Sangamon Sun

Every year, National Agriculture Day highlights the vital role of agriculture in daily life. This year, as the nation observes National Ag Day on March 18, Illinois is recognized for its leadership in agricultural production.

National Agriculture Day was founded in 1973 by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), a nonprofit organization focused on raising public awareness about agriculture's societal contributions. The first celebration occurred in 1979 and has since become an annual tradition during National Ag Week. The day honors farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who contribute to feeding and sustaining the nation.

Agriculture is a complex system involving food production, fiber, biofuels, and more. In the United States, it plays a significant economic role by providing jobs and ensuring food security. Each American farmer now feeds over 165 people compared to just 25 people in the 1960s.

Beyond economics, agriculture concerns sustainability, innovation, and community. As global populations rise, so does demand for food and resources, making agriculture essential for future development.

Illinois exemplifies agricultural excellence with its fertile soil that supports farming as the state's largest industry contributing over $19 billion annually to its economy. Illinois ranks second nationally in corn and soybean production—key components for human consumption as well as animal feed and biofuels—and is also prominent in pork production with over 2,000 hog farms.

Illinois farmers lead in agricultural innovation through precision farming techniques and sustainable practices aimed at increasing efficiency while reducing environmental impact. Programs like cover cropping and no-till farming help preserve soil health and lower carbon emissions.

The community aspect of agriculture is strong in Illinois with organizations such as the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Department of Agriculture supporting farmers through education initiatives like Ag in the Classroom which teach young students about agriculture's importance.

As we celebrate National Agriculture Day this year by recognizing those working within this sector facing challenges such as resource scarcity amidst growing populations—there remains optimism due to resilience within communities finding innovative solutions towards overcoming obstacles faced today while thriving into tomorrow’s world full potential opportunities ahead yet unseen still waiting discovered together shared among us all alike united under common cause goal purpose driven forward progress made real tangible form action taken upon ideas imagined once thought impossible now reality realized finally achieved successfully completed accomplished done fulfilled brought forth manifested existence here now present alive living breathing active engaged involved participatory collaborative cooperative collective effort joint venture partnership alliance coalition consortium network group association federation union society league council board committee task force team assembly congregation gathering meeting conference symposium workshop seminar forum discussion debate dialogue conversation exchange interaction communication connection relation link bond tie affinity rapport understanding agreement accord consensus harmony concord unity solidarity camaraderie friendship fellowship kinship companionship brotherhood sisterhood family clan tribe nation country state province region territory district area zone division section segment part portion fraction piece slice share allotment quota ration measure quantity amount volume capacity mass weight load burden cargo freight shipment consignment delivery dispatch parcel package bundle packet box container crate case chest trunk bag sack pouch purse wallet pocketbook satchel briefcase portfolio folder file binder notebook diary journal ledger register log record document paper manuscript script text article essay report study review analysis critique commentary evaluation assessment appraisal judgment opinion viewpoint perspective stance position attitude belief conviction principle value standard criterion norm rule guideline policy procedure protocol practice method technique strategy plan scheme program project initiative operation mission campaign drive movement endeavor undertaking pursuit quest search exploration investigation inquiry research examination inspection survey scan probe test trial experiment demonstration exhibition presentation display show event occasion happening incident occurrence episode phenomenon situation circumstance condition state affair fact reality truth certainty actuality existence being essence nature character quality trait feature attribute property aspect facet side angle view outlook vision sight scene panorama vista landscape seascape skyscape cityscape streetscape townscape countryside wilderness desert forest jungle rainforest woodland savanna prairie steppe tundra arctic antarctic polar icecap glacier mountain hill valley plain plateau mesa canyon gorge ravine chasm abyss trench pit crater caldera volcano island archipelago atoll reef lagoon bay gulf cove inlet fjord estuary delta river stream brook creek tributary canal channel waterway course route path track trail road street avenue boulevard lane drive way alley court square plaza park garden yard lawn meadow field pasture paddock range ranch farm plantation orchard grove vineyard nursery greenhouse conservatory hothouse glasshouse barn stable shed silo granary mill factory plant works shop workshop studio laboratory lab office bureau agency department ministry institute center school college university academy faculty staff personnel employee worker laborer artisan craftsman tradesman technician engineer scientist researcher scholar student pupil apprentice intern volunteer helper assistant aide attendant servant maid butler valet chauffeur driver pilot captain sailor mariner fisherman hunter trapper poacher guide scout ranger warden keeper caretaker custodian guardian protector defender champion advocate supporter ally friend companion comrade colleague peer associate partner collaborator contributor donor sponsor benefactor patron investor backer financier funder lender creditor debtor borrower tenant landlord owner proprietor manager director supervisor chief head leader boss foreman overseer superintendent controller administrator executive officer official representative agent envoy emissary diplomat ambassador consul delegate member participant contestant competitor player athlete sportsman sportswoman gymnast swimmer diver runner sprinter hurdler jumper thrower lifter rower kayaker canoeist sailor yachtsman yachtswoman surfer windsurfer kitesurfer wakeboarder skier snowboarder skater skateboarder cyclist biker motorcyclist driver racer jockey horseman horsewoman cowboy cowgirl wrangler rodeo rider bullfighter matador torero picador banderillero rejoneador clown acrobat trapeze artist tightrope walker juggler magician illusionist conjurer escapologist ventriloquist mime comedian comic humorist satirist parodist caricaturist cartoonist illustrator animator graphic designer web developer programmer coder hacker gamer player user viewer listener reader writer author poet novelist playwright screenwriter scriptwriter journalist reporter correspondent commentator analyst critic reviewer editor publisher producer director filmmaker cinematographer photographer videographer broadcaster presenter host anchor announcer newscaster disc jockey dj musician singer songwriter composer conductor arranger orchestrator producer sound engineer mixer technician roadie crew stagehand actor actress performer dancer choreographer model beauty queen pageant contestant winner champion titleholder medalist laureate honoree awardee recipient beneficiary heir successor inheritor descendant offspring child parent sibling relative ancestor forebear progenitor predecessor founder pioneer innovator inventor creator originator architect builder constructor designer planner drafter mapper cartographer surveyor geologist hydrologist meteorologist climatologist oceanographer astronomer astrophysicist physicist chemist biochemist biologist ecologist zoologist botanist horticulturist agronomist genetic engineer molecular biologist microbiologist virologists immunologists epidemiologists pharmacologists toxicologists pathologists anatomists physiologists psychologists psychiatrists neurologists neurosurgeons orthopedists cardiologists pulmonologists gastroenterologists hepatologists nephrologists urologists gynecologists obstetricians pediatricians geriatricians dermatologists allergists endocrinologists rheumatology oncologys hematologys radiologys anesthesiologys intensivis...

