"I'm Farming and I Grow It"

The "I'm Farming and I Grow It" video has gone viral! I saw it yesterday for the first time and there were maybe 2000 views. Today, over 250,000 people have watched it! 

There are several things I love about this video.

1. The message. Farming is hard work, but it is extremely important work. Without farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers who make it their life's work to produce food, fiber and fuel, you'd best be prepared to grow and process everything yourself. And since we don't have enough land for everyone to do that (and it'd be nice if we could have a few doctors, accountants, lawyers, police officers....) we should be appreciative of those who raise our food!
2. The creativity. If you thought agriculture couldn't get creative, you are mistaken. It may sound odd, but I think agriculture is one of the most creative industries out there. Sure, it often involves a lot of heavy machinery, mud and dirt, but it also involves a lot of resourcefulness and critical thinking. And, as an agricultural journalism major I use creativity every day! Writing, designing, videography... Creative juices must flow! I love the use of creativity here. Take a popular song, add lyrics relating to life on the farm, and effectively edit the video to make it fun, educational and catchy. 
3. The family. Did you notice the emphasis on family? The three brothers star in the video, the family sits together around the table, and someone who I can only assume is the little sister laughs behind the camera as her brothers dance in front of the staring cattle (my personal favorite scene). 98 percent of farms in the U.S. are family owned. I love how this video puts the spotlight on a family who I don't personally know, but one I am sure my family would get along with just fine. That's something I love about the agricultural industry. We may raise different crops and/or livestock or we may be involved in some other agricultural sector, but there is something special that binds us together. When it comes down to it, we all seem to have a love for our land and animals, and we value family, heritage and character qualities such as hard work, respect, responsibility and perseverance.
4. The reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. This is my favorite part of this video, and the story behind this video (which you can listen to at AgriTalk.com). Greg Peterson, a K-State student, was just hanging out with his friends at college when the idea for this parody video originated. The idea grew, and he and his brothers acted on it. They put in early hours before beginning long days of fieldwork for the harvest, and I'm sure they put in late hours too. I know from personal experience videos take a lot longer to create than they do to watch when the final package is created! Ordinary boys, taking the time and exerting the effort to share a piece of their life, a life in agriculture, with the world. This is a definite reminder that standing up and sharing your story is important, and can be quite effective! Listen to their story, it's wonderful! 
5. Most of all, I'm proud to be a part of a generation standing up for agriculture, and remaining humble through the process. In the interview, Peterson said, "God gave us the talents and you know, it's about agriculture getting promoted not about us getting promoted." I don't think I could have said it any better! That's what it's all about for me, and it makes my heart glad to know there are others out there with that same mindset. 

Be sure to watch their video, listen to their story, and like their Facebook page! As I said, I am proud to be a part of a generation standing up for the agricultural lifestyle. We have a message that needs to be told, and who says we can't have fun while doing it?