Here's To The Farmer Day

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Here's To The Farmer Day

WHEREAS, Virginia farmers work year-round to provide nutritious, safe, and affordable food for all Americans and people around the world; and

WHEREAS, agriculture is Virginia's largest private industry with an economic impact of over $82 billion a year and generates more than 380,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's agricultural and forestry exports totaled over $3.6 billion in 2023; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is home to 39,000 farms and each farm feeds an average of 166 people a year; and

WHEREAS, ninety-five percent of Virginia farms are family owned and operated; and

WHEREAS, Virginia farmers will be asked to do even more in the future to help feed the world's population, which is expected to grow to 10 billion by 2050; and

WHEREAS, Virginia farmers care deeply about protecting the environment and sustaining our precious natural resources; and

WHEREAS, Virginia farmers are passionate about what they do, work hard, help others, and deeply value their farms and families; and

WHEREAS, we are thankful for the two percent of our population who raise the products we all need every day for food, clothing, shelter, and fuel;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize September 20, 2024, as HERE'S TO THE FARMER DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.