County-wide events planned to celebrate National Agriculture Week and Washtenaw’s Agricultural heritage

Horning Farms was founded by Gottlieb and Barbara Horning in 1877. Pictured, back row: Earl, Diane, Lynda, and Jeff Horning; front row: Mason Horning, Katelyn Packard and Joe Packard.

Washtenaw County Farm Bureau will join other organizations across the country to celebrate agriculture’s important role in daily life as part of National Ag Week March 10-16 and Ag Day on Tuesday March 14th. Local events and activities are designed to raise awareness about the many ways America’s farmers provide food, fiber and fuel for our communities, our nation and the world. This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Food for Life.”

This year also marks the 100-year anniversary of Farm Bureau. During Ag Week and beyond, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau will be “Celebrating over a Century of Agriculture,” with photo displays and narratives of some of the 150 Centennial and Sesquicentennial farms in our county.

It’s become an annual tradition to welcome the first Washtenaw County baby born during National Ag Week with a basket of baby clothes and nursery supplies donated to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

The county Farm Bureau is also providing local restaurants with agriculture-themed placemats and “table tents” depicting farming facts and highlighting some of our centennial farms and families. We are delighted that each year more restaurants partner with us. Participating this year are Bridgewater Bank Tavern in Bridgewater; and Linda’s Diner, Frank’s Place, Two Black Sheep, Over the Edge Sports Bar & Pizzeria, and Kellie’s. Agricultural-themed exhibits featuring farming facts and Washtenaw Centennial farms and families are also displayed in the window at Marti’s Salon in Manchester.

The Farm Bureau is also partnering with Manchester District Library to showcase displays of Washtenaw County agriculture facts, books and brochures highlighting various types of farming, commodities and agriculturally-based careers. Several ag-related children’s books will be donated to the libraries including this year’s American Farm Bureau Foundation’s book of the year: “Right This Very Minute,” by Lisl H. Detlefsen.

And finally, centennial farm families will be featured on social media sites wearing “Proud to Farm in Washtenaw County” t-shirts and sharing narratives about their farm’s history.

You can follow all the activities by visiting Washtenaw County Farm Bureau on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, and looking for the many displays in the community. During National Ag Week, or any other time of the year, you can celebrate agriculture by thanking farmers for everything they do to provide us with fuel, fiber and “Food for Life” 365 days a year!

The Willard & Ruth Blumenauer Farm was founded on July 1, 1859 by John H. & Mary Schlicht. Pictured is Ruth Blumenauer

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.