Ag day should be every day

As the bumper sticker says, “If you eat, you’re involved in agriculture.”

For some reason over the centuries, farmers, ranchers, dairymen, beekeepers and all the rest have been regarded as lesser beings in the world of commerce. But without them, we all die the terrible death of starvation.

So everyone should be celebrating today — Agriculture Day — that there is food on the table, even if it be meager in some homes.

Certainly Alaska has had its ups and downs in agricultural ventures on a grand scale, the Point MacKenzie dairy project being one of them. Now, though, it looks like a scrappy bunch of dairy farmers are starting to make the local creamery a going concern.

Officials at the creamery are talking about optimism and growth. They say they could sell more products if they had more milk. This just being about a year away from days when the dairies had no buyers and farmers were pouring milk on the ground.

If the creamery claims are true, that would truly be a reason to celebrate.

What already is a reason to celebrate is the number of farmers markets that have begun to pop up in local communities. These have been successful because people are beginning to understand that when you buy from a local farmer, you know where your food came from and you know it’s as fresh as it gets.

Alaska’s in a poor position because of its location on Earth, so we rely heavily on food coming from all over the world to supplement our agricultural resources. The near future of lime groves around Fairview Loop doesn’t look good. But if you want radishes, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce and many other foodstuffs, you can’t beat what is grown just down the road from where you live.

And that is exactly why all of us should be vigilant about protecting our diminishing farm land in the Valley. Apartment buildings don’t grow food, they suffocate it.

It’s a danged shame the writers of the nation’s Constitution didn’t have a few words to say about the value of farming. The way people around here get all irate and cite the Constitution to save whatever cause they believe in, farmers would have a lot more defenders.

But alas, when the Constitution was written, this was a nation of farmers and they could hardly dream of a day when farmers would become an endangered species.

If you had a salad today, a farmer grew it. If you had a hamburger, a rancher saw to it. Orange juice? Toast? A glass of milk? If you have a beer tonight, thank a barley farmer somewhere. Do you like a Merlot with your abundant meal, pat a vintner on the back.

You are involved in agriculture. So show some gratitude, every day.