By: Liz Harrison, DEFB Promotion & Engagement Member
As America celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Delawareans have an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable milestone in our nation’s history. Two hundred and fifty years after our country’s founding, we celebrate not only our country’s independence, but also the generations of farmers, ranchers, poultry growers, and agricultural families who have helped sustain that freedom from the very beginning.
For Delaware agriculture, this celebration carries special meaning.
As the First State, Delaware has played a unique role in the American story. Long before modern highways and global supply chains, Delaware farmers were producing food, fiber, and agricultural products that supported local communities and fueled economic growth. Today, agriculture remains one of Delaware’s most important industries, contributing billions to the state’s economy, preserving open space, supporting local jobs, and strengthening rural communities. Agriculture is more than a business in Delaware—it is a legacy passed from one generation to the next.
Farmers nationwide continue to navigate rising production costs, uncertain commodity markets, labor shortages, regulatory pressures, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Across the country, producers are being asked to do more with less while continuing to provide the safest, most abundant food supply in the world.
Yet if the history of American agriculture teaches us anything, it is that resilience is one of our industry’s defining characteristics.
Delaware producers understand this reality better than most. Whether facing hurricanes, droughts, avian influenza outbreaks, economic downturns, or changing consumer expectations, Delaware agriculture has consistently adapted and moved forward. From our nationally recognized poultry industry to grain production, dairy farms, fruit and vegetable growers, equine operations, and emerging agricultural technologies, Delaware farmers continue to demonstrate innovation, stewardship, and perseverance.
America’s anniversary reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today were built by generations willing to work hard, solve problems, and invest in the future. Those same values remain at the heart of Delaware agriculture.
As members of the Delaware Farm Bureau, we know agriculture is more than an industry—it is a way of life. It represents commitment to family, community, stewardship, and service. It teaches responsibility, resilience, and the importance of leaving the land better than we found it.
We encourage Delaware Farm Bureau members to be ambassadors for agriculture throughout the fair. Take time to answer questions, share your experiences, and help visitors understand the care, science, and dedication that go into producing food, fiber, and fuel. Whether you raise poultry, grow grain, manage livestock, operate an agribusiness, or support the agricultural community in another way, your story helps build trust and understanding.
Most importantly, share the legacy of Delaware agriculture. Tell visitors about the generations who have worked the land before us, the challenges they overcame, and the values they passed down. Explain how today’s farmers continue to embrace innovation while remaining committed to conservation, animal care, and responsible stewardship of natural resources. Help young people see the opportunities that agriculture offers and inspire them to become the next generation of leaders, producers, educators, and advocates.
The Delaware Farm Bureau Promotion and Engagement Committee encourages every member to take an active role in this effort. Together, we can ensure that the story of Delaware agriculture remains strong for generations to come.
For 250 years, American agriculture has helped define the red, white, and blue. Here in the First State, we are proud to carry that tradition forward—and we invite every Delaware Farm Bureau member to help tell that story.
