Ardis Hammock is an owner and operator of Frierson Farms in Glades County, Florida. She and her husband, Alan Hammock, live on their farm in Moore Haven, Florida.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the United States was founded on the idea that free people, given opportunity, could build a better life for themselves and their families. For my family, that opportunity has meant making a living from the land and helping feed millions of American families.
Our family farm’s story began in 1918, when Ed Frierson, the uncle of my husband, Alan Hammock, relocated from Fort Myers, Florida, to what was then DeSoto County, Florida, which became Glades County in 1921. “Mr. Ed,” as he was known, put down roots on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee when he purchased 30 acres of land halfway between Clewiston and Moore Haven. Today, his vision of growing sugarcane to supply American-made sugar has become a reality. Alan and our son, Robert Hammock, continue that legacy by growing sugarcane that is processed at U.S. Sugar’s mill in Clewiston. While hard work is what keeps our farm running, American innovation has kept our family business viable for more than a century.
American technology and equipment from companies like John Deere have transformed the way we farm, helping us maximize production, while using fewer inputs. Year after year, new technology allows us to produce more with less, as we work to control costs and make the most of our land and equipment.
American science and innovation have also helped us protect the natural resources that surround our farms. I am proud that our industry continues to improve water quality, and since 1996, farmers in our region have prevented more than 4,765 metric tons of phosphorus from leaving the Everglades Agricultural Area and entering the Florida Everglades.
American transportation and infrastructure allow us to share the fruits of our labor with families far beyond our community. Today, Americans can walk into a grocery store with confidence that the food they need will be there when they need it.
Of course, our farm has experienced many challenges. Economic uncertainty, labor shortages and severe weather have all threatened the future of our farm at different times. Yet we persevere. Last February, we experienced one of the worst freezes in recent memory, which affected nearly every part of Florida agriculture, including our sugarcane crop.
We persevere because we know that agriculture is more than a business. It is essential to our nation’s future.
As globalization has made our country increasingly dependent on foreign nations for many everyday necessities, maintaining a strong domestic food supply has become more important than ever. A nation that cannot feed itself is a nation that risks surrendering part of its independence. That is why our family remains committed to growing and harvesting food for American families.
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, I am filled with gratitude. I am thankful for the Founding Fathers who valued freedom and opportunity, and built this nation. I am grateful to the men and women who sacrificed so much to secure our independence and preserve it through the generations. I admire the hardworking Americans who came before me and helped make the American dream possible.
Most of all, I am thankful to live in a country where my last name does not determine my future. Instead, I have the freedom to choose my own path.
I choose to continue my family’s legacy because I believe that growing food is one of the most important ways I can serve my country — feeding our neighbors close to home and throughout the Eastern Seaboard, strengthening America’s domestic food supply and helping ensure the security and prosperity that will allow our country to celebrate another 250 years of freedom.
George Washington once said, “I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” For our family, those words still ring true. We are blessed to care for this land, and God willing, our children and grandchildren will continue that responsibility for generations to come. We cannot imagine doing anything else.
Safely and reliably feeding American families is my American dream. Whatever your American dream may be, make it count.
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