National Ag Day

It’s a gorgeous day! Spring is coming and there is a renewed energy around this place.  The pungent aroma of manure is in the air, the dogs are basking in the sun and the snow is melting.   There couldn’t be a better day to celebrate National Agriculture Day.  We farmers are a proud bunch, we are proud of what we produce, we are proud of how we produce it, we are proud of the respectful way in which we treat the land and animals.  Everyday should celebrate farmers and the industry in which produces our food!  Today we should celebrate farmers who use management practices that respect the land, the animals and consumers they produce for.    Agriculture is an industry that has been surrounded in controversy. Poor management practices in a small percentage of farms have put a red flag on an industry that is an integral part of this country.  For every one farm that uses poor management practices there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other farms that respectfully produce food, plants and animals. Farmers who believe in what they are doing and put their heart and soul into their products make up a majority of this industry.

Farming is a lifestyle, plain and simple.  It is not a job that you go home from at night.  It is not a job that provides benefits and a retirement plan.  Farming is in your blood, there is no denying the desire to work with animals or grow crops.  There is a passion that you feel from the soles of your feet to the top of your head that can’t be explained. Everyday is an adventure, nothing is ever boring and there is always something new around the corner.  You can wake up to a favorite old cow passing and go to bed with a new baby calf laying next her mama.  You can go to bed with the sound of raindrops on your window and wake up to a flood the next morning.  We adapt, we change with the times, we persevere, it’s what we do to survive in this industry.

Sherman Farm and this family are here to make a difference in the agriculture industry and to educate the public on where food comes from and how it gets from farm to table.  So today remember that your local farmer works hard to produce products that are wholesome and that you feel safe to offer your family.  Make it a point to know where your food comes from and to educate yourself on the practices of food safety.  Make it a point to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes your local farmer and their products.

Today give thanks for the food that you put on your table and give thanks to the people who help to put there. Happy Ag Day!

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