National Farmers Day, celebrated annually on October 12, is a day dedicated to honoring the hard work and dedication of American farmers and ranchers who grow the food we eat. The holiday, originally known as Old Farmers Day, dates back to the nineteenth century. October 12 was chosen because it falls after the traditional harvest for many crops in the U.S., allowing farmers to participate in the celebration. The goal of the modern holiday is to raise awareness of, and support for, America’s farmers and sustainable farming practices. Continue reading to discover seven easy ways to support your local farmers.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Founded in 1999 by Guillermo Payet, Local Harvest is an online directory designed to connect consumers with local and organic food producers.
©Courtesy of localharvest.org
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a farm business model in which consumers buy a share of a farm’s produce, typically paying a seasonal fee to receive a regular delivery of fresh, locally grown items. This arrangement creates a direct partnership between the farmer and community members. Members benefit from fresh, farm-to-table food and a connection to their local food system.
Local Harvest is a non-profit, membership-based website that serves as a comprehensive directory for consumers to find and connect with local food producers, including farms, markets, and CSA programs.
Beef By State
Sourcing local beef is easy thanks to Jessie Jarvis.
©Courtesy of jessiejarvis.com
Jessie Jarvis is a third‑generation Idaho cattle rancher, entrepreneur, and advocate for the agriculture and Western industries. Jarvis maintains an online presence through her blog, which focuses on ranch life. One of her signature resources is a curated list called, Where to Buy Local Beef in All 50 States. Jarvis created the list in May 2020 during the initial COVID-19 supply disruptions. The list helps consumers find direct‑to‑consumer beef sources (including those that ship regionally or nationally) and supports local agricultural producers.
Get Real Chicken
Buying poultry from a local source has never been easier, thanks to Get Real Chicken.
©Courtesy of getrealchicken.com
Get Real Chicken is the website of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA), which offers a searchable directory of independent, pasture‑raised poultry farms. Through the website’s Find a Farmer tool, users can filter by poultry type (chicken, turkey, duck, etc.), delivery options (home delivery, pickup, farmers’ markets), feed types (organic, soy‑free, non‑GMO), and location. The Get Real Chicken website also provides a table explaining the differences in cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, organic, and certified humane labels.
Buy My Eggs
Connect with a local chicken farmer and get farm-fresh eggs with this online platform.
©Courtesy of buymyeggs.com
Buy My Eggs is an online marketplace that connects small-flock egg producers with local buyers. Sellers can list eggs (free-range, organic, etc.), and buyers can search by ZIP code, place orders via credit card, and arrange pickup. Sellers’ exact addresses are kept private until a transaction is accepted, giving small producers greater control and security. Designed to help homesteaders monetize their surplus eggs, Buy My Eggs was created in 2023.
Find a Farm
The goal of Local Hens is to strengthen local food systems by connecting people with nearby sources of fresh food.
©Courtesy of localhens.com
Local Hens is an online directory that helps consumers locate farms, retailers, CSAs, and markets selling locally produced food, including eggs, meat, dairy, produce, and honey, based on ZIP code.
Farmers create and maintain their own free farm pages, where they can share photos of available products and contact information. Local Hens also offers marketing materials (like branded egg cartons) to help small producers promote their goods.
Farmish
Described as the Craigslist of local food, Farmish wants folks to buy directly from their local farmers.
©Courtesy of getfarmish.com
Farmish is an app that connects local food producers with buyers in their communities. Users can list homegrown produce, eggs, meat, garden supplies, plants, and more. Buyers browse via map or search, then message the seller to arrange pickup, delivery, or drop-off.
The Farmish app also helps connect farms with restaurants and retailers, and offers both free listings and paid upgrades for additional services.
American Farmland Trust
Farmland.org is the website for American Farmland Trust, a U.S. national nonprofit founded in 1980.
©Courtesy of American Farmland Trust
The core goals of the American Farmland Trust (AFT) are to protect farmland from development, promote environmentally sound farming practices, and help ensure that farmers and ranchers can stay in business. AFT offers financial assistance through grants, advocates for beneficial government policies, provides technical expertise and resources, and works to attract and support the next generation of farmers.
The Trust actively supports women in agriculture through its Women for the Land initiative. This national program empowers women landowners and farmers by providing peer-to-peer learning circles and mentorship programs. AFT also focuses on the unique challenges women face in farming, aiming to close gender gaps in agriculture and help more women succeed as land stewards and producers.
The American Farmland Trust is not self-supporting and relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and membership to fund its work protecting farmland and supporting farmers.
