Executive Director’s Comments: August 2023

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Veterans to Farmers, WWI, Jackson, Mississippi

What a summer it has been! Our state chapters have impressed with their flurry of activities. I want to thank the chapter leadership teams for raising awareness of our mission and the needs of our Farmer Veteran community through involvement with public events, media outlets, social media, collaboration with their local Veteran service organizations, and faith communities. Together, we have identified untapped resources that assist in supporting our military and agricultural communities. Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed!

I am also thankful for our members who have chosen to donate on our website to our Veterans facing hardship in Maui. Whereas business owners have insurance for property damage caused by fire, and some have business disruption insurance, few entrepreneurs can survive the complete evaporation of their established markets.

The FVC chapter in Hawaii is in its formation stages, currently having 175 farmers there and 10 of those are confirmed in the Maui area. Thanks to the support we did receive FVC is able to assist the local chapter leadership team complete formation so they can collaborate with their producers to develop profiles, websites and carts that will permit them to sell their products online through our partnership with MarketMaker.

It may take some time for the Maui tourist industry to return to some level of normalcy, so let us continue to keep our members and their communities in our prayers as they rebuild.

Nationally, fairs are wrapping up and students are heading back to school! If you were at our conference last year in Oklahoma and grew some blue-ribbon, award-winning produce with the 4Patriot seeds that were donated, please send pictures! We would love to see your harvest!

Many in rural America are facing challenging times right now. Know that the staff of FVC is right here for you and together we will identify custom solutions to help you take the next steps forward.

Everyone, please be safe over Labor Day weekend and throughout harvest.

Hope to see many of you in DC for our conference in November.

happy-labor-day

The first Labor Day celebration was September 5,1882 in New York City. On that Tuesday 10,000 citizens marched for labor rights down the streets of Manhattan. During this time, the average American worked 12 hours a day, six days a week. It was not until the Adamson Act passed on September 3, 1916, that our modern eight-hour workday was established.