National Farmer’s Day: A Moment to Act, Not Just Appreciate
- Dana DiPrima
- Oct 30
- 5 min read
Every October 12, the U.S. pauses to honor the people who feed us, clothe us, and tend the land. National Farmer’s Day might show up on your calendar as a simple observance, but behind that little square lies an entire story of gratitude, resilience, and the work that sustains us all.
The first Farmer’s Day celebrations date back to the 1800s, when communities would gather at the end of harvest season to thank local farmers for feeding their towns. Streets filled with parades and county fairs. Markets overflowed with apples, squash, and pumpkins. It was a moment to celebrate both the bounty of the season and the people whose hands made it possible.
Over a century later, that gratitude feels even more urgent. Today, small and mid-sized farmers face mounting pressures: rising costs, unpredictable weather, volatile markets, and an uneven playing field when it comes to federal support and infrastructure. Yet they continue to show up — planting, tending, harvesting, and feeding their neighbors — often without the recognition or resources they deserve.
When Did You Last Talk to a Farmer?
Here’s a statistic that stops me every time:
Less than 8% of Americans spoke to a farmer in the past year.
That disconnect says a lot about how our food system has changed. Most of us now buy our groceries under bright supermarket lights, miles away from the land where our food grows. We see labels, not faces. But every ingredient in your pantry started somewhere — and someone — real.
Let’s change that. Make a point to include farmers in your circle — at your local market, through a farm share, by following their farms online, or even by striking up a conversation next time you buy eggs or greens. A single interaction can reconnect you to your food and the people who make it possible.
And beyond connection, there’s action.
Three Simple Ways to Support Small and Mid-Sized Farmers
National Farmer’s Day is about gratitude, yes — but gratitude means more when it turns into action. Here are three simple ways you can make an immediate difference for farmers today:
1. Add $1 to farmer grants through One For Farmers.
One For Farmers is our people-powered campaign to raise $1 million — one dollar at a time — to fund grants that help hardworking farmers fix what’s broken, grow what’s possible, and keep their farms thriving. Each grant is small but mighty, averaging $500 to $1,000, and every single dollar goes directly to farmers. When hundreds or thousands of people give just a little, the collective impact is enormous.
2. Nominate your favorite farmer for a grant.
You probably know a farmer who deserves a boost — someone who’s working hard to feed their community, raise animals responsibly, or grow food sustainably. A simple nomination can put them on the map for a grant that could fund new fencing, fix a tractor, repair a greenhouse, or help them weather a tough season. It takes two minutes to nominate, but it could mean everything to them.
3. Grant a farmer’s wish.
More than 40 farmers (and growing) have shared their wish lists — real tools, supplies, and equipment they need right now. From seeds and compost bins to solar pumps and wheelbarrows, each item tells a story about growth and determination. You can make that story happen by granting a wish directly. It’s immediate, personal, and deeply meaningful.
Why It Matters
I set out to share three reasons for you to support your farmers, but honestly, there are so many. Because supporting small and mid-sized farms means:
1. Better food and health.
Local food is fresher, more nutrient-dense, and grown with fewer chemical inputs than industrial-scale food. When you buy from small farms, you know where your food comes from — and what’s in it.
2. Stronger communities.
Farmers are the backbone of every community. They create jobs, keep land in production, and build connections — from farmers’ markets to school programs — that tie people together around real food and shared purpose.
3. Food security.
Small farms keep your food close to home. They provide consistent access to fresh produce and protein week after week, and they’re the ones communities rely on when larger supply chains falter.
4. Climate resilience.
Farming practices on small farms — from crop rotation to cover cropping and rotational grazing — help restore soil, protect water, and reduce carbon emissions. Healthy soil isn’t just good for plants; it’s good for the planet.
5. Economic strength.
Farmers are powerful economic drivers. Every dollar spent locally circulates two to three times in your community — supporting not only farms but also the local businesses, schools, and services that depend on them. When farmers thrive, local economies thrive too.
The Real Work Behind the Word “Farmer”
It’s easy to think of farmers in broad strokes, as a symbol or an idea. But behind every acre, there’s a story — of risk, persistence, family, and ingenuity. The small farmer who gets up before dawn to feed livestock before heading to a weekend market. The vegetable grower experimenting with heirloom varieties to keep flavor — not just yield — alive. The beekeeper monitoring hives in midsummer heat, hoping to harvest enough honey to make it through winter. Their work is unpredictable and often invisible. But it touches your life every single day.
From Appreciation to Action
Our food system only works when farmers do. Today’s a good day to remember that — and to do something about it.
Support your farmers. Talk to them. Keep them close. Because when they thrive, so do we. Farmers show up for us every single day — whether we know them or not. Today is your chance to show up for them. Whether it’s a dollar, a nomination, or granting a wish, your action matters.
That’s the beauty of this people-powered movement: together, we are mighty.
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Dana DiPrima is leading a national movement to support small American Farmers because our health, communities, environment, and regional economies depend on it. The For Farmers Movement supports farmers by sharing their stories, replacing myths with facts, and providing them with grants and other helpful resources.
Dana is also the host of One Bite is Everything, the podcast that connects the food on your plate to the bigger world by sharing conversations with thought leaders, helpful tips, and monthly recaps of key issues on the food and policy scene. One Bite is Everything is a proud member of Heritage Radio Network, home to some of the most influential voices in food.
Dana authors a weekly letter in addition to this blog. You can subscribe here. You can join the For Farmers Movement to support your local farmers here. You can also follow Dana on Instagram.
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