By J. Larry Miller
Last Sunday’s Super Bowl game had many highlights but how could agriculture be part of those highlights?
In recent years, the second half of the Super Bowl has been one-sided, and many viewers have lost interest. Not this year. A power surge, a close score, and an agricultural commercial have made this year’s Super Bowl the talk of the farming community.
A Ram Trucks spot featured “So God Made a Farmer,” presented by legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey at the 1978 National FFA Convention.
The spot launches a campaign that declares 2013 “The Year of the Farmer” and starts a greater support of FFA. RAM will contribute up to $1 million to the National FFA Foundation based on the views of the video and activity on the website. The bulk of the new funding will be dedicated to supporting the FFA hunger initiative, “Feeding the World-Starting at Home.”
Case IH, one of IFB’s member discounts, is teaming up with its sister company, Ram, in this pro-farm, pro-FFA effort.
When a 30-second commercial during this year’s Super Bowl costs as much as $4 million, this two-minute ad was quite an investment. It may have paid off, though. The farming community has expressed its appreciation. By the time this page was posted (9 hours after the commercial aired,) more than 14,000 people “liked” the Ram’s Facebook post of the commercial and more than 6,600 people “shared” it – the Illinois Farm Bureau was on of those who shared this commercial spot.
“This commercial may have been made to speak and sell to farmers, not the general public,” said IFB’s Promotions Manager Mary Ellen Fricke. “But during a game where a blackout took center stage, it’s nice to know a little light may have been shed on the dedication and passion found on America’s farm families.”
If you have seen this excellent commercial you can go to YouTube and simply type in Official Ram Trucks Super Bowl Commercial “Farmer” to see what all the hype is.
The Franklin County Farm Bureau along with Farm Credit Service Agency will be taking a bus to the Louisville Farm Show this Wednesday, February 13. The bus will leave the Farm Bureau building at 6 a.m. and will return at approximately 6 p.m. If you would like to go please call our office at 435-3616 – there is very limited space available at this time.
On Monday February 18th COUNTRY Financial, in cooperation with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Franklin County Farm Bureau, will have Keith Maschhoff, Crop Specialist for COUNTRY, speaking about the past crop insurance claims and how they will affect insurance rates in the coming year.
This will be a breakfast meeting beginning at 7:30 a.m. If you would like to attend this informational meeting simply call us at 435-3616 or call your local Franklin County COUNTRY Financial Representative to make your reservations today.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
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