Last November I hosted numerous guest posts from others sharing why they are thankful for agriculture. There were so many great responses, you really should go back and take a look at the Ag-Thankful feed. Here’s a repost of my thoughts from last year. Tomorrow I will post my reflections from 2011.
Why am I thankful to be a part of Agriculture?
Lifestyle – A life in Agriculture has provided so many great things for my family and I. As a kid, ranching provided an opportunity for my family to work together on a daily basis. I grew to love what my parents had a passion for doing and it is now a passion of my own. My family has always had a freezer full of beef, the boots on our feet, and a roof over our heads thanks to our work in the cattle business. Not to mention the work ethic, values, and connection with my environment that I have gained through my work in Agriculture.
Community – There is no other community as connected as those in Agriculture. No matter where I travel, how long I stay, or what I am doing there has always been a connection to others through my work in Agriculture. In college, that community offered me steady job opportunities, friendship, encouragement and support, and as always an open door to a much needed good meal. From the mountains of Wyoming to the Metro of OKC, I have made connections and know that there will be someone there to help when/if I need it. Some of the best people I know, I met through Agriculture.
Contribution – I am so thankful to know I can make a contribution to the world through my work in Agriculture. I know the beef I produce will provide people around the world with a nutritious, filling, and affordable source of food. My work in Agriculture gives me a daily challenge. I am always looking for ways to improve my working environment. How can I improve the performance and quality of life for the cattle I am raising? How can my cattle production contribute to the natural environment I am working in and how can I improve that? I am always challenged with ways to be a better contribution to my community, environment, and world.
I am so thankful that I can be involved in something that affects every person on the planet who eats food, wears clothing, enjoys a weekend drive through rural areas, or sits down to a Thanksgiving meal.
Why are you Thankful for Agriculture? Leave your comments below or use the idea as a blog prompt. Also, check out the #foodthanks Twitter feed during the holidays.
