Joanna Radford
Home, Farm, & Garden
November. Autumn. Harvest. Thanksgiving. A time to pause and give thanks for all the blessings we have in our beautiful land, America.
Help me give thanks to the men and women we call “farmers” who spend their lives growing crops and raising livestock. Farmers make up a small percentage of the population (about 2%), and yet they are able to keep our grocery stores, markets, and restaurants supplied. Not only do they spend every day of the year working to feed us, but they also provide us with the safest products to eat. I am thankful.
Yet farming is a thankless job. Think about it. Have you ever thanked a farmer? If you are one of the few who have, I bet you found their reaction surprising. Farmers are humble. They work long hours in various conditions and often those conditions are not pleasant. They work in unbearably hot and cold weather. They work in snow and ice. They work in hurricanes and tropical storms. No matter the weather, farmers trudge onward to provide the world with feed, food, and fiber. I am thankful.
Weather is not the only challenge farmers face. John F. Kennedy once said, “The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.” How true this is. It is surprising how a farmer can remain in business pushing these numbers. But they do and they beat the odds. And for that, I am thankful.
Thank a farmer during this Thanksgiving month. There are many ways to show your appreciation. Here are a few to help get you started:
- Write a thank-you note to a farmer.
- Say thank you to a farmer or farmers on social media.
- Visit a local farm and make a purchase. Post a positive review on a social media platform.
- Participate in local community supported agriculture (CSA) farm shares for fresh fruits, vegetables, and more, straight from the farm.
- Drop in at your local farmers’ market and make a purchase. Tell the farmer thank you before you leave.
- Visit a farm that offers family fun activities. Support their business, purchase available fruit and vegetables, and say thank you before you leave. There is no doubt you will have fun!
If you need help locating a farmer, a local farmers’ market, an agri-tourism farm, or agriculture event contact your local N.C. Cooperative Extension.
There is no better time than right now, this Thanksgiving month, to say thank you to a farmer. Let them know you appreciate their hard work. Your kind words will warm their hearts, and I bet you will once again receive more from that farmer than you give.
To all you farmers out there: Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Thank you for providing a safe and plentiful food supply. I am forever grateful. Thank you!
