By Melissa Wagoner
Say the word, “thanksgiving” and many images come to mind – turkey, football and pumpkin pie among them. But look the word up in the dictionary and you’ll find less about food, sports or history and more about the acknowledgement of goodness, “the act of giving thanks” and “a prayer expressing gratitude.” Those terms which could also be used to describe the upcoming Oregon Ag Prayer Breakfast.
“This is a harkening back to when we stopped to reflect on really all we do have,” Oregon hazelnut grower Tim Aman said. The gathering will take place Sept. 21 at 8 a.m. near Tangent.
“It’s easy to focus on the problems in the world but there’s so much to be grateful for.”
With a difficult year of wind, ice and drought behind him, Aman knows first-hand the stress those in agricultural have been under. Which is why, when approached by Robert Smucker, a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, with a proposal to create an event to bring farmers together to give thanks for the year’s harvest, he couldn’t say no.
“It’s a good time to remember, we can complain or we can pray,” Aman said. He noted that there will be 10 farmers, each from a different area of agriculture, praying for the bountiful harvest of a particular crop. “I’ll pray for farmers that raise hazelnuts,” Aman said.
Seating will be offered both inside an open-air tent as well as outside in the field. Organizers are taking the COVID protocols seriously, even offering live broadcasting via FM radio and Facebook.
“It gives everyone an option,” Aman said. And although the event will specifically reference the Christian faith, “We’ll welcome anybody who wants to come.”
Everyone is touched by the success or failure of farmers. “When there’s no food, nothing else matters,” Aman said. “And a lot of people are gardeners, so they can appreciate…it’s a miracle.”
Oregon Ag Prayer Breakfast
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 8 a.m.
In-person: 33375 Ridge Dr., Tangent
Streaming at www.facebook.com/Oregon-Ag-Prayer-Breakfast-103587678640936
