President's Message

An Agricultural Perspective-

Thanksgiving: blessings during challenging times

By Dan Errotabere

Next week families will gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving, a time when we pause to recognize and show appreciation to our Heavenly Father for life’s abundances and blessings. With all the challenges of 2009 -- and there are many-- it will be harder for some families to bring together that celebratory meal that signifies Thanksgiving Day.

Recession-induced job losses and furloughed workers, crisis in the dairy sector and water shortages, as well as increased costs for almost everything have taken a heavy toll on many Fresno County families -- not to mention, our farm employees and rural communities who are still suffering from drastic water shortages and lost opportunities to feed themselves after years of working in difficult jobs to feed others. The need this year to help others in our community is indeed great.

While the need remains high and at times may seem overwhelming, the residents of Fresno County know how to help others. We have seen their generosity many times in the past and this year -- even with more people in positions of need -- Fresno County residents do not disappoint.  In fact, during this year’s Big Fresno Fair, a one-day food drive surpassed all other records, bringing in well over 57,000 pounds of donated food as part of a free fair admission program. For a six-hour period on Oct. 15, fair-goers got into the fair free of charge if they brought in three cans of food. As people stood inline to get into the fair that day, many of them had well over three cans of food --some with bags of food items. All of the food donated that day went to the west side communities, the hardest hit area of our county this year. The outpouring of support from the community, as well as the Fair’s sensitivity to community needs by offering such a program, have gone a long way to help those most impacted by our water crisis. The outpouring of community support is a blessing indeed for Fresno County.
 
Farmers, ranchers and dairy producers assume great risks every year to produce a high-quality, wholesome food supply for consumers both here and abroad. Without question, many of these farm families are struggling this year to keep their farms, ranches and dairies afloat for yet another year.  Water shortages, dramatically low milk and commodity prices, increased production costs and lost market share to cheap imports have created undue hardships for many producers this year. Despite these pressures and financial losses endured this year, as farmers we will look ahead to next year with the faith and hope that it will be better.

As much as our farm families are struggling, though, we must look to help those farm employee families who still face much uncertainty with where their next pay check or meal may come from.  During this holiday season, please consider donating non-perishable food and money to the Community Food Bank or your local food charity. If you are harvesting a crop now, the Food Bank will greatly accept donations of bins of your crop, especially citrus crops.

Our Thanksgiving meal would not be possible were it not for the farmers and farm employees who make it all possible. Almost every thing we will eat next Thursday started on a farm somewhere-- in all likelihood, from a Fresno County farm. Let’s remember those who work hard and take risks year-in and year-out to grow and harvest the food that we will enjoy that special day. Despite the many challenges, they are still outweighed by the many blessings we receive. Happy Thanksgiving, and remember, “food grows where water flows.”

Remembering a leader
As we talk about the care and support for our farm employee families, Fresno County agriculture lost a strong leader who spent much of his farming life working and advocating on behalf of farm employees on his farm and throughout the state. We remember Easton area farmer and FCFB Past President Don Laub for his passion for the issues, working hard on immigration issues in particular, helping to recognize the important role farm employees hold in the industry. Fresno County agriculture is better today because of Don’s passion and dedication of the issues and service to the community. We offer condolences to the entire Laub Family and remember Don for his lasting contributions.