I absolutely loved the Dodge Ram fourth quarter commercial tonight. Literally AS it was playing, I could see my Facebook newsfeed filling and filling with links, praises and just general joy. I spent the duration of the two minute ad bawling my eyes out. Of course, I'd already cried over the Budweiser ad (and I'd had prior knowledge of it!) so this one of course came as a surprise. And then to find out that my FAVORITE ORGANIZATION IN THE WHOLE WORLD was actually going to be benefitting? Excellent! (National FFA is receiving up to a million dollars from Ram depending on how many people view/share the video... I'm going to take a stab and say it'll be the full million.)
Over the next couple hours, I watched as it blew up first Facebook, then Twitter (trending!) and the internet in general as "one of the best commercials of the Super Bowl". Beautiful. A huge audience, a huge message and the best part is, it wasn't stereotypical, it wasn't arrogant and it was simple. Ram helped do some major good tonight on improving the face of modern agriculture. I'm so proud to be a part of the largest industry in America <3
Okay I know it's not exactly "agricultural", but in a way Spring is a very important part of a farmer's year. And it does speak to the hope of the future harvest.
But really, I took this picture yesterday, it was so out of focus that I actually loved it and HAD to find a way to use it :)
A simple verse and yet it's a farmer's whole life. There is always a time to plant and always a time to harvest, it can change from year to year, but it always happens. Faith and patience go a long way in the agriculturist's world...
Not that we've really had much winter to worry about...
But agriculturists do face a lot of adversity, from nature, from consumers and from radical groups. If they let every little thing get them down, the world would be pretty hungry.
Think of farmers as perennial optimists... there's always hope for a new season.
Team Ag Ed hopes to reach their 10x15 goal of having 10,000 agriculture science education programs in place by 2015. Find out more about 10x15 and other programs by visiting http://www.naae.org/teachag/teachagday.php !
Oh... and go thank YOUR Ag teacher for their efforts to develop leaders and agriculturists!
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway." ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Just because farmers face opposition, doesn't mean they're going to stop feeding, clothing and fueling our cars for us. They take that criticism, face it, and move on.
Four years ago today, I lost my father, one of the most humble, passionate, hardworking agriculturists I've ever known. Today, I got up, put on my boots and charged my camera, got in my car and just drove. My heart took me to Pickaway County, to fields and fields filled with the promise of a good harvest. Working these fields, as I could tell they'd be itching to do, were the farmers. The green tractors, the red tractors, even a yellow tractor, diligently preparing the land for this spring's planting. I don't know about you, but this is one of my favorite views in the whole world. Dad used to be a grumpy old bear all winter, always complaining and yearning to get back out the fields as soon as God would let him. But as soon as He did, that old bear cheered up like no other. I know that now when I pass those farmers, my dad isn't in that tractor, but I like to imagine he is. The best kind of calm and peace comes over me and it fills me with such joy. Missing someone is never easy, but the peace that comes with the years makes it's much more bearable and for that, I have to thank God.
“Agriculture…is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” – President Thomas Jefferson
Maybe this post is a bit premature... while at work today, I had the bright idea of sharing farming facts about all 44 of our presidents. Big dream for one afternoon, no? My original plan had been to not only FIND these facts, but make INDIVIDUAL graphics for each one. Even bigger dream. I think I'll revise that idea a bit. So far I've got 10 presidents researched, so I'll share 10 tonight- then 10 every day for the rest of the week!
To start off our list,
#1, George Washington:
Our nation's first president also had the nation's largest Whiskey Distillery of the time.
Washington at Mt. Vernon (painting by Stearns)
George was a pioneer in agriculture at his Virginia farm, Mount Vernon. He utilized new fertilizers, methods of crop rotation and revolutionary (no pun intended) equipment.
Are these guys related to Washington's stud Royal Gift?
One other super sweet fact about ol' G.W... He is credited with introducing the first mules to America! Read all about his steeds here!
#2, John Adams:
A humble man and the father of of a president!
Not much is said about our second president and agriculture, however it is known that he bought a farm adjacent to Thomas Jefferson's plantation, Monticello. That and he had this to say about the farming life:
"Let me have my farm, family and goose quill, and all the honors and offices this world has to bestow may go to those who deserve them better and desire them more. I count them not."
#3, Thomas Jefferson:
Our third president was possibly our most agriculturally involved president. Jefferson was zealous about soil conservation, wrote books on farming, maintained a large plantation at Monticello and even won a Gold Medal from the French Society of Agriculture in 1809.
Jefferson was what might be considered, a true Renaissance Man.
Monticello Gardens
"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness."
#4, James Madison
Madison
James Madison was a prominent farmer who maintained a farm near both Adams and Jefferson. An avid environmentalist, he remained adamant about the fact that "nature is fragile" and even chastised Virginian farmers who did not think to conserve the soil. We may have Mr. Madison to thank for our interest in conservation today!
#5, James Monroe:
A few very important things happened during the presidency of James Monroe that affected agriculture.
First and foremost, the Land Act of 1820 allowed farmers to purchase up to 85 acres of land at only $1.25 an acre. 3.5 MILLION acres in new Western territories were purchased in 1820 alone.
Ohio under the Land Grant of 1820
Also during this time, farming became more a commercial trade. With the beginning of industrialization and the advent of more efficient farming practices, people could move to town and those remaining in rural areas could grow more crops and raise more livestock to sell for profit to those in town. People no longer had to grow their own food to sustain themselves.
#6, John Quincy Adams:
J.Q. Adams was actually the son of President #2, John Adams!
The Erie Canal, c. 1825
With the completion of the Erie Canal (and subsequently, the Ohio-Erie Canal) in 1825, transportation of agricultural goods across inlands became much more practical.
Ohio' s canal routes
#7, Andrew Jackson:
"Agriculture, the first and most important occupation of man, has compensated the labors of the husband man with plentiful crops of all the varied products of our extensive country."
Andrew Jackson's plantation, the Hermitage, actually remains as part of working farm today, in addition to being a historical site.
Check out how agriculture works at the Hermitage today!
#8, Martin Van Buren:
While he may not have been one of our most memorable presidents (really, who thinks about Martin Van Buren?), but during his presidency, agriculture accounted for 73% of America's total exports and brought $74 million to the economy. So go Martin!
A forgettable president, but a memorable industry.
And perhaps the greatest invention of Van Buren's presidency was a little thing called the Steel Plow. A dude named John Deere may or may not have come up with it, and it may or may not be responsible for much of modern agriculture today.
Ze steel plow of John Deere!
#9, William Henry Harrison:
It's quite difficult to find information about a guy who was only in office 40 days. That's what happens when you give a 90 minute inaugural speech in the cold March rain. But hey, he was the first president from Ohio, the first president to die in office and of special importance to this list, the first president OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY! Harrison helped found the Ohio county's ag society and yearly fair in 1819.
Paving the way for Ohio presidents since 1840...
And #10, John Tyler:
Today's inaugural post on the president's and agriculture (see what I did there?) concludes with our 10th chief of state, John Tyler.
John promoted agriculture and commerce, calling them "twins" and mandated that they should not be "restricted by the folly of high duties and tariff restrictions." Tyler definitely championed America as a leading exporter of agricultural products. He once said that "America is the granary of the world."and indeed it still is to this day.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment of The Forty-Four Presidents and Farming, featuring heads of state #11-20!
P.S. Sorry this is practically tomorrow anyways. Tomorrow's will be up before 11 pm, I promise!
President George Washington was a revolutionary farmer; he introduced the Mule to America, had the nation's largest whiskey distillery and used new fertilizers, crop rotation and equipment on his farm, Mt. Vernon.
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