Farmers' Share Breakfast celebrates our ag heritage

Farmers face challenges every year: weather, pests, fluctuating grain prices and government regulations. Like everyone else, they have dealt with a pandemic, and now they are dealing with inflated prices for fertilizer, chemicals, equipment and other inputs costs. Like the consumer, these prices are being affected by supply and distribution problems, as well as increased labor costs. Recent numbers have not been released, but the statistics below still mark the trend on how much a farmer receives for every dollar spent on food. Until recently, the typical American spent about 10% of their total budget on food. Around 1900, it was 40% of the budget and in 1950, around 30%. For every dollar a consumer spends on food, the farmer receives only about 10 to 15 cents. The rest of the dollar covers processing, transportation, distribution, packaging and marketing costs. Thirty-three years ago, the Findlay-Hancock Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee started the annual Farmers' Share Breakfast to remind the public how little a farmer receives from every dollar spent on food and to celebrate our agriculture heritage. Last year, the breakfast was moved from March to June because of the pandemic. Participants said they preferred the later date, so for the second year, the breakfast will occur in June. Meal and activities will be at the fairground's Old Mill Stream Centre on June 16. Breakfast starts at 7:15 a.m., followed by a short program ending before 9 a.m. As in the farm tradition, the breakfast will be a hearty meal of meats, eggs, potatoes and breads. For the program, the district FFA public Speaking winner will deliver their winning speech, followed by an agriculture year in review and recognition of students receiving college scholarships from the agribusiness committee. The program will close with the celebration of the new inductees to the Hancock County Agriculture Hall of Fame. The Hancock County Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes individuals with ties to Hancock County who have made major contributions in agriculture either as a farmer or in an agriculture-related field. Four individuals have been recognized annually since 2006. A ticket is required to attend the Farmer's Share Breakfast. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be obtained at the Findlay Hancock Chamber of Commerce, 123 W. Main Cross St., or at the Hancock County Extension Office, 7868 County Road 140, Suite B. Tickets sell out quickly. I close this week's column with some other agricultural facts provided by the Farm Bureau: • Farm and ranch families comprise less than 2% of the U.S. population. • There are about 2.1 million farms in the U.S., and 99% of them are operated by families as individuals, family partnerships or family corporations. • More than 20% of all farmers are beginning farmers, having been in business less than 10 years. • Women make up 30% of the total number of U.S. farm operators. • U.S. farmers feed 165 people annually. By 2050, the world population is expected to increase to 9.7 billion. To meet demand, farmers will have to grow 70% more food than what is currently being produced. • Pizza includes all the major farm products: grain (flour), vegetables, meat and dairy. Americans consume more than 3 billion pizzas annually, and the average family eats pizza at home 30 times a year (even more during the pandemic). • Farming accounts for about 1% of the U.S. gross domestic production. • U.S. exports more food and fiber than what is imported, creating a positive agriculture trade balance. • Farm programs typically cost each American just pennies per meal and account for less than half of 1% of the total U.S. budget. I would encourage the public to celebrate Hancock County's agriculture heritage by attending the Farmers' Share Breakfast. What a great way to kick off the new crop year! Lentz is Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources for Ohio State University Extension-Hancock County.