Thank A Farmer!

   I live in one of the most fertile farming areas in the nation and every year, up on the hill above my home, I see this beautiful scene.  That is wheat that has just been harvested and is being loaded into the grain truck. If it were not for our farmers, there would be no bread, pizza or heaven forbid, doughnuts!  
   My area also is known at the Pea and Lentil Capital of the World because we grow amazing crops of both of them.  This coming weekend in the Lentil Festival in Pullman, WA and it has become a pretty big deal with lentil cooking contests, new products being introduced, music, and fun run and lots of fun activities and displays.
   The farmers in this area also grow garbanzos, barley and oats.  There are a few who are also growing canola.  Since we live near 2 agricultural colleges, many of the local farmers will grow test crops of new strains of wheat on their land for the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
   Agriculture is the backbone of our community and without it, we would be in bad shape.  Our farmers put in long hours and take huge risks each year with their crops.  They are hard working people who care about the land and about their communities and are very involved in the little towns and schools that dot this countryside.  So next time you run into a farmer, thank them for all their hard work that helps to feed all of us here and also abroad.