On what day is National Farmer’s Day celebrated? October 12
What is National Farmer’s Day? This day is all about giving thanks to our nation’s hard-working farmers who cultivate agricultural goods for our families to enjoy at the dinner table.
Here are some fun facts about farming:
- The practice of farming is dated back to as early as 10,000 B.C. when nomadic tribes began to farm.
- The first crops the nomads farmed were emmer wheat, einkorn wheat, hulled barley, peas, lentils, bitter vetch, chickpeas and flax.
- The first plow was invented in the Middle East and was made up of sharpened tree branches.
- Fruit farming didn’t begin until 6,000-3,000 B.C. and it’s likely that the fig was the first fruit ever farmed.
- In the United States, the agriculture industry employs more than 24 million workers and makes up 17 percent of America’s workforce.
- Wheat is the largest harvested crop in the world with rice, corn and bananas following after.
Who founded this day? The creator of this day is unknown. However, mentions of National Farmer’s Day date back to the 1800’s.
What is the hashtag? Use the hashtag #NationalFarmersDay when posting to social media.
How to celebrate: Support your local farmer with any of these ideas:
- Make a delicious dinner with goods purchased from a local farmer’s market.
- Visit a farm, like a dairy farm, or go apple picking at a local orchard.
- Volunteer at a local farm for the day.
What other national days are there for Food?
- June 3- National Egg Day
- June 17- National Eat Your Vegetables Day
- Oct 16- World Food Day
- Oct 24- National Food Day
There are many other national days relating to food. In fact, National Day Archives has a separate category just for food!