Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This is a great chance for every one to look back and remember our founding fathers that worked so hard to settle this country we now call home. So thankful for that first time to sit around the table with family and friends to give thanks for a bountiful harvest; what we now know as Thanksgiving. Today is a great opportunity to be thankful for our family, friends, and the many blessings we have received throughout the past year. And do not for get to be thankful for the hard hours many farmers and ranchers have worked to produce the food that will be on your tables today.

I am Thankful that last Thanksgiving everyone in my family was able to gather around the table and enjoy time spent together.

What is Thanksgiving morning like for me? It’s a chilly start here in the Texas Panhandle. With temperatures in the lower teens and wind chills in the single digits, I’m bundling up good before heading out. I get to watch the sunrise from the feedyard. Just like every other day, these High Plains provide for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The cattle must still be fed and taken care of today. They have no clue it is a Holiday. We’ll go into work, do all our normal work, and when all the cattle are fed and happy, we’ll head home to have a late meal with our family and friends.

As a kid I remember Holiday mornings being fun and exciting, hurrying around to finish all of the chores before heading off the the grandparents house. Now that I’m older, I realize the importance of making sure everything is done correctly everyday. The livestock cannot skip any meals, just like we do not want to skip any.

I am Thankful because I can work with cattle daily. Moments like saving a young calf born in bad weather make all of the rough times worth it.

I am so Thankful for the opportunities afforded to me through agriculture. There are so many doors opened for me because of Ag. It is because of Ag that I have been able to work with the land in Arkansas, live in the mountains of Wyoming, and watch the sunrise every day in Arkansas. As I take a step back this Thanksgiving, I take a look at where I have been, where I am, and where I am going. As I am out working this morning and as I sit to eat tonight, I will take a moment to thank all of the farmers and ranchers who work hard to produce the food, fiber, and fuel that help the world go around. Will you THANK A FARMER when you give thanks for your meal today?

All month long I have invited others to share why they are thankful for agriculture and this blog has been a busy place. So many great stories from those involved in food production. In case you have missed it, click here to search for all of the related Ag-Thankful posts.

I hope you, your family and friends enjoy this Thanksgiving. Take time to give #foodthanks for the hard work farmers and ranchers have done to produce the food for your meals, be thankful for your health, and the opportunities that came your way this year.

Published by Ryan Goodman

Ryan Goodman works in grassroots advocacy as a communications consultant with beef cattle farmers and ranchers across the United States. He is a proud alumnus of Oklahoma State University, with studies focusing on cattle reproduction and nutrition. Ryan's experience in the beef industry range from family farms and ranches in several states to large feedlots and non-profit policy organizations. Ryan is an avid trail and ultrarunner, proudly showing how beef can be an important part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Find Ryan on social media as @BeefRunner.