Governor Kay Ivey Proclaims October 12 as Farmer’s Day in Alabama
Courtesy of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
Farmers across Alabama are getting long-overdue recognition thanks to a new statewide observance. Last week, Governor Kay Ivey officially proclaimed October 12th as Farmer’s Day in Alabama, joined by Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate.
We spoke with Commissioner Pate to learn what inspired this important proclamation.
“Well, it’s something really that’s been in the works almost since COVID. I really saw that people seem like to question why they’re wanting enough food on the shelf for the first time. Of course, in America we produce a lot of food, really it was transportation, supply side issues, and there was a genuine appreciation for farmers and sort of like we do a great job in this country for first responders and policemen and our military, and I thought, well, yeah, we need farmers to buy as much as we need them, and you need them every day, multiple times a day, multiple farmers a day.”
Commissioner Pate explained that while appreciation for farmers surged during the pandemic, it quickly faded once store shelves were restocked. That fading sentiment is what pushed him to take action.
“Once we restock the shelves, that feeling kind of dissipated, and so I had that mulling over my head over the last few years, and I just thought, well, I’m gonna get with some smart people, and we will create this farmer program and really see if we can raise awareness, and the governor really bought in and asked how she could participate in a more meaningful way, and so today was just her signing the proclamation.”
The proclamation event was held at Sweet Creek Farm Market, an ideal backdrop for honoring the people who grow the nation’s food. Pate hopes this annual recognition builds long-term awareness.
“Try to say it every now and then that we need to be appreciative of our farmers, and we’re just trying to bring a little awareness for the vital role that American farmers play in our lives.”
For information on the Thank A Farmer initiative visit, thankstofarmers.com.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.