John Denver sang, "Well, life on the farm is kinda laid back". That may be in the song and in the photo above my mother and father do look laid back but that farming is strenuous. Early in my life the Mullins's were cotton farmers. Brutal. Especially on the waterless high plains of Texas. Digging wells, watering crops, hoeing weeds, pulling cotton and praying for cooperative weather. In later years they raised chickens. 27,000 at a time!

Well, I said all that to say this. Thank a farmer this coming week.

Tuesday is National Agriculture Day. Sotp and think how hard the farmers work and how America’s food system improves the quality of life for everyone.

Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney, who also operates an orchard and cattle farm in Pulaski County, says, “Farmers contribute so much to our nation’s prosperity and overall well-being that it just makes good sense to designate a day to celebrate their accomplishments. The tireless efforts of farmers ensure that our country enjoys a stable supply of high-quality, affordable food.”

Even though many farms today are run by huge conglomerates, someone still does the farming. Today’s farmers grow twice as much food as their parents did, but use less land, water and energy to do so. While the total number of farms in the United States has steadily declined over the years, agricultural production continues to meet the needs of a growing global population. Amazingly, about 90 percent of those farms are still operated by families or individuals today.

“Just a few generations ago most families were directly connected to farming. That is not the case today,” said Haney. “We need to make sure that all people, and especially our youth, understand the significant role that agriculture has in everyday life.”

Additional information about the purpose, history and celebration of National Agriculture Day is available here.

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