Hundreds show up for Thank a Farmer event

By Sean Ellis

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

JEROME – Hundreds of community members attended a Thank a Farmer event Oct. 12 that was held to show appreciation to Jerome County’s vast agricultural industry.

The free event, hosted by Jerome County Farm Bureau, was meant to provide the community an opportunity to let the county’s farmers and ranchers know that they are appreciated, according to JCFB President Amy Mitchell. 

“We wanted to thank our farmers and ranchers for all they do to provide food for us, and to let our community know that we care about agriculture,” she said.

The Thank a Farmer event was held in conjunction with Valley Wide Country Store’s Harvest Days event. Attendees were given free hamburgers, hot dogs, mixed sodas and funnel cakes.

Mountain View Equipment provided a large tractor that was displayed at the event and FFA members showed attendees how to make butter.

“Virtually everything that happens in this community is tied to agriculture,” said Idaho Farm Bureau Federation field manager Zach Lanier, who works directly with farmers and ranchers in the Magic Valley region. “This event was a great way to show agricultural producers that the community appreciates them.”

Jerome is one of Idaho’s mega farm counties.

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there were 448 farmers and ranchers in Jerome County during the 2022 census year. The county ranked No. 4 in Idaho in terms of farm revenue in 2022, with a total of $944 million in farm-gate receipts.

According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, there are 180,000 acres of land in farming in Jerome County.

According to the ag census, 40,000 acres of hay, 25,000 acres of corn, 22,000 acres of barley and 17,500 acres of sugar beets were grown in the county in 2022.

In addition, there were 269,000 cattle and calves in the county in 2022 and Jerome County is a major player in the state in both the beef cattle and milk industries.

The county is also home to numerous processing facilities that add value to crops and livestock.

“Everything we do in this community involves agriculture,” Mitchell said.