Summer is grilling season, full of sizzling burgers, juicy steaks, and time spent with family and friends. (Here are some great grilling tips and tricks!)
But before that delicious meal hits your plate, farmers across the country have already been hard at work making it all possible.
Let’s take a closer look at how agriculture fuels your favorite summer cookouts!
Where It All Starts: The Farmers Behind Your Burgers and Steaks
The story of a great burger or perfectly grilled steak begins long before it reaches the barbecue.
Across America, beef farmers and ranchers work every day to raise healthy cattle. It starts with careful breeding, balanced nutrition, and wide-open pastures for grazing. Farmers monitor their herds closely, making sure the animals have clean water, proper shelter, and expert veterinary care when needed.
They also focus on sustainability. Many farmers use rotational grazing, which helps keep pastures healthy and captures carbon in the soil, which is good for both the cattle and the environment.
When the cattle are ready for market, they’re processed under strict food safety standards, ensuring the beef you buy is safe, wholesome, and delicious.
More Than Just Beef: Pork, Poultry, and Beyond
It’s not just beef farmers making your summer grilling traditions possible.
Pork farmers raise healthy pigs for your favorite ribs, chops, and sausages.
Chicken farmers provide the juicy drumsticks and chicken breasts sizzling on grills everywhere.
Lamb and goat farmers offer flavorful, often overlooked options for adventurous summer menus.
Key Point: Every farm, big or small, is rooted in the same commitment: caring for animals and producing safe, nutritious food for your table.
Farmers Grow the Sides You Love, Too
Think about your summer plate — it’s filled with more than just meat!
- Sweet corn for roasting
- Crisp lettuce and tomatoes for burgers
- Onions and peppers for kebabs
- Potatoes for grilling or classic summer salads
Every vegetable on your plate was grown by a farmer who planted, watered, tended, and harvested with care.
Don’t Forget the Dairy!
What’s a burger without melty cheese? Or grilled corn without a swipe of butter?
Dairy farmers make those essentials possible, too.
From milking cows each morning to ensuring animal health and high-quality milk, dairy farmers are an important part of your summer feast, including the ice cream you enjoy afterward!
From the Farm to Your Fork
So next time you fire up the grill, take a moment to appreciate the journey your food took.
From the fields, barns, and pastures of hardworking farmers to your backyard barbecue, agriculture makes every summer meal possible — and brings family and friends together around the table.
Here are some awesome summer recipe resources to share with neighbors, friends, and family!
- Beef, Grilling Favorites: https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipes/collection/10002/grilling-favorites
- Delicious Summer Dairy Recipes: https://www.usdairy.com/recipes
- Pork, Grilling: https://www.okpork.org/summergrilling
- Do It With Dairy, Recipes: https://savorrecipes.com/do-it-with-dairy/
- Beef, Campfire Classics: https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipes/collection/33368/easy-campfire-recipes
- Summer Dairy Inclusive Recipes: https://halfandhalfmag.com/recipes/2023/5/26/10-delicious-summer-recipes-to-make-with-sustainably-made-dairy
- Kid-Friendly Fare: https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipes/collection/10058/kid-friendly-fare
