The following blog was picked up on the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) web site. The "CommonGround" initiative is a national program developed by NCGA and the United Soybean Board that gives farm women the opportunity to speak with consumers through a wide range of activities.

This Holiday Season, Farmers Thank Public

In the spirit of gratitude prevalent around the holidays, CommonGround volunteers from Iowa and Nebraska jointly hosted a dinner last night (Nov. 30) to thank the consumers for purchasing the foods they grow. This event brought dieticians, bloggers and parents together at Anthony’s Steakhouse in Omaha, Neb., to discuss food and farming with the volunteers and Dr. Ruth MacDonald, Department Chair of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University.

"So often, consumers are urged to express gratitude to farmers for another bountiful harvest around the Thanksgiving holidays," said National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Pam Johnson. "This activity highlights the important role that consumers play in the lives of farmers also. Each of us should be grateful that the public purchases our crop and, therefore, facilitates our ability to continue the proud tradition we all love. Thus, we should not only thank them but also happily open a conversation through which we discuss food and how we grow it with our consumers."

Like a growing segment of the population, attendees had a keen interest in nutrition, food and agricultural production practices. The volunteers and Dr. MacDonald opened a conversation on their areas of concern, such as the organic food movement, animal welfare and food safety that will continue as volunteers provide follow up information.

For video footage of Dr. MacDonald’s conversations with attendees during the event, please click here.

To join the conversation, please visit:

Website: www.FindOurCommonGround.com

YouTube: FindOurCommonGround

Twitter: @CommonGroundNow

Twitter: @NationalCorn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CommonGroundNow