WHEREAS, from farmers feeding the miners of the 1800s gold rush to feeding the settlers of the Tanana Valley, Alaskan agricultural frontiersman have been instrumental in the development of sustainable Alaskan communities; and
WHEREAS, Alaska’s 1,050 farms provide materials that we eat, use, and wear on a daily basis, and we recognize the importance of teaching our youth the process by which foods and fibers are produced and distributed; and
WHEREAS, as a result of successful agriculture endeavors, we have the opportunity to enjoy farm fresh local produce, high quality meats, flowers, local fibers, and everything from raw honey to qiviut, and the Alaska agricultural industry supports thousands of statewide jobs and produces food and fiber worth in excess of $40 million each year; and
WHEREAS, Alaska agriculture producers are modern day pioneers who provide the food, fiber, and energy resources of our economy, and because Alaska is a state rich in resources, generations of future Alaskans will reap the benefits of agricultural endeavors; and
WHEREAS, modern agricultural education programs offer Alaska youth across the state the benefits of a curriculum that helps foster future leaders, farmers, and consumers in their communities; and
WHEREAS, in the past few years, Alaskans have been made increasingly aware of the need to enhance the security of our in-state food supply due to many floods, wildland fires, earthquakes, and shipping delays; and
WHEREAS, the development of new terrestrial crops, the expansion of mariculture farms, the expansion of traditional and alternative food distribution systems, and the continued cooperation between pioneer farmers and innovative partners demonstrates Alaska’s creative capacity to expand its agriculture sector.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim May 2, 2023 as:
Agriculture Day
in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to support local agriculture by seeking out and purchasing products produced and grown in Alaska, and to appreciate the agricultural industry’s significant contributions to the well-being of the state.
Dated: May 2, 2023
