We're in Farm-City Week, folks!

Nov. 19-25 is Farm-City Week. President Obama, issuing a proclamation yesterday, sounded an optimistic tone:

The connection between rural industries and urban markets is stronger than ever, and Americans across the country are finding ways to participate in and celebrate the importance of agriculture and related industries.  Rising interest in local and regional food highlights farmers' contributions in connecting urban, suburban, and rural areas.  American children are learning about the origins of our food and healthy food options by visiting farms, learning from hard-working farmers and ranchers, and trying their hand at agriculture through networks of school gardens and farm to school programs.  Thanks to their constant enterprise and innovation, rural communities are building new domestic and international markets for their high quality food, fuel, and fiber products.  As our agricultural industries continue to feed individuals at home and around the globe, we must help ensure robust and vibrant rural communities to support them.

The annual observation, which begins the Friday before Thanksgiving and ends on the holiday, is a project of the National Farm-City Council, which has a list of state farm-city organizations here.