124 STAT. 4754 PROCLAMATION 8606—NOV. 23, 2010 dustries. Rising interest in local and regional food highlights farmers’ contributions in connecting urban, suburban, and rural areas. Amer- ican children are learning about the origins of our food and healthy food options by visiting farms, learning from hard-working farmers and ranchers, and trying their hand at agriculture through networks of school gardens and farm-to-school programs. Thanks to their constant enterprise and innovation, rural communities are building new domes- tic and international markets for their high-quality food, fuel, and fiber products. As our agricultural industries continue to feed individuals at home and around the globe, we must help ensure robust and vibrant rural communities to support them. For agriculture to thrive, we must remain committed to protecting our valuable natural resources and diverse ecosystems. In April, I launched the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a 21st-century con- servation agenda that will reconnect Americans with the outdoors and protect our Nation’s vast and varied natural heritage. Senior officials throughout my Administration have travelled across the country to farms, State fairs, and community meetings to learn about innovative ways farmers, ranchers, tribes, conservationists, and concerned citizens are working together to preserve our rich agricultural legacy. While we gather with family and friends during this time of Thanks- giving, let us celebrate farms of every size that produce the abundance that graces our tables. During National Farm-City Week, as the bounty of agriculture moves from America’s farms to our tables, we honor all who foster our healthier future. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Novem- ber 19 through November 25, 2010, as National Farm-City Week. I call on all Americans to reflect on the accomplishments of those who dedi- cate their lives to promoting our Nation’s agricultural abundance and environmental stewardship. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. BARACK OBAMA Proclamation 8606 of November 23, 2010 Thanksgiving Day, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation A beloved American tradition, Thanksgiving Day offers us the oppor- tunity to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people and our country. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe—who had been living and thriving around Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years—in an autumn harvest feast centuries ago. This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the
