Natrona County agriculture professionals reflect on industry for National Ag Day

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Tuesday, March 22, 2022, is National Ag Day. In Natrona County, local agriculture has been highlighted to the community through school programs, events, and farmer’s markets all year round.

Agriculture means something different to everyone, but for many in the industry, it is a way of life and a community of people with similar passions and experiences.

“The people in the agricultural industry are completely different from anyone else they get a really bad name people think that they’re hard and cold and they’re probably some of the kindest most caring people out there,” said Maureen Cherry of Udder Chaos 307 and the Milk House Farmer’s Market.

“Ag here in Wyoming means a lot of hard-working people... and [who] are finding ways in Wyoming to really diversify our agricultural community,” said LeAnn Miller of Eat Wyoming.

For many people who work in agriculture, the difference between selling directly to consumers and selling to stores can change their lives.

“A lot of people don’t understand farm to table, they think it’s grocery store to table. They don’t ever see the agricultural part of it, they don’t see the struggles that we go through. What we get for price is nothing compared to grocery store prices, we get the short end of the stick,” said Cherry.

In Mills, Cherry has created a year-round farmer’s market to make buying from Wyoming producers easier. She has worked with other producers of products from honey to goat meat to fresh

“It’s always been big ag it’s always been ‘buy from the grocery store’ it’s always been that sort of thing and I don’t think people really understand that if they look and search out that actually, they can get a much better product,” said Miller.

Farmers, ranchers, and other producers often commit their lives to agriculture, even while keeping up with other day jobs. Despite world events, they continue to take care of their land and animals to provide for their families and communities.

“In the long run crops still have to be grown cows still have to be fed cows have to be milked whatever you’re in to whatever part of the agricultural industry you’re in Covid has not stopped that,” said Cherry.

For more information on the Milk House Farmer’s Market visit our article about the market’s opening or the farmer’s market Facebook page.

Copyright 2022 Wyoming News Now. All rights reserved.