From early season rain to drought or near-drought conditions in mid-summer, to catastrophic flooding last July, we have seen it all from a weather perspective.

These events were troublesome to some and disastrous to others, but we have managed to make it to the harvest season.

Once again, we are in the fields from daylight to dark bringing in the crops that sustain life for all of us.

For those on the receiving end, it's usually as simple as going to the grocery store to pick their favorite foods, and so many of them don't stop to think about how their food got there.

But for producers, we endure the hardships, relish in the successes, and pray to continue for the next crop, the next growing season. We are farmers and proudly stand tall when we say that.

While we face new challenges every year, we still move forward as we look for new ways to reduce costs and increase production.

It is an ongoing process and one we, as farm families, have learned to accept and one in which we excel, to be perfectly honest.

The American farmer is one of the most educated of all working professionals that I know. We have to continually stay up to date on new production measures, more advanced equipment, and ever-changing regulatory issues to remain in business.

Days off are usually not an option during the growing season and calling in sick is almost never an option. Yet we continue to do what we do year-in and year-out regardless of the mixed bag of conditions we face. 

The love of growing and harvesting crops, raising livestock, and nurturing our natural resources gets in your blood.

It takes over your thoughts and gets a hold of your very heart to the point that no matter how tough it gets, the end result; the harvest season, is what we work and live for.

Besides the love for our Lord and our family members, there is nothing more important to farmers across this state and throughout the country than to continue this tradition as old as the earth itself.

We will not quit, or call in, or take a day off when there is work to be done. Many of us come from families who have farmed for generations, while others are just beginning their family traditions.

Whatever the case, we will endure and move forward in years like this one, and for years to come because we are farmers.

Mark Haney, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau