Every year on Oct. 12, the U.S. celebrates those who keep this country fed and running: its farmers. Formerly known as Old Farmers Day, the day is now National Farmers Day.
Farmers set an example with their endless hard work. They provide the food we eat, and they contribute to our economy in myriad ways. From manufacturing to marketing to tourism, farmers keep our communities, no matter how small or how big, thriving. Additional products and areas that rely on agriculture include leather, apparel, restaurants, beverages, textiles, trucking, railroads, forestry, pharmaceuticals and transportation. Think about that – whether you’re growing for yourself, for your neighbors or for people miles and miles away, you’re affecting almost every aspect of American life.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac (the farmer’s second Bible), the modern farmer, per the latest census data, is a bit older than the rest of the workforce (with an average age over 58), but there are also more young men, women and minority farmers than ever before. And 97.1% of farms in America are family farms – family-owned and family-operated. While only 2% of the American population are farmers, in 2019, 22.2 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the ag and food sectors – 10.9% of total U.S. employment. That’s impressive.
The best part of being a farmer is anybody can be one. There’s no size limitation to what constitutes a farm. There’s no timeframe either. Whether you’re brand new to growing fruits, vegetables, animals, trees or hives, or you’re a 13th-generation farm (looking at you, Dygert Farms Creamery!), National Farmers Day is for you.
From all of us at Country Culture, we offer a sincere and heartfelt thank you.
