Bank of Holly Springs

Close to Nowhere

National Ag Day, March 20

When I was little, my favorite place in the entire world was a tiny, working farm, tucked in a corner near Gleason, Tenn.

My paternal grandmother, Della Duke, lived in the town and my paternal aunt and uncle (also my favorite relatives) Aunt Myrl and Uncle Herbert Chappell, lived and worked on the “farm.”

We received a Letter to the Editor here at the newspaper, about National  Ag Day — Tuesday, March 20, this year.

Entitled “Where Does Your Food Come From?” the letter says “just a few generations ago most people were a part of —and had friends or relatives — involved in agriculture.

Of course, being from the South we’re more involved in agriculture than other areas of the country, and I still have family who farms — a nephew and his son farm large acreages of corn and soybeans in Missouri.

According to the letter, American farmers are working harder than ever. Today, each American farmer feeds more than 144 people.

“The need for food produced in the United States is dramatic. Agriculture is the nation’s number one export and is vitally important in sustaining not only a healthy economy” — but healthy citizens also.

Food and the farmer are not all of the agriculture industry. That industry goes all the way to the grocery store and on to millions of people abroad.

It’s easy to take agriculture for granted in America. Our food is widely accessible and it’s safe. We’re very fortunate to be able to take food for granted in this country. And we have a big obligation to recognize our farmers and how our food is made.

March 20 is National Ag Day — a good day to reflect on and be grateful for our American agriculture — plant scientists, food scientists, sustainable biomaterials scientists, water resource scientists and engineers, precision agriculture specialists and farm animal specialists.

I know my childhood was rich beyond measure — sneaking out at night with my sister Peggy, snitching and eating fresh, fat tomatoes off the vine, milking the cow, helping Uncle Herbert hook up Old Joe (that horse lived to be 51) to plow the fields,  but mostly smelling the good earth and playing with everything available on the farm.

As you’re reading this, thank a tree farmer. If you’re having a meal or a snack, thank a farmer.

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
www.southreporter.com