So God Made a Farmer

Lore & Background

Paul Harvey first gave the speech at the 1978 Future Farmers of America convention. It begins as a continuation of the Genesis creation narrative, describing God's actions on the eighth day. Harvey lists the characteristics of a farmer, each passage ending with the refrain 'So God made a farmer.' The speech was later published in Harvey's syndicated column in 1986. Harvey claimed in an introduction that the essay arrived unsigned in his mailbag, though he acknowledged embellishing and cropping it.

The speech borrowed phrases from a 1975 article Harvey wrote for the Gadsden Times, which itself drew from a 1940 definition of a dirt farmer published in The Farmer-Stockman. That 1940 piece was copied verbatim in a 1949 letter to the editor of the Ellensburg Daily Record by Tex Smith. Only two phrases and a few words from the 1940 piece remain in Harvey's speech, including 'can shape an axe handle from a persimmon sprout.'

The speech gained renewed attention when Ram Trucks used it in a two-minute commercial during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. The ad featured still photographs of rural America and a voiceover of Harvey's narration. In collaboration with the FFA, Dodge agreed to donate $100,000 for every 1,000,000 YouTube views up to $1,000,000, a goal reached in less than five days.

Reader's Guide

The significance of 'So God Made a Farmer' lies in its enduring cultural resonance, bridging rural identity, religious narrative, and commercial advertising. Originally a speech at an FFA convention, it was later adapted into a Super Bowl commercial that became one of the most discussed ads of 2013. The speech's folksy timbre and direct, rhythmic style—characterized by pauses and punchy sentences—helped it transcend its original context. Critics noted the ad's focus on the family farm despite the industrialization of agriculture, and it inspired a country music single. The speech also illustrates how Harvey's work drew from earlier sources, including a 1940 farmer definition and a 1975 column, showing a chain of textual borrowing. The commercial's success, measured by YouTube views and charitable donations, demonstrated the speech's continued appeal. Its use in advertising sparked both praise for its authenticity and criticism for its originality, yet it remains a notable example of how a decades-old speech can be repurposed for modern media.

Did You Know?

• The speech was first given at the 1978 Future Farmers of America convention.
• Harvey claimed the essay arrived unsigned in his mailbag, but he embellished and cropped it.
• The speech borrowed phrases from a 1940 definition of a dirt farmer published in The Farmer-Stockman.
• The Ram Trucks ad featuring the speech reached its $1,000,000 donation goal in less than five days.