What makes a farmer?? A Stan Rogers trilogy...

OK, I didn't watch the S-Bowl this evening. I don't have a TV here. But I observed the bruhaha on DU over the God Made A Farmer commercial and thought I'd better check it out. I watched the commercial.

Then I checked out the U.S. census data: There are over 3 million 'farmers' in America. And there are 85 million truck owners in America (2002). Seems like God made a lot more trucks and truck sales people that she made farmers.

I became a farmer ... well, at least a grower, of blueberries... 21 years ago. We left California and started a different life in Oregon, while still maintaining our 'other jobs' - my wife as founder/CEO of an animal health company and me as a software developer. Oddly enough, one of the influences for our life change was music, songs about farming life.

So, as a counterpoint to the Dodge truck commercial, I offer you a few songs about life, associated with farming. First, three by Canadian folk legend Stan Rogers:

Field Behind the Plow, as performed by Stan's son, Nathan Rogers:

and Lies performed by Stan:



finally Night Guard, Stan again:



and just for icing on the cake, David Francey doing Torn Screen Door:

Watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows,
Put another season's promise in the ground.