National Ag Day.

Where were you during "National Agriculture Week?" The Agriculture Council of America decided to check out a few of the hundreds of activities that took place March 17-23, 2002, across the United States. The ACA found pizza parties, discussion panels, ice cream, farm tours, magicians, and awards ceremonies. Events took place involving children, adults, schools, farmers and agribusinesses. It truly was "A Celebration of Agriculture."

This year's theme "Agriculture-A World in Harmony" was fitting as various groups across the country joined forces to share, recognize and educate millions of people about agriculture and its vital role in our lives.

On the west coast a "Farmer of the Year" recognition luncheon was hosted by the Central California NAMA chapter, the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California, and the Tulare Kiwanis Club.

In the Midwest "The National Agriculture Day Pizza Party" was held. Pizza combines four segments of the local agriculture. This allowed producer groups from grain, dairy, vegetables and meats to share how the farmers produce the food we eat. Over 740 Kansas City area fourth graders consumed 163 pizzas this year and enjoyed milk and ice cream as well.

Chicago was the site of a panel discussion hosted by the Agriculture Council of America with support from DuPont, that asked journalists and farmers from across the country to discuss "The Growing Gap Between Farmers and the Media." The panel was moderated by Mark Pearson, a long time farm broadcaster, and host of the PBS Show-Market-to-Market. ACA felt that it was time to join farmers with writers and editors to discuss the misconceptions that get started in agriculture and how to overcome them. After a lively discussion, the panel came to the agreement that the general public is lacking in information on agriculture and that farmers and others in the industry must be willing and available to speak out on all issues.

In the East "Kids 2002 Farm Tour," sponsored by Ohio NAMA, involved 104 third-graders from Scioto Trace Elementary School. The tour, held at Young's Jersey Dairy Farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio, was a day of education and fun. The goal was to expose the children to a farm environment thus teaching them the importance of agriculture.

The children first watched a video outlining the A, B, C's of dairy farming. Buckets of corn, feed, alfalfa and straw were available for them to see, feel and smell. Next up was a wagon tour of the farm where they saw barns, silos, grain bins, equipment and dairy cattle .The Petting Barn gave them the opportunity to both touch and feed the animals. The tour rounded out with a box lunch and, of course, ice cream!

In Washington D.C., US Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, proclaimed March 17-23, 2002, National Agriculture Week with an official secretarial proclamation.

Join this vital effort next year during National Agriculture Week, March 16-22, 2003. Every event impacts the population, a population that is very much removed from the farm.

Find out more about the Agriculture Council of America by going to the official Ag Day Web site, www.agday.org.