GFB observes Day of Prayer for Agriculture

GFB members and GFB employees join hands asking God to bless Georgia’s farmers during the Day of Prayer for Agriculture service, June 11.

Gov. Sonny Perdue, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, ag leaders and farmers from across the state joined GFB President Zippy Duvall in praying for rain during a service held the morning of June 11, at the Georgia Farm Bureau headquarters in Macon.

Across the state, county Farm Bureaus observed the day in various ways including prayer services at county courthouse buildings, Farm Bureau offices and community church services. Many Farm Bureau offices listed the event on their county office signs, encouraging local citizens to join in the Day of Prayer.

Duvall credited the idea for holding the service and observing a day of prayer to a conversation he had in the spring with Georgia Agribusiness Council President Gary Black and subsequent calls from county Farm Bureau presidents. During his remarks, Duvall cited the scripture Job 5:6-10.

“We, the farmers of this state, have faith that God will send us all the rain we need. We have faith when we put seeds in the soil,” Duvall told the group gathered for the service. “We’re here today to obey our Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us when we humbly come before God, repent of our sins, and petition him that he will answer our prayers, and we believe he will in his time.”

Gov. Perdue presented Duvall with a proclamation declaring June 11 as a Day of Prayer for Agriculture in Georgia. “God has a reason he wants us to be dependent on him. We can create government programs. We can create irrigation and drill wells, but I’m here to tell you as your governor, we’re still dependent on a graceful and merciful God, and only God can make it rain.”

The Polk County Farm Bureau held a prayer service at noon on the steps of the Polk County Courthouse in Cedartown.	Ga. Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin (left) and GFB President Zippy Duvall (right) applaud Gov. Sonny Perdue at the Day of Prayer.

Dr. Ben Haygood, a Baptist minister who offered the opening and closing prayers recounted his experience of learning to depend on God while growing up on a farm. He referenced the story of the prophet Elijah who asked God for rain. “These are days of stress. I’ve seen parched land everywhere I’ve traveled with my job from Hartwell to Macon. I’m not Elijah, but I know Elijah’s God, and you do, too. Pray without ceasing, and God will answer our prayer.”

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin told the group, “I believe it’s the driest I can ever recall in my lifetime. I don’t believe we’ve ever had as acute a shortage of feed for our livestock as we have today. I get phone calls every day asking ‘What are you going to do about the drought?’ I’ve asked our congressional delegation, and I know the governor has supported this also, to get a feed assistance program enacted, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we still need rain. All I know to do is pray, pray, pray.”