# Happy Thanksgiving!

Source: https://dairycoach.com/1644-2/
Published: 2015-11-25
Author: Tom Wall

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It’s hard to believe we’re winding down another year, isn’t it? Tomorrow, most Americans will be getting together with family and friends to give thanks for all we have, watch the Packers beat the Bears, and eat way more than we possibly should. Hopefully we’ll also take a little time to relax and reflect on all of the gifts we’ve been blessed with.

In spite of all the minor and major problems that can ruin your day, the truth is you’re surrounded by a lot of great people and a lot of great opportunities that make every day worth living.

Our talents and abilities, both physical and intellectual, allow us to do jobs that many people are unable to perform. And on top of that, we are privileged to live in a country where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are promised to everyone. What we do with all these gifts is up to us. Regardless of how we choose to use them, this Thursday might be a good day to stop and remember how fortunate we are for all that we’ve been given.

Toward that end, I’d like to take this time to say ‘Thank You’ to all of the dedicated, hard-working people within the dairy industry that provide us with the one thing so many of us take for granted. You see, this Thanksgiving is actually a lot like every other day of the year. If it weren’t for the long hours and hard work of our nation’s farmers, countless people would go to bed hungry every night.

And as the general public becomes further removed from the process and the places that produce the food we all need and enjoy, many people are unaware of the resources and effort it takes to put meals on our families’ tables. Unfortunately a lot of people have come to expect that food will always be readily available, affordable, and safe. The reality is that it is, and will continue to be, up to all of us to promote our industry’s commitment to keeping America fed and clothed.

At the same time, I’m afraid many dairy producers tend to get caught up in the daily grind and forget what it is they really do for the rest of us.

Not only do you take on the risk of operating and growing your dairy business as a means to provide for your own family, but you also do this to provide food for people you’ll never meet.

While your work allows people in small towns and rural communities to live and prosper, it also puts the well-being of our natural resources and livestock into the hands of people who have the most experience caring for both. And if producing our nation’s food wasn’t enough of a commitment, now many of you are advancing new technologies that will protect our environment and create alternative energy solutions for sustaining your farm and the land around it.

I’m sincerely proud and grateful to be part of an industry that does so much good. Regardless of the constant up’s and down’s of the economy, our country can count on the dairy industry to continue feeding people from coast to coast while providing year-round employment and consistent economic stimulus.

We are truly fortunate God has blessed our families with so many gifts. He has entrusted our farmers with the great responsibility of feeding our nation and caring for all that He has created.

For all your hard work, sacrifice, and dedication… Thank You, Farmers. We are grateful for all you do.