It is with pride and admiration that the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is part of American Ag Week. The traditions and heritage of this community are based on agriculture roots, and has been expanded to big business today.

There are many ways that Richland County is a leader, including irrigation technology, livestock genetics, and crop and livestock marketing. Sidney is also a hub in eastern Montana for the agri-business sector including crop inputs, animal health and nutrition, financing, and machinery and supplies. Then add in technology with a fully staffed Extension office, Montana Agriculture Experiment Station, and the USDA Northern Plains Research Center.

Include our local production into the national scope and we learn that agriculture is America’s number one export, agriculture generates 20 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, and farmers and ranchers are the first environmentalists. These just scratch the surface of the importance of American agriculture. It’s fascinating how what we do here locally is part of a big, important, world-wide business of feeding and clothing the world.

The Sidney Chamber is proud to be part of this by promoting its local members and watching issues and happenings that affect local producers. It is an exciting time as calves and lambs are now coming and farmers prepare for field work.

Working together will help insure that future generations can enjoy all that we have here now.

Best wishes to everyone involved in agriculture from the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture!