EN 
PT_BR 
A farmer is someone who cultivates the land, is willing to wake up before dawn, and understands that the value of life lies in what is built with one's own hands. He or she sees beyond empty fields the opportunities that can be built with hard work and observes the beauty of divine creation in each seed planted. On this Farmers' Day, the Mato Grosso Soybean and Corn Producers Association (Aprosoja MT) honors all rural producers who, in addition to providing food, contribute to the development of cities and are the foundation of economic dynamism.
The state of Mato Grosso is a clear example of the bravery of farmers who, decades ago, saw not just land, but possibilities, like Gilberto Eberhardt, the delegate of the Lucas do Rio Verde district, who, along with his family, arrived in the municipality in 1990, when the town had only seven thousand inhabitants. Today, according to the latest census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Lucas do Rio Verde is approaching 100,000 inhabitants and is a model city with a thriving economy. The municipality's development follows the growth of agriculture in the region, which attracts cooperatives, specialized companies, industries, and people from other states.
According to the producer, initially, the only solution was mutual aid, and what has been built in the region is a reflection of the joint involvement of all producers. "Everything you do on your property, in your home, involves agriculture, and what we produce. We often say that agriculture drives Brazil, not only for food, but also for generating so much employment and income, and this significantly impacts our economy. What we produce generates revenue for the municipality and also contributes to the city's improvements, which we also contribute to its development and volunteer work," he emphasizes.
Stories like Gilberto's are repeated throughout the state. From north to south, farmers demonstrate that the countryside is synonymous with progress. They innovate, invest, create jobs, and believe in better harvests, even in the face of adversity. In northeastern Mato Grosso, Querência also reaps the rewards of its farmers' determination. When the Aprosoja MT branch delegate, Valdair Hauenstein Granja, came from Paraná 20 years ago, the town barely had basic infrastructure. Today, it is a benchmark in the agricultural sector and already has over 29,000 inhabitants.
"The biggest challenge was arriving here, not having a research center to understand which materials to use. There was no asphalt within the city, no shops, and no hospitals. Now we have asphalt right at the farm gate, and the municipality has grown significantly. Querência's economy relies on agricultural products, which have brought other activities to the city. When I arrived here, there were around 8,000 residents; today, there are almost 30, and once the corn ethanol plant is completed, it could reach over 50,000 residents," says Valdair, who is proud of the role rural producers play in the fruits of progress.
The new generation of farmers also highlights the essential role played by agribusiness, starting with the production of grains such as soybeans and corn. Marcos Vinícius Sfredo, 24, the Nova Mutum branch delegate who began visiting the farm as a child and today continues his family's legacy, believes in agriculture as a force that transforms not only the land but the entire community. "It's very rewarding to be a producer and produce food. Because you're not simply working for yourself; you provide a service that helps everyone else. If you stop and look, every city where agribusiness arrives becomes a well-developed city, with better infrastructure and everything. The municipality ends up earning more from what producers generate and can invest in benefits for the entire society," he points out.
Established in 1960 to mark the centennial of the Ministry of Agriculture, Farmers' Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it recognizes those who face challenges such as seasonality, rising production costs, and price fluctuations, and the need to constantly invest in technology and infrastructure, yet persist in food production. On this Farmers' Day, Aprosoja MT congratulates each rural producer who, with courage and love for the land, leads Mato Grosso to grow and become a better place to live.
