What happens when the market for farm products disappears and there are hungry people in the community?  In Utah it led to farmers delivering food to Navajo families, including lamb – a sacred food.  Ron Gibson shares the heart-warming story the remarkable effort to inspire all Utah families to connect, succeed, and grow through the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation during COVID-19.

Ron Gibson is a sixth generation dairy farmer from Weber County, Utah. He is currently serving as the President of the Utah Farm Bureau, the largest farm & ranch organization in Utah. Its mission is to inspire ALL Utah families to connect, succeed and grow through the ‘Miracle of Agriculture’.

Key points:

The agriculture industry was expecting 2020 to be a better year than the last few, but the pandemic changed everything.

• The last few years have weighed down farmers emotionally and financially.
• Farmers don’t control the prices.  They, for example, build a business assuming milk will be priced at $18 per pound.  When the price becomes $10 per pound – farmers lose several hundred-thousand dollars per month.
• COVID hit food prices plummeted.  Much of food is purchased for food service and restaurants.
• Grocery store shelves were empty and farmers had no market for their harvest.
• Sheep ranchers were hit particularly hard since most of their harvest goes to restaurants.

A community effort formed to help farmers and hungry people.

• Donations to the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation are used to purchase food to deliver to hungry families.
• The first project focused on easing the impact of hunger in the Navajo community.
• Sheep is a sacred animal to the Navajo.
• The beauty of the collaboration inspired more projects throughout the state.
• Sacred money is supplying sacred food and creating a sacred community.

Three tips to overcome food bullying:

• Some of the coolest people in the world are farmers.
• Farmers run their businesses without knowing what the price will be at harvest.
• Farmers are independent and proud people who are the salt of the earth.

Links:

Miracle of Agriculture Foundation: https://www.miracleofag.org/

Farmers Feeding Utah Website: https://farmersfeedingutah.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ron.gibson.1840

Instagram: instagram.com/milkman_ron

Food Bullying: How to Avoid   Michele Payn: http://foodbullying.com

Embrace Your Heart with Eliz Greene: http://www.embraceyourheart.com/

Food Bullying Podcast’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/foodbullyingpodcast