Thousands of people gather every year at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania to await a special weather forecast from a 20-pound groundhog named Phil.

Pennsylvania Dutch superstition tells us if a groundhog emerges on Feb. 2 and sees his shadow, he will retreat back into his den and we will be in for another six weeks of winter. If he emerges and does not see his shadow, it means an early spring.

Want to make a prediction for 2025?

I just checked weather.com for Feb. 2 and it says there is a 49% chance of precipitation and a daytime temperature of 39, with the temperature at night down to 30 degrees (possibility of snow?).

I wonder if the human weather forecasters are more or less accurate than Punxsutawney Phil, who averages about 40% accuracy. But, with that human forecast, we have a good chance Phil won’t see his shadow.

Well, in any case, Lewis County Farm Bureau members are hoping for a good spring, and, to kick off the year, we are holding a Groundhog Day Barn Stomp. We are inviting everyone to the free event to meet and talk with local Lewis County farmers about their farms or ranches and the crops and animals they raise.

This is your opportunity to meet a local farmer and make a personal connection for purchasing locally grown food stuffs.

We are holding the Barn Stomp at The Red Barn Studios on Goff Road near Adna. We will kick things off at 2 p.m. and then add to the fun with Chris Guenther and the Honky Tonk Drifters playing from 3 to 7 p.m. Grab your dancing boots and come join in. We will have food and beverage trucks on site, including local businesses Good Buzz Brewing Co. and 3 Dog Cider & Brewstillery.

The Lewis County Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization and part of the Washington Farm Bureau. Our vision is to have diverse and thriving farms enriching Lewis County, and we work toward that vision through our mission to strengthen agriculture.

Farmers and ranchers are less than 2% of the United States population so it is important that we support each other and work for a future that values and supports agriculture. About 97% of our farms are family farms with only 21% hiring any labor.

What does that mean? Families build and work their farms together. In today’s economy, it is common for at least one, if not both, of the adults in a family to work off of the farm in order to support the family as the farm alone just can’t do it.

So local farmers are working hard to provide wholesome food for our communities, and we would sure like some help.

Everyone who eats food (and I think that is pretty much everyone) depends on farmers and ranchers. Farmers need to know that other people care, believe in what we are doing and want us to keep producing local, healthy foods.

One way everyone can do that is to become a member of Lewis County Farm Bureau (or another county) and help give us a voice with legislators. No legislator is worried about a group of people who make up less than 2% of the voting population. But, if everybody will join with us and support us in talking to legislators, we will be listened to. We will be able to keep farming in Lewis County.

Come to the Barn Stomp on Sunday, Feb. 2, and have fun getting acquainted, talking, dancing, laughing, eating and joining the Lewis County Farm Bureau. Support agriculture by becoming a member.

We have some special things planned for everyone who becomes a member while at the Barn Stomp. If you produce an agricultural product, you qualify to be a voting member with full voting privileges, along with other benefits, for $115 per year. If you own a business, you can join as a business member for the same price. Everybody who eats food qualifies to be “a friend of farmers,” officially called associate members, for only $20 per year, and you get all the same discount programs that are available to voting members.

But the best thing is that you amplify our voice. You make us heard. You support local families who provide the best food available.

I hope to see you on Sunday.

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Maureen Harkcom is a past president and current membership chair of the Lewis County Farm Bureau. She can be reached by email at maureen.harkcom@gmail.com.