Have You Thanked A Farmer Today?
October 12 is National Farmer’s Day
Fall has arrived. It’s the time of year when farmers may not necessarily be able to take a break, but at least they can take a breath and be proud of the hard work they’ve done all spring and summer. Fall is harvest time, when all the planting, the fertilizing, the weed-control, the irrigation and comes together to produce the year’s bounty. It’s a time of celebration; in fact, October 12 is National Farmer’s Day.
The History Of Farmer’s Day
National Farmer’s Day has been around for more than a century. It was created before cold-hardy cultivars and other agricultural advances extended the growing season. Back then, when October arrived farmers could finally sit back and enjoy the harvest festivities. The day was also created so communities could thank their farmers for all their hard work and the bounties on their tables.
The Work Isn’t Over
That doesn’t mean the work is over, it has merely slowed down. Farmers spend the next handful of weeks getting ready for winter. Tractors and other equipment are meticulously maintained to make sure they’re set for spring. Corn is dried and stored in a crib. Hay is cut and baled to feed hungry cows all winter long. Fences and corrals are set for winter and steers are taken to market. Farmers also take advantage of the last of the growing season and allow cows to graze until winter robs the fields of their green.
Tell A Farmer “Thanks”
National Farmer’s Day shines a light on just how much our nation’s farmers do for their communities and for the economy as a whole. Farmers have one of the world’s oldest jobs and whether they are farming rice in Asia, bananas in South America or oats in the southeastern United States, all farmers work tirelessly to put food on our tables. It’s not a job that’s done lightly; rather it requires time, investment, equipment and passion.
Support farming by stopping at a farmer’s market and buying directly from your local growers. Always choose to buy products that are grown or raised in the United States. Eat seasonal foods. Ask your grocery store to supply foods from local farms. And, educate kids about what farmers do for their communities.
So as this time of year affords a little breather for these hard workers, maybe even giving them a chance to spend a Saturday in a hunting blind or just watch the cows graze, take some time out of your day to say “thanks.”