Rural Issue

It’s all about advocacy

Greg Peterson

In 2012, Greg Peterson heard LMFAO’s “I’m Sexy and I Know It” and it sparked an idea for a parody. By June of the 2013 he and his two brothers were shooting a video around their 1,000 acre Kansas farm to the tune of “I’m Farming and I Grow It.”  Greg, an Ag Communications and Journalism major at Kansas State University says while they did all of the production and editing themselves, they did not cut any corners.  They wanted to produce a quality video that he and younger brothers Kendal and Nathan could show to their urban friends who didn’t know much about farming.

They posted the video on the internet the last week of June…and it exploded. It swept through the brothers’ FFA contacts as well as Greg’s K-State circle…”by Day 3 we were getting interviewed by a lot of different media.  By Day 4; FOX News invited them to appear on their morning show and so by Day 5 we were in New York City.”  After appearing on national television they were swamped with posts to their Facebook page, emails and phone calls including an interview with the Associated Press.  By the end of the week, the video had over 5 million views.  “This was all happening to your typical Kansas farm family so it was very overwhelming.”

The next inspiration came from the global success of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” which the brothers converted to “Farmer Style”. That one has over 15 million views in 230 countries.

Today the brothers, and now sister Laura (Honorary Bro) have nine videos with more than 35 million views. They have a website, YouTube channel, blog, Facebook and Twitter presence.  The brothers do numerous speaking engagements and appearances across the country and around the globe.  They’ve been to almost all of the states, Canada, Germany and Australia.  Greg, the oldest has graduated from college and travels the most as Nathan and Kendal are still in school at K-State and Laura is still in high school.

The driving force behind the whole thing is advocacy; “We realized we have been given a platform to help spread a good, positive message about agriculture,” says Greg. “With the growing disconnect between the consumers and the producers, there is an obvious need to help correct some of the negative perceptions out there.”  They intentionally choose to parody “urban” music as it appeals to the audience they specifically want to reach.  Jumping on the unprecedented success of “Gangnam Style” is a prime example of that effort.

The brothers know that this will eventually pass and life will get back to normal on the Assaria, Kansas wheat and beef farm. But for now, they are enjoying the experiences like flying around Kansas with the Governor and Green Bay Packer wide receiver Jordy Nelson…another Kansas farm boy and K-State alum.  “It’s been an experience of a lifetime.”

Greg talks about the experience:

Visit the Peterson Farm Bros website here:

 

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