Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig invites Iowans to celebrate Iowa Agriculture week, with Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) hosting a National Ag Day Lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday in Kildee Hall.
“Agriculture touches the life of every Iowan, every day–from the food we eat and clothes we wear to the fuel in our automobiles,” Naig stated in the press release. “Agriculture powers our economy, employs nearly one in every five Iowans, and is the backbone of our rural communities. I invite every Iowan to join the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in celebrating Iowa Ag Week. For those who are able, I encourage you to explore opportunities to volunteer your time and talents to support a cause or organization that is important to you. This is just another way the Iowa agriculture community can show how much we care about our neighbors.”
Gov. Kim Reynolds designated March 24 to 31 as Iowa Agriculture Week. Naig encourages Iowans to participate by creating unique ideas, organizing a day of service, holding a fundraiser for agriculture nonprofits, hosting a workplace potluck or purchasing locally grown and produced goods from Iowans.
CALS council will host a lunch with pork burgers to celebrate National Ag Day and Iowa Ag Week.
Iowa Ag Week “celebrates Iowa agriculture’s significant contributions to the state and highlights efforts to give back to the communities we call home,” the press release states.
Naig plans to celebrate the week each day. Naig and other agriculture department employees volunteered at the Food Bank of Iowa on Monday. On Tuesday, he will participate in Read Across Iowa with elementary school students. He will also familiarize middle school students with careers in agriculture.
On Wednesday, Naig will focus on achievement and celebration, and he is slated to tour farms and conservation projects before speaking at the Celebration of Agriculture Dinner in Cedar Rapids. Thursday, he will speak at the annual Iowa Master Farmers Association awards ceremony and the Iowa Women in Agriculture reception.
Naig plans to visit farms impacted by last year’s severe weather and tour a Choose Iowa member’s farm Friday. To wrap up, the Department of Agriculture will host the annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner, recognizing contributions to conservation, community service and youth leaders.
“The weeklong celebration highlights agriculture’s many significant contributions to our state’s economy and way of life,” The press release states. “In addition, Iowans are encouraged to identify volunteer and service opportunities to further underscore agriculture’s positive impact in our communities.”
