A Lot to Be Thankful For

Thanksgiving, and the holiday season, is a time to spend with friends, family, and neighbors to reflect on the moments from the past year for which we should be thankful. Across the country, loved ones come together, gathering around a table often piled high with delicious turkey, side dishes from recipes passed down through generations, and flavorful pies and desserts.

But it isn't the food that makes Thanksgiving special. It's the people around the table and the relationships that have been forged either through family ties or years of dedicated friendship. In the moments outside of Washington serving as the Representative for the Fourth District of Arkansas, it is a great privilege to be surrounded by friends, family, and neighbors - providing so much to be thankful for all year round.

It's impossible to be seated at the Thanksgiving table - surrounded by delicious, home-cooked food - and not think of all the hard-working folks who had a hand in making it possible to enjoy. The farmers and agriculture workers, who labor tirelessly throughout the year to provide the food we enjoy, don't receive nearly the amount of thanks they are due. It has been a privilege to meet with farmers and agriculture workers while traveling across the district. They are truly the backbone of our country, and it is a top priority to advance legislation in Congress that supports the men and women who have invested their lives to feed, fuel, and clothe America. It's the cold and dark early mornings, the stormy nights when something went wrong - requiring an emergency fence repair or calling the livestock veterinarian in the early hours of the morning to assist with a dire situation - that reveal the grit and dedication needed to prosper in their chosen occupations. These are only a few of the circumstances farmers and agriculture workers are familiar with - something very few people are aware of.

There is great pride in knowing that the Fourth District of Arkansas is one of the top-producing congressional districts for Thanksgiving. Many people across the country sit down at the dinner table to enjoy delicious side dishes or turkey which was likely produced right here in the Fourth District, where almost all Thanksgiving turkeys destined for the dinner table are processed.

There are countless other things for which we should give thanks. We can only enjoy our nation's freedoms today because of the sacrifices made by our veterans and service men and women who boldly answered the call of duty - they have our thanks every single day. We are also blessed to have countless educators who dedicate their lives to teaching and empowering children to be great future leaders for our country. It's these people, and so many more, who make up the heart of our nation. And while we can all enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by loved ones, it is also important to reflect on the men and women who contribute to our country's success every single day in whichever field they have chosen.

When we take a moment to reflect on all we have been given, of the loved ones surrounding us and the pride we have in our great nation, it's easy to find so many things for which we should be thankful. I wish you and your loved ones a happy and joyful Thanksgiving - I am certainly thankful for the opportunity to serve the Fourth District of Arkansas.