National Farm-City Week celebrates the important partnership between rural and urban residents that provides our nation with a bounty of food, fiber, fuel and a growing list of other products. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s a great time for farmers to share with their “urban neighbors” how food and fiber are grown, the number of hours it takes and the labor required, as well as the heart and soul that goes into production agriculture.
Providing a forum for people engaged in production agriculture to tell their stories helps foster better understanding between farm families and urban residents. Greater understanding among these two groups can lead to collaborative efforts that solve problems and further enhance our nation’s food and fiber system.
Communities, families and businesses benefit when leaders come together and address challenges. With this fact in mind, Iowa’s Ag-Urban Leadership Initiative brings together rural and urban leaders to “build a better Iowa” because “creating Iowa’s future is everyone’s business.” I had the honor of being selected for the 2008 class and am so thankful to the Iowa Soybean Association for sponsoring this ongoing initiative.
Telling agriculture’s story and fostering better understanding relates back to the very popular and inspiring movement of “agvocating.”
How are you sharing your story?
Fun Farm Facts to Share:
- 87 billion eggs are produced in the U.S. each year.
- Potatoes are grown in every U.S. state. The average person eats 140 pounds of potatoes every year, making potatoes Americans’ favorite vegetable.
- The world’s largest burger weighed in at 6,040 pounds and measured 24 feet in diameter.
(Source: www.farmcity.org)