Calhoun, Ga. – Mention agriculture and most people picture a farmer raising the food we eat or the cotton in our favorite jeans. But did you know that many products we use in our everyday lives come from plant and animal byproducts produced by farmers? Think about this: we couldn’t make it through one day without eating or using a product that does not contain at least one ingredient that originated on a farm, which makes agriculture pretty amazing.

“Farmers not only grow the food, fiber and timber that helps feed, clothe and shelter us, but animal and plant byproducts are found in many products we use every day such as toothpaste, shampoo, cosmetics, pharmaceutical drugs, glue, biofuels, leather sports equipment, paper, crayons and ink,” said Henry West, Gordon County Farm Bureau president. “The reach of agriculture is truly amazing. Agriculture touches everyone’s life, whether you live on a farm or not, because we all eat products made from the commodities grown on farms and use numerous products that contain ag byproducts, which most people don’t realize.”

Georgia Agriculture Awareness Day is March 13 and will be observed with a celebration of the state’s largest industry at the Georgia Depot near the state capitol in Atlanta from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event, hosted by Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, will include recognition of farmers from across Georgia selected to receive the 2012 Governor’s Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Awards for management practices they use to protect the soil, air and water on their farms. Event attendees will also get to sample original food products competing in the 2012 Flavor of Georgia Contest, which recognizes products that use Georgia-grown commodities created by Georgia entrepreneurs.

National Agriculture Day and Week has always been observed in March to coincide with the planting of spring crops. County Farm Bureaus and agriculture organizations will hold events in their local communities as schedules allow throughout the month of March to raise awareness of agriculture. National Ag Week will be observed March 4-10, and National Ag Day is March 8.

“Our ag celebration is a chance for us to share agriculture’s story,” West said. “We want people to know where their food comes from and to understand how and why farmers produce their crops the way they do.”