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January 18, 2002
Food Check-Out Day
An American Success Story...
By
Donald Patman
President, Texas Farm Bureau
Food Check-Out Day is something we celebrate in Texas Farm Bureau because its message cuts to the very heart of what our organization is all about. It is a message that brings justified pride to the hearts of farmers and ranchers. It's a story that our urban neighbors should hear, because it proves yet again how important agriculture is to all of America.
Our nation has arrived at a time of reassessment, brought on by unprecedented tragedy. Despite the blows America has endured, we are still blessed beyond the comprehension of many of the world's people. The blessing of plenty of healthy and safe food to eat, at reasonable prices, is simply taken for granted here. That is also an important part of the story. When something works so well you don't even think about it…someone is doing it right!
The average American works only 39 days of each year to earn enough to buy food for his or her family for the entire year. Even though we take unprecedented prosperity for granted, this is an astounding fact. By comparison, we work until the middle of May to pay our taxes!
That's the reason we celebrate National Food Check-Out Day. On February 8 of this year, the 39th day of the year, Texas Farm Bureau will conduct its fifth annual celebration of Food Check-Out Day.
The participation and enthusiasm of County Farm Bureaus has grown each year, and County FB leaders have played a big role in making the event a big hit with Texans. This cycle of success will be repeated this year, as Food Check-Out Day is celebrated in grocery stores, schools, cities and towns all across the Lone Star State. You will see Farm Bureau leaders talking about FCD on televisions and hear them on the radio. You'll read about it in newspapers large and small.
We'd like to thank the Texas Department of Agriculture and H-E-B Foods for being a very big part of Food Check-Out Day. The Ronald McDonald House and other food charities in Texas will be the recipients of food collected and purchased as part of Food Check-Out Day activities.
When you see Farm Bureau folks at the local H-E-B and other stores, do what you can to help. Most of all, take a moment to think about this food production miracle in our nation. It did not happen by accident. It takes the combined labors of many good people. They work on the land, in the laboratory, in marketing, transportation and retail. It's all part of something very special. It is an American success story.
