During our annual celebrity awards season on television, I
often wonder about who we are in this great country of ours. I find myself asking, “Where are all the
awards shows for the real heroes in America?” It seems as if amongst the
Grammys, Emmys and Oscars et al., we have missed a few. Where the highly rated T.V. spectacles for people
like, the stay at home mom? Surely they
are deserved of something? Couldn’t you
just see it…”and the Mommy award for best answering an important phone call
while holding a wet, crying baby goes to….(fill in the blank)". I guess since there really isn’t an awards
show for all you deserving moms out there, you just need to keep remind
yourselves that motherhood is its own reward.
How about the evening gala awards show for being a Good Samaritan?
I think awards going to everyday citizens,
who do good things for others, are a great idea, don’t you? But then again, how could you ever get all
those “common folk” together in one place for an awards show? Yeah, too much of a hassle I say. Besides, good people don’t really need a red
carpet to walk on to know that they are already special.
In reality, I know neither one of those ideas would ever become
a real awards show. But I have an idea for another one that wouldn’t work
either, but from my point of view, it’s worth a shot. I submit for your approval…The National
Farming Awards Show, or “The Farmmys” for short. A one night event filled with farmers,
ranchers and little golden statues of tractors…nice. Heck, for the right price I would even be
willing to host the awards show myself! Of course we wouldn’t have all the celebrities
or fanfare of “Oscar Night”, but why shouldn’t we celebrate the farming
industry at least once a year? We could
have awards for categories like; best conventional orange farmer under 50 acres
(I know who I would vote for), and best supporting fence post along a highway
and so forth. Sure it’s hyperbolae, and it
sounds silly and completely less than exciting, but the question needs to be
asked… are the accomplishments of farmers all across America any LESS deserving
of awards than actors, musicians or movie makers? Let’s keep in mind that American farmers do
indeed feed the world! We even supply everyone
in Hollywood with the produce, dairy, meat, and grains they use. Yes, even all the organic produce and such
comes from the American farm too, but alas no awards for the farmer. Even the
people at the Crysler/Dodge corporation thought it was a good idea to pay
homage to the farmer during the Super Bowl with their, “God Made a Farmer”
commercial. Even if was just to sell trucks, the ad was rather moving with the
voice of the late great radio man, Paul Harvey, who most farmers across the
country would listen to during lunch.
Please understand
this is not a “swipe” at those who entertain us. If you are an entertainer and you deserve your
awards for all of your hard work and dedication to your craft, that’s
great! But I’m just saying that maybe,
just maybe, every once in a while, find the time to thank a farmer. I guess as farmers, we really don’t need “The
Farmmy Awards” to know that what we do is not only special, but vital to the
world. Don’t get me wrong…It would be
nice, but not necessary. I guess in some ways farmers are already winners.
Thanks for reading…I’ll see you in the groves.
Farmer Tony
