Agriculture is a highly under recognized aspect of each person’s daily life. From clothing to nutrition, it all starts with agriculture. Americans must understand the value of farming and recognize the importance it holds. President Donald Trump proclaimed that March 14, 2019 be recognized as National Ag Day across America as a salute to the contributions of America’s farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses.

National Ag Day is a time when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies, and countless others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided, by American agriculture. The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) and the National Ag Day program was started in 1973 with core values that every American should understand how food and fiber products are produced, appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products, value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy, and acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry. ACA supports and organizes planning for information and materials to support Ag Day and its activities.

Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use, and wear on a daily basis, and is increasingly contributing to fuel and other bio-products. Each year, members of the agricultural industry gather together to promote American agriculture. It is of high importance that we join together at the community level and let our voices be known with the message that carries further than any one of us can do alone.

In celebration of this national event, Union County producers were shown appreciation at the “National Ag Day, Thank You Farmers Breakfast”. The event was held on Friday, March 15 from 8:30-10:30am at Union Farmers Cooperative. Union County Soil Conservation District partnered with UT Extension Union County and the Co-op to host the breakfast in appreciation of farmers and producers across the county for another year of labor and service to preserving the county’s agriculture. It is important to take part in the national celebration in order to increase the knowledge of agriculture and nutrition allowing individuals to make better personal decisions about diet and health. Citizens with an increased knowledge will add value to the ag industry thru their actions.

As an acknowledgement to the contributions of America’s, and especially Union County’s producers, the agriculture agencies came together with inviting hands to host a complimentary breakfast with a selection of biscuits, fruits, and sweets to indulge upon. Program information was distributed for upcoming opportunities such as Ag Enhancement, Advanced Master Beef Courses, Farmers Market, cost-share projects with Natural Resources Conservation Service and partner entities, and an invitation to Extension Month Open House to be held March 19. As the nearly seventy ag men and women arrived at the co-op on the cool morning, they were greeted with smiles and appropriately thanked for the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that were invested over the past year. Dedication and love of the land are core values of these fine folks, and as small as it seems they are each playing a part leading the world in expanding opportunities for prosperity, economic development, and food security.

It is important that when given the opportunity, each citizen show thanks and gratitude to the many men and women who make agriculture possible. Farmers, nationwide and locally, are working harder than ever to meet the needs of Americans and others around the world. Today, each American farmer feeds more than 165 people on average. Ag Day is a good time to reflect and be grateful for American agriculture.

Pictured: Standing left to right - Mike Shoffner, NRCS; David Bunch, Union Farmers Cooperative; Sandra Greene, Union County Soil Conservation; Ashley Mike and Shannon DeWitt, UT Extension Union County; and Cody Haynes, Union County Producer. Sitting left to right - Sam Lemmons, USDA and Chris Beeler, Union Farmers Cooperative.