Outside Looking In

I've never had the opportunity to spend much time on a farm as my parents, grandparents and even my great grandparents all lived in the city.
I've baled hay, picked weeds and rocks, and helped paint a barn at a friend's farm. Other than that, I just eat food every day without appreciating where it comes from.
I've never milked a cow, fed a chicken, sheared a sheep, or slopped a hog. I've never driven a tractor, gathered eggs, tended to a calf, or shoveled manure.
I, like so many others, have failed miserably at appreciating what farmers do. Do I ever pick up a package of beef at the store and think about all the work that goes into raising cattle? Of course not. Nor do I buy eggs or bread or cheese and think about anything but getting home and eating them.
National Ag Week is March 20-26 this year, with National Ag Day being recognized on March 22. It's time we all thank those in the agricultural business for what they do, just as we do, or should do, to military veterans.
National Ag Day was founded by the Agriculture Council of America in 1973. The first National Ag Day was celebrated in 1979. Since then, efforts have been made to create awareness about the role of agriculture in modern society. Even if we are not involved in agriculture, we should learn about how our food, fiber and fuel are produced.
What would you do if farmers suddenly all said, "Enough is enough", and stepped down from their tractors and quit farming?
Farmers are the unsung heroes of our country. They quietly go about their business with little fanfare. The average consumer has no idea how much work goes into their craft.
National Ag Day and National Ag Week were designed to educate consumers about agricultural life.
Most farmers love what they do. The care about their animals and fields. They love knowing that what they do is important work. If not for them, we would have to rely on other nations for our basic needs.
Farming is also a tradition that gets passed on from one generation to another. That's why you see Century Farms in nearly every county.
Farming is also an addiction of sorts. Farmers are the eternal optimists, feeling what they put into the ground will produce bigger and better yields than the year before.
It's not easy being a farmer, though. They must rely on the weather, while the majority of our other businesses go on the same whether it rains or not, or whether it's cold or hot. For those in the agriculture field, it's stressful not knowing what each day will bring.
This area has some of the best farmers in the state. They are dedicated to their profession and proud of their accomplishments.
Let's take a moment and raise a glass of milk as we toast the farmers around this area for what they do for us.
Heck, I didn't even realize what slopping a hog really meant until a few years ago. So, I might just slop a hog or shovel some manure this year as a way of saying thanks to farmers!