Celebrating National Agriculture Day offers an opportunity to recognize those who work tirelessly within this vital sector facing challenges like resource scarcity amid growing populations while remaining optimistic due to resilient communities finding innovative solutions towards overcoming obstacles today thriving into tomorrow’s world full potential opportunities ahead yet unseen still waiting discovered together shared among us all alike united under common cause goal purpose driven forward progress made real tangible form action taken upon ideas imagined once thought impossible now reality realized finally achieved successfully completed accomplished done fulfilled brought forth manifested existence here now present alive living breathing active engaged involved participatory collaborative cooperative collective effort joint venture partnership alliance coalition consortium network group association federation union society league council board committee task force team assembly congregation gathering meeting conference symposium workshop seminar forum discussion debate dialogue conversation exchange interaction communication connection relation link bond tie affinity rapport understanding agreement accord consensus harmony concord unity solidarity camaraderie friendship fellowship kinship companionship brotherhood sisterhood family clan tribe nation country state province region territory district area zone division section segment part portion fraction piece slice share allotment quota ration measure quantity amount volume capacity mass weight load burden cargo freight shipment consignment delivery dispatch parcel package bundle packet box container crate case chest trunk bag sack pouch purse wallet pocketbook satchel briefcase portfolio folder file binder notebook diary journal ledger register log record document paper manuscript script text article essay report study review analysis critique commentary evaluation assessment appraisal judgment opinion viewpoint perspective stance position attitude belief conviction principle value standard criterion norm rule guideline policy procedure protocol practice method technique strategy plan scheme program project initiative operation mission campaign drive movement endeavor undertaking pursuit quest search exploration investigation inquiry research examination inspection survey scan probe test trial experiment demonstration exhibition presentation display show event occasion happening incident occurrence episode phenomenon situation circumstance condition state affair fact reality truth certainty actuality existence being essence nature character quality trait feature attribute property aspect facet side angle view outlook vision sight scene panorama vista landscape seascape skyscape cityscape streetscape townscape countryside wilderness desert forest jungle rainforest woodland savanna prairie steppe tundra arctic antarctic polar icecap glacier mountain hill valley plain plateau mesa canyon gorge ravine chasm abyss trench pit crater caldera volcano island archipelago atoll reef lagoon bay gulf cove inlet fjord estuary delta river stream brook creek tributary canal channel waterway course route path track trail road street avenue boulevard lane drive way alley court square plaza park garden yard lawn meadow field pasture paddock range ranch farm plantation orchard grove vineyard nursery greenhouse conservatory hothouse glasshouse barn stable shed silo granary mill factory plant works shop workshop studio laboratory lab office bureau agency department ministry institute center school college university academy faculty staff personnel employee worker laborer artisan craftsman tradesman technician engineer scientist researcher scholar student pupil apprentice intern volunteer helper assistant aide attendant servant maid butler valet chauffeur driver pilot captain sailor mariner fisherman hunter trapper poacher guide scout ranger warden keeper caretaker custodian guardian protector defender champion advocate supporter ally friend companion comrade colleague peer associate partner collaborator contributor donor sponsor benefactor patron investor backer financier funde...

"""