My wife and I spent most of Saturday at the Walworth (Wisconsin) Country Fair. It was a delightful day that brought back many memories while also reinforcing how little most people know about agriculture. As a small-town kid, we kept horses on a local farm in exchange for doing chores, helping to bale hay, running fence and the like. I showed horses at the fair decades ago and have not been back since.

Walking through the animal barns and listening to the conversation from city dwellers like me (most were likely from small towns) it was obvious that even people in small-town Wisconsin are far removed from the farm and from the farmers who grow their food. It’s hard for me to remember exactly what it was like in the ’60s, but I truly believe it was different. It seems to me that most people in our small town knew someone who farmed, or at least knew someone with a relative who did.

It’s no surprise that food on the table has become disconnected from food in the field. As I have written previously, the AgChat Foundation is working to reconnect food and field by helping farmers to tell their stories via social media. Doing so can help alleviate many misunderstandings while creating an appreciation for food production.

Take a look at the attached video (click on the frame to view in a larger size) if you have a few minutes. Some of the facts and figures might surprise you. Farmers are connected via the Internet. Now, we just need to connect those who eat food with those who produce it.