...So God Made a Farmer

There’s a lot of talk going on in my little part of the world today…a whole lot of talk about Dodge’s amazing Super Bowl ad last night. 

Wow!  2 minutes devoted to farmers…all sorts of farmers, with a voice-over by Paul Harvey.

Most everyone in rural America had listened to a commentary by Mr. Harvey at one time or another.  For years, our family listened to his stories, along with the Ag report, at lunchtime nearly every day. Rural America truly missed his distinctive voice and reporting style following his death in 2009.

The ad was incredibly powerful. If you haven’t seen it … here it is.

I had been meaning to post that speech that Mr. Harvey made to an FFA meeting back in 1978 for some time. I loved it the first time I heard it.  It’s been sitting on my desk, where I would look at it, remember and smile. Somehow, it seemed to sum up everything that farmers do. ...and that would be ALL farmers! Here is the original post...withOUT the Dodge trucks.

Here’s a look at WHY that ad was so effective.

As I got in our rusty old Dodge to head off to town this morning, I wondered if anyone else felt the same way I did.  It felt like someone “out there” noticed…and approved of all the hard work that goes on in the world of Ag. It felt really good to be a farmer. From the conversations going on out here...I am not alone in my feelings. For once, it didn't matter what kind of farmer you were, or the size of your operation...we all felt the warm glow of appreciation. 

Thanks, Dodge!  Farmers need a little boost of recognition…farms of all sorts have come under a great deal of criticism lately.  Thanks for making all of us feel good about ourselves today. 

What seems to have gotten a little lost in the telling of the story is Dodge’s commitment to partnering with the FFA in helping to solve hunger issues.  Dodge has pledged up to a MILLION dollars to this program.

You should read more about the FFA…the organization Future Farmers of America… here...  

In the United States, a land of plenty, one in six Americans will experience food insecurity some time during the coming year. Today, millions of Americans struggle with hunger. These are often hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are forced to go without food for several meals, or even days. Around the world, more than 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes every day. That is one child every five seconds. An estimated 1 billion people did not have enough to eat during 2011. National FFA’s Feeding the World—Starting at Home initiative is a compelling educational movement to help students understand the issues and effects of hunger. Students then take action to support the human right to safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food as a means of reducing hunger at home and abroad, starting with a look at the U.S. The first step is to educate teachers and students about domestic and global food insecurity. The second is to organize hunger relief efforts that give FFA members opportunities to apply what they have learned to fight hunger and promote food security for all.

Here’s hoping that the Super Bowl audience remembers that ad for a long time and remembers that FARMERS feed all of us…and all those FFA members can truly make a difference and get folks involved in solving hunger issues…and that the YEAR OF THE FARMER is one to remember!