Last week I was honored and more than a bit humbled to have been invited to speak at the annual Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Appreciation luncheon. At the suggestion of my good friend Mary Jane Buerkle, Plains cotton Growers, I included quite a few photographs, taken over the last few years, in a PowerPoint presentation, to help illustrate some of the things I admire most about farmers and ranchers. The photographs also gave me an opportunity to tip my hat to some of the wonderful subjects who have invited me onto their farms, into their homes and onto their combines and cotton harvesters while they told me about their cropping practices, farm history, challenges and celebrations.

I was a bit nervous at first. In the audience, at the Bayer Agricultural Museum in Lubbock, were some of the top leaders in Texas agriculture and some of the people I admire most in this industry. The Mayor of Lubbock, a State Senator, candidates running for various offices, and representatives of some of the most important industries—including agriculture support—in the High Plains also attended.

It was a good day. I got to explain why I love my job and describe the reasons I believe agriculture remains the most important industry in the country. I used to think I wanted to be football coach. I think this is better.

This week we celebrate National Agriculture Day, and thought we would share with Farm Press readers some of those images.