Thanksgiving Day is a day to give thanks for our blessings and our bounty, although this year for many Hoosier farm families the bounty has been considerably less. Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman told HAT she and all Hoosiers are thankful for the productivity of Indiana agriculture, even in a year of drought, “My Thanksgiving message for all of our agricultural community is to thrive and grow in the next year. Agriculture is an industry that is so dependent on mother nature, and 2012 has been a very difficult one. Hoosier farmers, however, are hardy so I wish all continued success.”
Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Joe Kelsay said Indiana farm families are certainly something to be thankful for, “Whether it is the bounty from this year’s harvest or the promise of next year’s crop, the fact is that we have so many hard working men and woman who work hard every day to make the most of their land, their resources, and their environment to bring the bounty of Indiana agriculture to our tables and to people around the world. We are very thankful for all the Hoosiers who engage themselves in the business of agriculture.”
US Sec of Ag Tom Vilsack said it is the productivity and hard work of American agriculture that has and will continue to keep our nation strong. In his Thanksgiving Day message, he acknowledged that this has been a challenging year for America’s farmers, “This year has been marked by a number of disasters stretching from our smallest towns to our biggest cities.” He said parts of the nation remain in drought and that the recovery continues from Hurricane Sandy. “I know that in the months and years to come that the hard work of rural American will strengthen our nation,” Vilsack said. He also called on Americans to remember those in the armed forces, many of whom come from rural communities, “They are spending this day away from their homes so that all of us can remain safe and free.” He concluded by wishing all of rural American a happy Thanksgiving and asked for everyone to give thanks for the great nation we call home.
So on this day set aside to give thanks, let all of us, both on the farm and off, pause and give thanks for our blessings and look with hope to a new year .
From all of us at HAT: Happy Thanksgiving!
[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/11/Thanks.mp3|titles=A day to give thanks]