2018 Agriculture Appreciation Day Proclaimed for Washington County Virginia and Localities

March 12, 2018 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2018 Agriculture Appreciation Day Proclaimed for Washington County Virginia and Localities

Washington County, VA - This March, local governing bodies, including Abingdon Town Council, Washington County Board of Supervisors and Damascus Town Council, are simultaneously proclaiming March 20, 2018 as Agriculture Appreciation Day.  This date coincides with the National Ag Day, as proclaimed by the Agriculture Council of America.  The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is an organization uniquely composed of leaders in the agriculture, food and fiber communities dedicated to increasing the public awareness of agriculture's vital role in our society. The Agriculture Council of America and the National Ag Day program was started in 1973

Agriculture is the leading industry in Washington County, Virginia, and as such plays a critical economic role in the county and the towns held within. Washington County ranks statewide at the top producer for goats, sheep and lambs, number of farms, and eggs. Washington County is one of the largest livestock marketing centers east of the Mississippi, selling over $40 million in livestock. In town limits, Damascus, Glade Spring and Abingdon Farmers Markets provide local produce, meat, and artisan goods to the local community. Abingdon Farmers Market has consistently led the state in progressive efforts, including offering EBT access to low-income consumers, and has been recognized as a model market by the USDA.

Phil Blevins, Unit Coordinator and Extension Agent remarks on the importance of an Ag Appreciation Day, “Agriculture should be recognized by the citizenry because it is our largest industry and the foundation of our communities. I believe that farming and agriculture will always be important to our area,  because farmers do what they do because it is part of who they are. They love the land and the animals they care for and when one enterprise doesn’t work out they will find another way to make it farming. I believe this because of the young farmers I meet who are hardworking, enthusiastic farmers that are willing to use part of their precious time be an advocate for the industry”

The push for local governing bodies to recognize National Ag Day was led by a group of participants in the Leadership Washington County Program. Each year, participants of the Leadership Washington County group are required to complete a team project after learning about local government, history and economic development. This team included members: Carter Bauman, Chris Hanor, Jeff Jones, Sara Saavedra, Wayne Stevens and Kristen White who successfully advocated for the Towns of Abingdon, and Damascus, as well as the Washington County Board of Supervisors, to proclaim the third Tuesday of March as Agriculture Appreciation Day.

Members of the community are encouraged to show appreciation for those in the agriculture industry on March 20, 2018 by using the hashtags provided below through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Social Media hashtags: #AgDayWashCo #FoodforLife #AgDay18

For more information, visit www.agday.org or contact Sara Saavedra at (276) 676-2282 or ssaavedra@abingdon-va.gov