A prominent Ohio farmer whose image was used in a popular social media meme touting the value of “hard work” has died after he was injured in a vehicle crash in Illinois.
David Brandt was a nationally known proponent of no-till farming who traveled around the country talking about sustainable agriculture techniques and soil health. But he became well-known for comments he made in 2012 at a Natural Resources Conservation Service event held on his farm.
While discussing his occupation, Brandt said “it ain’t much but its honest work," a statement that became a symbol of traditional values and work ethic after it was turned into a meme a few years later.
Relatives have said Brandt enjoyed the meme, which showed him clad in overalls and standing in a field, even though he didn't know what a meme was until he learned he was one from a bank teller who showed the image to him on her phone.
A Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, Brandt and his wife, Kendra, began no-till farming in 1971 as a way to cut costs.
Source: spectrumnews1.com
Categories: Ohio, General