Celebrating National Agriculture Day

Today is National Agriculture Day, a day that recognizes the hard work and contributions of farmers across the United States.

Our Heifer USA program is built on the belief that small-scale farmers and locally produced food are the keys to feeding communities in the U.S. But farming, especially on a small scale, can be a hard way to make ends meet. Our program helps create good jobs and sustain higher incomes for farmers in Arkansas through the creation of farmer-owned cooperatives.

For Ashley and Steve Dettelbach in Wynne, Arkansas, Heifer USA opened new opportunities. 

“Heifer helped create both of the cooperatives that we’re a part of—New South for the produce and Grass Roots for the livestock,” Ashley Dettelbach said. “They have both helped us turn farming into a full-time job. When we started farming, I was also running a daycare out of the house, and Steve worked at a factory in town. That was crazy. But we’re both farming full-time now.” Steve Dettelbach added, “Where we’re at right now, three years in, it would have taken us 8 or 10 years to get where we’re at.” 

Ashley Dettelbach takes care of chickens on her farm in Wynne, Arkansas.

Farming is something the couple is passionate about, and it shows.

“I just love the work and what I do, and I appreciate the opportunity to do it,” Ashley Dettelbach said. “One of my very favorite things is putting a seed in the soil, watching it grow, then planting and harvesting it. And then I give it to someone, and they’re so excited about how beautiful it is or how great it tastes. That’s really rewarding.”

Help us assist hard-working, small-scale farmers in the U.S. by donating to Heifer USA. You can also support farmers by ordering pasture-raised meat from Grass Roots and, if you’re in Arkansas, sustainably grown produce from New South’s CSA.