They really do have the whole world in their hands

Dec 12, 2014

A celebration of farmers

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

When it comes down to it, whenever a meal is served almost anywhere in the world, a farmer is to thank. From the milk in the morning cup of coffee, the sandwich at lunch, and the Christmas turkeys that will make their way to dinner tables in a few short weeks.

The tireless work and countless hours spent in the fields by the people who work in agriculture have not gone unnoticed or overlooked. United Kingdom-based Farmers Weekly, is marking their 80^th birthday with the release of a farmer tribute video to the tune of “Whole world in their hands”.

It is similar in tone to the Farms.com video “So God Made a Farmer” released in 2011 based on the Paul Harvey’s speech to the Future Farmers of America in 1978.

The "So God Made a Farmer” speech is the basis for the Farms.com tribute, and is also the inspiration for countless others tributes and videos dedicated to people in the agricultural sector. The most recognized tribute being the 2013 RAM Truck Super Bowl Commercial of So God Made a Farmer.

As we all prepare for our holiday celebrations that likely include a great feast made possible by farmers, it seems appropriate to share all three videos.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.