American agriculture deeply rooted in nation’s 250-year-old history
By PHILIP NELSON
Illinois Farm Bureau President
There is perhaps nothing more quintessentially American than our great nation’s agricultural heritage. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence, we should stop for a moment during our cookouts and pool parties to reflect on the farm families who have fed, fueled and helped build this country from the very beginning.
Like nearly all Americans in the late 1700s, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers were farmers. They sacrificed, worked hard, and made decisions not just for themselves, but for the generations that would follow.
In other words, they founded this nation on the spirit of agriculture: Just like you plant trees you might never sit under, they planted a legacy that we’re still realizing.
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Illinois has always been at the heart of American agriculture. Abraham Lincoln created the U.S. Department of Agriculture and established the land-grant university system. The McCormick reaper — mass produced in Chicago — and John Deere’s curved steel plow revolutionized farming.
Because of the work of those before us, the United States became an agricultural powerhouse, producing the equivalent of more than 5 million pounds of crops and animal products every minute, and Illinois is one of the great agricultural states in the nation. We are a leading producer of soybeans, corn, pork, pumpkins and horseradish.
But our history runs deeper than economic growth and innovation, and we are defined by more than our production. Agriculture in Illinois is deeply personal. To this day, 96% of farms in Illinois are family owned, and some of them date back to before the founding of our nation.
Simply put: Farming is a business and a way of life. It is one of those rare heritage occupations. Children see their parents care for the land and animals. They grow up on the farm, developing their own interest and passion for agriculture. They learn responsibility before the sun comes up. They value neighbors who show up when storms roll through. And they discover leadership in a blue and gold jacket.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, it’s worth remembering that our nation was built by farmers and continues to be sustained by them. Every meal we enjoy, every family gathering around the grill and every tradition we pass down is made possible by the men and women who work the land and care for livestock.
Their contributions often go unnoticed, but they are essential to our economy, our food security and our way of life. So, as we gather with family and friends, let’s take a moment to appreciate the farmers who make those celebrations possible.
And as we look toward America’s next 250 years, let’s work together to ensure family farms have the tools, certainty and support they need to continue feeding, fueling and growing our nation for generations to come.
We have inherited a remarkable legacy. Now it is our turn to carry it forward.
This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
