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For me, November is a month of many thanks. Not only is Thanksgiving toward the end of the month — which tends to lead to many things to be thankful for throughout the next few weeks — but November is also the birthday month for my husband and me, so we have so much to celebrate and to give thanks for this month.

Each year as Thanksgiving rolls around, I always look forward to the many celebrations with friends and family. In addition to spending time with one another comes a large variety of foods and desserts to share and celebrate over. During this time of family and feasting, I think it provides the perfect opportunity to look at our lives and really gather what all we are thankful for and are given and often take for granted.

As I personally reflect on all that I am thankful for, the top things that I want to give thanks for are my family by blood and marriage, my animals (cows, dog and cat), my job as a dairy farmer, and all the wonderful opportunities that I have been given over the past year. To me, without these, I wouldn’t be who, or where, I am today. Having a loving and supporting family, a job that you love to go to everyday that includes hundreds of animals surrounding you and then getting to come home to a cozy house and loving dog at the end of the day, really puts things into perspective. In addition, over the past year I have been given many opportunities to travel, not only for leisure, but for learning as well, and no matter where the trip, or the experience, it has taught me so wonderful things, but also makes me happy to be back home.

As a dairy farmer, I regularly appreciate all the food that we are provided with daily as I know first-hand what it takes to raise and harvest these products, but during the holiday season, I think farmers also rise to the top of the list as something to be thankful for. Farmers work tirelessly day in and day out to plant, grow and harvest crops that are then used in food, as well as livestock that are consumed by us via meat or dairy. Without our farmers, we wouldn’t have these fresh, wholesome foods available to us to prepare a meal to sit around and enjoy with our families at each holiday gathering, or even daily for lunch and dinner.

With that, as you sit down with your family, or friends this Thanksgiving holiday, and holiday season in general, make sure to thank a farmer for providing you with all the essentials to not only nourish our bodies, but to provide a feast to gather around and enjoy as we all come together from near and far.

Submitted by Julie Holler McCormick, a member of the Trumbull County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees.