This year’s National Ag Day was Tuesday.

National Ag Week started Monday and concludes Friday.

The Mirror is highlighting the agriculture week with special sections inside the print editions this week and next and at tonganoxiemirror.com. Stories will feature local 4-H and Tonganoxie FFA members, as well as agriculture in general in Leavenworth County.

The Agriculture Council of America and the National Ag Day program got their starts in 1973.

According to the National Ag Day website, agday.org, ACA is composed of leaders in agriculture, food and fiber communities who work to increase public awareness of agriculture’s role in society.

Here’s a rundown of ACA’s core values:

• Understand how food and fiber products are produced.

• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.

This year’s National Ag Day festivities were both in-person and virtual.

Virtual events were Tuesday morning with the following lineup:

• Remarks from Ag Day Chair Jenni Badding, John Deere

• Updates from commodity groups

• Outstanding Farmer America

• Winning essay contest videos

• Ag on the Mall update

• Tributes from Ag Day partners

There also were National Ag Day events in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday morning at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack presented a speech. Winning essay contest videos also were shown.

There also was a student panel discussion and a speech from Zippy Duvall with Farm Bureau.

Also featured were Outstanding Farmers of America and Curt Blades, AEM.

Additionally, Ag Day was celebrated at the U.S. Capitol.

Congressional speakers are invited, and there will be remarks from Ag Day chair Jenni Badding.

This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.”

More information about National Ag Day can be found at agday.org.