Happy National Ag Day to all you farmers out there. If you did not know, there is a non-profit group called the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) that created this day to honor the efforts of people related to agriculture and promote awareness about its role in America. I expect to see a lot of fanfare on social media today.
I grew up on a farm, left for the big city, and returned. I can tell you what’s going down on the other side of the table. People are really clueless as to what goes on behind the scenes. When I tell them I grew up on a farm that raised corn and beans, the first thing that comes to their mind is sweet corn and lima beans.
About a year ago, I met with a guy I grew up with who also went to the dark side. We compared notes and came to the same conclusion: we grew up in a world few would understand, let alone believe. We thought everybody grew up around these mad scientist types of people, those that march to the beat of a different drummer. It was a cast of characters, and we had a front-row seat. We both knew a farmer who built his own highboy sprayer, one who built a car crusher, and another who would routinely flip the seat and controls on a WC Allis Chalmer around, slap a loader on it, and have a loader tractor that was as nimble as a forklift. I couldn’t imagine living in a world not personally knowing these characters.
I commend what the ACA is trying to do. However, I think they’re missing the boat. I expect to see a lot of graphics fit for a PowerPoint presentation. What they’re missing is the content, the real people at ground zero. I think the ACA has a formidable task in front of them. Farmers are true innovators, and that’s what I’m celebrating today.
– Craig
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