| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Angelyn DeYoung |
| March 6, 2009 | (406) 444-3144 |
National Ag Week Activities in Helena
HELENA, Mont. — An Agriculture Appreciation Day luncheon for legislators and a Montana products showcase are among the Montana activities scheduled in Helena to celebrate National Ag Week, March 15-21, 2009.
"National Ag Day, March 20, is a time to recognize the importance of farming and ranching and to celebrate Montana's No. 1 industry," says Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
"Farmers and ranchers contribute more than $2.5 billion each year in sales of agriculture commodities. We're working with ag producers and entrepreneurs to keep more of that value in Montana by processing raw commodities into food items and other value-added products."
U.S. consumers spend about 10 percent of their incomes on food, compared to 26 percent in Japan, 28 percent in South Africa and 51 percent in India, de Yong notes. The average wheat farm in Montana produces more than 27,000 bushels of wheat, or enough to bake 1.6 million loaves of bread.
Events scheduled in conjunction with Ag Week this year in Helena include:
-- March 17 – Ag Appreciation Day luncheon for legislators in the Capitol rotunda.
-- March 18 – The Montana Agriculture Showcase in the Capitol rotunda will feature displays of more than 200 products from throughout Montana. At noon at Jorgenson's restaurant, Secretary of State Linda McCullough will present awards to kindergarten through sixth grade winners of the annual agriculture bumper sticker contest. Jennifer Hepner, Miss Montana 2008 will be the guest speaker. Ramey Lunceford, executive director of the Montana FFA Foundation, will be the master of ceremonies for the bumper sticker event.
-- March 19 – The Agriculture Showcase continues all day in the Capitol rotunda.
For more information about the week, contact the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-3144 or by email at agr@mt.gov.
