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Recent violent storms across Ohio have provided a reminder about just how much we take for granted our local farmers. Many were hit by another round of storms earlier this week that destroyed this year's harvests.
According to a report by WCMH, Tuesdays weather events were the worst in central Ohio since the 2012 derecho. States of emergency have been declared in Perry and Muskingum counties.
Those storms did not just produce winds and rain that damaged or destroyed crops, they also took out structures ranging from barns to farm stands.
Just a couple of weeks ago in Washington County tornadoes tore down silos and barns, too.
WCMH spoke with Bruce Doughty, of Doughty Farms in Burr Oak.
"Farmers got hit hard in this area. We lost several large bales of hay," he said. "Several fields with standing water. Crop farmers have lost crops."
In addition to lost product, Doughty also had a horse trapped at the Athens County Fair, but a 4-H leader took care of it and helped ensure all Doughty's animals ended up safe.
In fact, damage at county fairgrounds will be another problem for farmers, as so many were already on site for upcoming fairs and took damage to (or lost) campers, tents and equipment.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture says food and farming is the Buckeye State's number 1 industry, contributing $124 billion to the economy each year and employing one in eight Ohio workers.
Ninety-five percent of those farms are family owned.
As those folks work to recover from the hits Mother Nature has delivered this summer, the rest of us should do what we can to support them.
"It was quick and intense but everyone appears to be safe," Emily and Nina Rokiski, who run a farm stand in southwestern Ohio, told WCMH.
Thank goodness for that. But now as farmers go from assessing the damage to figuring out what the future will hold, let's remind them they are not alone.