If you thought the COVID-19 pandemic would prohibit your chapter from celebrating National Ag Day on March 23, think again. There are plenty of ways to observe National Ag Day that don’t involve large gatherings. The trick is to get creative and make a plan. Check out this roundup of fun ideas for recognizing this important day.
- Organize an outdoor Ag Day dinner with friends. Incorporate ingredients your state is known for into the meal, such as pork, corn, apples, grapes, beef and so on. Just be sure to keep it COVID-safe – minimize the number of guests, seat everyone 6 feet apart and use disposable plates and utensils to minimize the spread of germs. Use gloves for serving and cleanup.
- Tour a local farm. Find out which farms in your area allow visitors and schedule a tour to learn about how they produce, market and sell their products. Again, minimize the number of guests and maintain a social distance. Share what you learned with your fellow FFA members.
- Share your love for agriculture on social media. Upload an ag-related photo to your social media account(s) and tell your friends and family what it means to you. It might be a picture of ingredients you’re using for dinner, a field of sprouting crops, your favorite farm animal or the produce section of your local market.
- Shop at your local farmers market. Many farmers markets are gearing up for business in March, and vendors are eager to get to know their customers. Pick out some farm-fresh produce and chat with the growers (from a distance) who produced it to learn their story. Many markets also offer meats, eggs, dairy products, honey and baked goods.
- Contact a legislator. Visit one of your legislators at their state office or invite them to visit a farm or ranch in your area. Consider a virtual visit if you can’t meet in-person. Research agricultural issues that affect your region so you’re in the know. When you call or write to your legislators, remind them of the importance of supporting farm initiatives. Ask them how they support local farmers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Set up an agriculture display at a shopping center or library. Grab a friend and ask your public library or shopping center for permission to set up an agriculture display during National Ag Week. Your display may include ag products produced in your region, information about local farms and what they grow, and even books that help children learn how agriculture affects them.
- Shop for an elderly neighbor. The elderly need groceries just as much as you do, but they are often afraid to risk exposure to COVID-19 at the store. Volunteer to help an elderly neighbor shop for his or her weekly groceries. You can leave the groceries near the front door to minimize contact.
- Thank a farmer. Farmers work around the clock to feed the world, and they’ve been especially overwhelmed during the pandemic due to food shortages and panic buying. Write a heartfelt thank-you note to farmers in your community expressing your gratitude for the work they do to bring products to grocery store shelves.
For more information about Ag Day, visit AgDay.org. And remember to add your activities to your Program of Activities and your National Chapter Awards application.
