Appreciating a Century of the Tennessee Farm Bureau While Looking to the Future

0 Comments By 
Tennessee farm bureau anniversary

Photo credit: Unsplash/Emiel Molenaar

Most farmers my age or older have spent so much time looking over their right shoulder at mowers, planters, balers and other assorted farm equipment that our heads now turn more to the right than the left. One day in particular that always reminds me of the importance of looking back and taking note of what is going on behind us is my younger brother’s wedding day.

Even though my brother was getting married, we still had a crop to get in the ground. So, the morning of his wedding, our father was in the field planting corn. Obviously pretty preoccupied with the wedding, Dad forgot to lower the planter as he drove through the field. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize the oversight until he reached the end of the field and turned the tractor to go in the other direction.

Advertisement

We’ve laughed and reminisced about that day many times through the years, but I’ve also discovered a valuable lesson in my father’s uncharacteristic and slightly humorous situation. You see, what takes place behind the tractor eventually impacts the quality and quantity of the farmer’s harvest – and you don’t have to be a farmer to understand if you don’t plant, you definitely won’t have anything to harvest.

TN Farm Bureau 100 Years Logo

At the Tennessee Farm Bureau, this year marks an incredible milestone: Our 100th anniversary! Thanks to the many seeds planted by our forefathers in 1921, our organization stands strong today as the largest Farm Bureau in the United States, still providing a voice for our members in Nashville and Washington, D.C. This includes our financially sound service programs that work to meet the economic and protection needs of Farm Bureau members.

Joe Frank Porter, the first president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, wrote these words in the annual report on the 25th anniversary of our organization: “Looking backward, I can see a little table, two cane-bottom chairs and a second-hand typewriter in one corner of the county agent’s office in the basement of the courthouse in Columbia, and a little sign on the table that read, ‘The Tennessee Farm Bureau.’ It was a good thing the sign was there, else we might have been overlooked.”

In 1921, nearly 30% of the Tennessee population were farmers. Today, that number has declined to less than 2%, a statistic that might lead many to question Farm Bureau’s relevance after 100 years. I realize many of you reading this magazine are not farmers, but let’s face it: We all must eat, and a farmer somewhere must grow that food. So, yes, there are fewer farmers now than in 1921, but our advocacy efforts benefit all Tennesseans. We hold tightly the responsibility of helping you grow your dreams, your family and your business. After all, they follow the same foundational principles of a successful farmer – you will harvest what you sow.

We hold tightly the responsibility of helping you grow your dreams, your family and your business. After all, they follow the same foundational principles of a successful farmer – you will harvest what you sow.”

It wasn’t so long ago that we enjoyed the spectacular beauty of the fall colors of trees in our great state, but God’s plan removes those leaves and we witness rebirth in the spring, putting on new, tender, green leaves so the trees can continue to grow. Our past has been bright and colorful, but our focus must be on the spring – the beginning of our next century, when light and warmth provide the necessary ingredients to ensure we grow stronger and more vibrant so we can continue serving the needs of Tennessee.

Perhaps Mr. Porter said it best 75 years ago: “There has always been so much ahead to be done, Farm Bureau has never had time to look back, but it has been mutually agreed by all that for this one occasion we will at least take time to glance backward, though we must not and will not ever turn backward, but move forward in leadership and in service to farm people and continue to work for the best interest of our great state and nation.”

Mr. Porter’s original desk and secondhand typewriter are prominently showcased in the lobby of our Columbia headquarters today as a constant tribute to our humble beginning. But more importantly, they are surrounded by Farm Bureau volunteer leadership and staff who are committed to representing and advocating on behalf of our members, telling the important story of agriculture, creating programs and continuing a vision that will carry us well into our next 100 years.

We will glance over our shoulder to appreciate what’s behind us, but we will never lose sight of the work in front of us. Because of the faith you’ve placed in us, we will continue working diligently to maintain that trust. I hope this year you will enjoy a look into the past, but more importantly, join and support Farm Bureau as we set our sights toward another bountiful harvest for our organization, our members and Tennessee. Thank you for being a part of our Farm Bureau family!

About the author: Jeff Aiken is president of Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. He and his wife, Carol, work tirelessly to advocate for farm families across the state. They also remain active with their family farm in Washington County.

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Stay Connected

Made in Tennessee giveaways, exciting events, delicious recipes and more delivered straight to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.