Utah Farmers Hit Hard By Extreme Drought

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Utah Farm Bureau has asked for the public to join them in a special fast and prayer this weekend for more rain.

The call for help came just one day after Gov. Spencer Cox issued a state of emergency due to continued drought conditions.

“I really believe that this solution comes from one person and one person only,” said Ron Gibson, a sixth-generation farmer who also serves as the president of the Utah Farm Bureau. “And that’s our Father in Heaven.”

“We have to make sure we’re utilizing every drop we have.” Ron Gibson, Utah Farm Bureau President pic.twitter.com/0JmPmQuKhX

— Debbie Worthen (@DebbieWorthen) May 14, 2021

Gibson said the Bureau received some criticism when it put out their plea.

Utah Rep. Chris Stewart, (R-Logan) was not one of those critics. He planned to join in and hoped others would follow his lead.

“This isn’t based on one religious or one philosophical point of view,” said Stewart. “There’s lots of religions who believe that God can answer prayer, and there are people who aren’t necessarily people of faith who think that there’s some power and strength that comes from all of us uniting in an effort like this.”

Utah farmers said they have exhausted all resources and the bottom line is, they need water.

“We’re trying to figure out this situation,” said Gibson. “We’re in a tough spot — agriculture needs water to grow food and we just don’t have the water this year.”

Gibson and other farmers have put their faith in God to help. He hopes that along with a diligence to greater conservation this year, Utah will join them.

“I invite you to pray with all the farmers and ranchers in the state that we might have a way to find a solution,” said Gibson.

More information can be found at the Utah Farm Bureau’s website.