Carbondale Reporter

In an Oct. 12 Facebook post, Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) marked National Farmers Day.

“Happy National Farmers Day to all our Illinois farm families who work hard every day to feed and fuel the world. Remember to thank a farmer today!" Windhorst posted.

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice, and Judiciary - Criminal committees. Windhorst resides in Metropolis.

Almanac.com discussed how the U.S. Department of Agriculture determines how many farmers there are in the United States: "Who is the modern farmer? Every 5 years, the United States Department of Agriculture conducts a census of U.S. farmers. While the latest census data shows that the majority of farmers are older (average age: 58+), there are also more young men, women, and minority farmers than ever before. You may be surprised to learn that 97.1% of farms in America are family farms—family-owned and family-operated."

In a National Farmers Day post, the American Farm Bureau Federation wrote: "As a consumer, your opinions matter, and you make decisions with your dollars. Farmers and ranchers understand and appreciate that. But they ask that you stay open-minded and build relationships with them. That you understand the difference between myth and fact and see beyond the marketing gimmicks that bombard us all. They want you to know they are family farmers and ranchers. They’re not a faceless company. Their families depend on the farm’s profitability for financial security. Farming and ranching is a job they take seriously."