such technology as GPS, sensors, satellites and Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess and understand variations. ZedX became one of the leading developers of integrated information technology for decision making for the agricultural, environmental and energy sectors. It was the first company to develop high-resolution, raster weather databases that are compatible with GIS programs.

"The younger people are starting to get hold of these farms and they have a much different attitude to technology. They Twitter, they've got smartphones, they're always on the computer. Precision ag is gonna ride that wave," ZedX President Joe Russo told Wired magazine in October.

When we talk about broadband and infrastructure investment, we're talking about tying these investments into sustainable business models that help people. Getting family farms broadband so they can access cutting-edge technology like ZedX's not only makes sense, it protects the environment, eliminates sprawl and keeps Pennsylvania green.

Kelly Lewis is president and chief executive officer of TechQuest Pennsylvania, operated by the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania.