National Farmers Day Tribute

Today — Oct. 12 — is National Farmers Day, so I’m yelling out to anyone who’s wrestled a tractor or basically puts a year’s work in the ground and prays the weather, markets, bugs and politics behave. I run through how farmers are simultaneously a mechanic, a vet, an accountant, a meteorologist, a logistics manager and, apparently, professional gamblers — because yeah, you plant and then hope. This time of year it’s perfect to notice them: combines are rolling, harvest is full-on, and these folks are working before sunrise and long after dark while we whine about DoorDash taking 45 minutes. I remind everyone food doesn’t start at Walmart — it starts with somebody looking at dirt and saying, “I can work with this.” Then we tip our hats and play the Paul Harvey “So God Made a Farmer” speech he gave to the FFA in 1978 — the classic homage that sums up why these people deserve a heck of a lot more thanks (and maybe coffee).

Takeaways:

• I pointed out farmers wear more hats than anyone: mechanic, vet, accountant, meteorologist, logistics manager and gambler.
• We reminded everyone National Farmers Day (Oct 12) is the perfect time to appreciate the harvest hustle and those long, tireless hours.
• I joked about DoorDash delays while farmers work before dawn to after dark producing the food DoorDash eventually delivers to our door.
• We included Paul Harvey's 1978 'So God Made a Farmer' speech as the ultimate homage to farmers' grit, humor, and stubborn kindness.
• I marveled at farmers' faith: they plant a year's work and basically gamble on weather, markets, fuel, insects, and politics.