At times in life it can be easy to lose perspective. You get
in a routine with work and life and forget to take time to look and appreciate
the world around us. Sometimes you wonder if what you do even matters or makes
a difference to anyone else. As individuals who make up an entire industry,
what you do does matter to someone or some group of people.
If you think about it, each day would consist of major
inconveniences if one entire industry decided to totally stop functioning.
Eventually, society would lose some kind of product, skill or service which
could ultimately impact a wide variety of other industries. Society takes all
kinds of people doing all kinds of jobs to operate. In agriculture, it’s no
different.
At Sage, a creative marketing agency, we work with other
creative thinkers and our ag clients to see firsthand what it takes to tell the
story of agriculture and make the industry work. On the surface level, it can
be obvious who the contributors are of the agricultural industry – the farmers
and ranchers. However, like billions of people rely on farmers and ranchers
every day, these professionals also rely on thousands of others to make their
jobs possible.
For example, farmers and ranchers need equipment
manufacturers, mechanics, software developers, veterinarians, animal health
experts, agronomists, financial advisors, economists and legal professionals
(just to name a few) to operate.
Agricultural youth programs rely on teachers, extension
specialists and agents, parents, volunteers and support from a variety of local
businesses to ensure agriculture has a place in future generations.
In our world at Sage, we see many other roles being played
to advocate and share the story of agriculture. We communicate regularly with
writers, editors, designers, data analysts, photographers and videographers to
deliver messages for the industry. Working with the media, we are encouraged
when we see agriculture being talked about in print, online, through social
media, TV and radio.
Agriculture not only produces food and fiber, but also
medicine, household products, personal care items, fuel and entertainment. To
make these items, agriculture and society also rely on processors,
manufacturers, transportation, retailers and food services. Without agriculture
and its related industries more than 21 million jobs or 11% of U.S. employment
would be effected. However, the number is likely higher and does not include
the number of people who use food and fiber products each day.
Agriculture truly has a place in everyone’s day-to-day
activities, whether it’s part of your career or not. National Ag Day is one way
you can educate and advocate for an industry everyone relies on. Perhaps this
Ag Day you should take the time to find out where your relationship with ag
fits into your life. Chances are, if you eat you need agriculture, but
agriculture just might need you, too.
