To celebrate National Farmers Day on October 12, Organic Valley will open its barn doors to consumers and broadcast an all-day livestream so that anyone can visit an Organic Valley farm—virtually. The livestream starts at 7 am CDT (8 am EDT) and will feature close to a dozen small organic family farms and farmers coast-to-coast. It will be featured on YouTube and on one of the largest screens in Times Square during the morning rush.
Viewers will get virtual mud on their boots and walk in the boots of a real organic farmer, (virtually) boop a cow on the nose, frolic among free range chickens, drink in the natural beauty of organic pastureland and learn from Organic Valley farmers how these small organic family farms are protecting where food comes from. Those watching will get an amazing view of the landscape and biodiversity on Organic Valley farms in Ohio, Oregon, Wisconsin and Vermont. This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to see the day-to-day happenings on real organic dairy farms in real time.
Part of the inspiration for the event came from consumers themselves. According to a recent survey, commissioned by Organic Valley and conducted online by The Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults, 81% of Americans say it is important to them to know where their food comes from, yet fewer than 2 in 5 (39%) have ever visited a dairy farm and fewer than 1 in 6 (15%) say they personally know a dairy farmer.
“National Farmers Day is more than a celebration; it’s a commitment to honoring the people who work from sunup to sundown to grow the nation’s food. Organic Valley farmers showcase the heart of agriculture—small family farms,” said Jaclyn Cardin, Organic Valley chief brand officer. “We’re not just feeding communities; we’re championing the sustainability and resilience of organic family farms. On National Farmers Day, as you see how Organic Valley farmers are protecting where your food comes from, remember that supporting local organic farmers is an investment in both our future and the preservation of family farming traditions.”
More than 100,000 family farms have been lost in the last decade. And once they’re gone, they’re gone forever—the very sad reality of today’s food landscape. On National Farmers Day, Organic Valley encourages consumers to virtually explore some of the small organic family farms protecting where their food comes from. Spending money locally and supporting local organic producers has a big impact on the community and ecosystem.