Five Farming Facts In Celebration of National Ag Day
Five Farming Facts In Celebration of National Ag Day
Nearly 50 years ago, the Agriculture Council of America designated a day to recognize the contributions of a community that literally keeps America going—farmers.
National Agriculture Day is a time to appreciate the role of agriculture in our economy and raise awareness of career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry. This year, the ACA is celebrating the theme of ‘Food Brings Everyone to the Table’ with a virtual event on March 23, 2021.
Bob Evans knew first-hand that food brings communities together and how critically important sustaining and supporting the agriculture industry is. As the home of America’s Farm Fresh, we rely on the farmers of today for the ingredients in our signature breakfasts and family meals served at our restaurants. To support the farmers of tomorrow, we've partnered with the National FFA Organization to support agricultural education
Bob Evans Restaurants was born on a farm. More than 70 years ago, Bob and Jewell Evans opened The Sausage Shop down on the Bob Evans Farm in Rio Grande, Ohio. The site eventually became the first Bob Evans Restaurant, which still operates today and the farm is home to signature events like the Bob Evans Farm Festival.
In celebration of National Ag Day, we’re sharing a few more of our favorite farm-fresh facts you may not know.
1. One Acre Can Grow A Lot
There are more than 900 million acres of farmland in the United States according to AgHire. One acre of land can grow a variety of crops including 5,000 pounds of strawberries or more than 2,000 pounds of wheat. In 2019, Bob Evans donated more than 270 acres of land to the University of Rio Grande – that’s a lot of growth opportunity!
2. Many Veterans are Farmers
Did you know roughly 11% of U.S. farmers are serving or have served in the military according to a 2017 Census of Agriculture report? Our founder, Bob Evans, was a proud military veteran and we’re honored to celebrate his service everyday in our restaurants with our military discount.
3. The Face of Farming is Female
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) reports that women compromise a third of all U.S. farm operators. 56% of all farms have at least one female decision-maker. The matriarch of the Evans family, Jewell, played an active role in developing the Bob Evans brand to be what it is today.
4. Agriculture Creates Jobs
The agriculture industry provides 10.9 percent of all total U.S. employment. In 2019, more than 22 million full- and part-time jobs were related to agriculture or food industries, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Of the 2 million farms across the U.S., according to the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture, 96 percent are family-owned and operated and 88% of those are small family farms.
5. Farmers Fuel the Future
You may not know that one U.S. farmer feeds 166 people annually in the U.S. and abroad according to the AFBF. The global population is expected to increase by 2.2 billion by 2050, which means the world’s farmers will have to grow about 70% more food than what is now produced. 25% of all farmers are beginning farmers, meaning they’ve been in business less than 10 years and their average is 46.
Learn more
Learn more about how Bob Evans Restaurants is working to ensure the future of agriculture and its partnership with the National FFA Organization.