Thank a Farmer Week celebrates agriculture

Dear Editor:

It's time to celebrate agriculture and all the things it provides! Missouri Farm Bureau Thank a Farmer Week, Feb. 7-13, will be the focus of Farm Bureau members across the state to share messages about agriculture and the farmers and ranchers who produce our food.

You buy most of your food from the grocery stores with shelves filled with so many choices for your daily meals. The crops and meat used to make those products are grown by farmers. But, did you know what is grown on the farm is used for thousands of other uses? Clothing, fuel, medicine, entertainment, sports, personal care and school supplies are just some items we use daily that start at the farm.

That is why agriculture is important to our local, state and national economy. It is a driving force of communities both rural and urban. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, innovation in agriculture allows one U.S. farmer to provide enough food and fiber for 168 people in the United States and abroad. Consumers in this country now spend less than 10 percent of their disposable income on food, according to the USDA. That is less than any other country in the world.

What better reason to thank a farmer.

Look for local events sponsored by the Vernon County Farm Bureau. A Thank A Farmer lunch is Wednesday, Feb. 10 at the Vernon County office.

"Agriculture is a big part of our community, yet many people simply take it for granted," Kyle Cushard, County Farm Bureau president, said. "Farmers and the agri-businesses that support them give back in many ways. They deserve a pat on the back."

Help the Vernon County Farm Bureau celebrate agriculture and "Thank a Farmer" during our special promotion Feb. 7-13.

Sincerely,

Vernon County Farm Bureau