From Luke, Paul and Me – Happy National Farmer’s Day

I don't know how I missed this.

I just found out that October 12 was National Farmer's Day.

We talk a lot on these pages and on the radio about what's good about our corner of the world. We cover history, tourism, manufacturing and education. But, first and foremost, northeast Missouri and western Illinois is all about agriculture.

On a personal level, my dad was a farm hand, working many days from sunup to sundown, tending to crops, livestock, or both.

Growing up in the country, and even now having many friends and family who make their living from the soil, I have always had a healthy respect for the farmer.

We show that respect on KHMO by featuring three full hours of ag-related programming every day, and market updates throughout the day, along with being a proud member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

To give your life to a way of life where so much of what determines whether you make a profit are circumstances over which you have no control, to produce a product that you don't get to set the price for, to know you're just one bad storm, one breached levee or one disease infestation away from having to start all over ... who would do that?

The farmer, that's who.

But, don't take my word for it. Ask Luke Bryan.

But, in my opinion, Paul Harvey summed it up best.