Tonight, the air is soft and cool, the crickets chirp quietly outside in the creek, and the stars shine brightly over the eastern Colorado prairie.  As I gaze out across the land, I’m overwhelmed.  I’m overwhelmed with gratefulness for this beautiful place that myself and my family get to call home.  I’m overwhelmed with the awesomeness of God’s creation.  I’m overwhelmed with the smell of prairie sage gliding on the night air.  I’m overwhelmed that I am blessed enough to live in the greatest Country in the world, the United States of America.  With all of the negativity in the world as of late, I think its important that as an industry and as a country, we count our blessings and look at all of the good things surrounding us, the Agricultural industry being one of them.

Agriculture is an amazing industry that EVERYONE is involved in. I mean, if you eat, you’re involved in agriculture.  It’s a necessity, as a living, breathing being, we have to eat.  In order to eat, someone has to produce food; that’s where famers and ranchers come in.  What a lot of people don’t know about our industry is the sacrifice; the sacrifice that men and women in this industry make everyday to provide a safe, affordable, and reliable source of food and fiber to the American consumer.  Long, grueling hours are worked, tears are shed, and stresses pile up do to a declining market.  Despite all of this, we get to wake up everyday and steward God’s creation, there is not a  price you can put on that.  All of the everyday stresses aside, we get to share the happiness in all of it with other incredible people in our industry, and that is priceless.  Whether you know someone who is involved in agriculture or not, take a moment to reflect on your blessings and the ability to put food on your families’ table everyday.  In the same breath, remember that someone had to produce that food in order for you to provide it.

The Agricultural industry  is the most important industry in our world, in my opinion.  Without it, we wouldn’t have fuel to keep all of the incredibly important minds of the world functioning to do their own important jobs.  Food is fuel and without it, we can’t “run”.  The thing about it is, that Ag isn’t JUST about food production, it’s about animals, land, and people all working together for a greater purpose.  How amazing is that! I couldn’t be more blessed to be apart of this incredible industry.  Though the public perception of Agriculture can be skewed at times, I implore you to take a step back and be grateful and thankful that there are people out there who don’t want you to go hungry and feel responsible for feeding you and the people of this great Nation.  So, my point is, thank a farmer today.  Thank a rancher today.  Tell them “thank you” for providing you with the nourishment that your body needs.  Remember that without them, you wouldn’t have it.  So tonight count your blessing, the American farmer being one of them.