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NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY
March 15, 2016
"AGRICULTURE: STEWARDS OFA HEALTHYPLANET"
WHEREAS, agriculture development in Pittsylvania County is one of the major economic resources of the
County and ranks in the top 10 of Agribusiness Counties in the Commonwealth with over $62 million in
agriculture receipts based on crops and livestock, and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services suggests this a perfect
opportunity to give credit to the farmers of our state and county; and
WHEREAS, National Agriculture Day is an important celebration in Virginia because agriculture is the
Commonwealth's largest industry that contributes $52 billion to the state's economy each year, creates
hundreds of thousands ofjobs and involved more than 40,000 farms that occupy over 8 million acres of
Virginia, constituting 33 percent of its total land area; and
WHEREAS, agriculture in the Commonwealth is a diversified industry with products encompassing
livestock field crops, fruits, vegetables, poultry, dairy, aquaculture, vineyards, and more; and the mild
climate and rich soil of Virginia provide an environment in which crops are harvested nearly year-around;
and
WHEREAS, the National Ag Day Program believes every American should understand how food, fiber and
renewable resource products are produced and should value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining
a strong economy, and appreciate the role Virginia agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and
affordable products; and
WHEREAS, because only two percent of the population is engaged in production of agriculture, basic
knowledge about and experience with the industry is on the decline, and National Agriculture Day helps
young people to understand and consider career opportunities in the agriculture like farm productions,
agribusiness management and marketing, agricultural research and engineering, food science, processing
and retailing, banking, education, landscape agriculture, urban planning, energy, and many other fields;
then
BE IT HEREBY PROCLAIMED by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors that March 15, 2016 be
proclaimed "National Agriculture Day" in Pittsylvania County and all citizens of Pittsylvania County are
encouraged to thank a farmer for the products they provide which enrich our daily lives and urges parents,
grandparents, and educators to inform young children on the importance of local agriculture and to consider
career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industries.
%s 6' day of March, 2016.
Je sie L. Barksdale, Chair
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Ww
Clar nce C. Yonday, Clerk
Pittsylvania County Board o Supervisors