76-year-old Ohio farmer who rose to fame as star of ‘It ain’t much, but it’s honest work’ meme dies in car crash in Illinois
- David Brandt, 76, a respected Ohio farmer who was part of a popular meme, died Thursday after crashing in Illinois
- Brandt gained wide recognition after his comment “It’s not much, but it’s honest work,” which was turned into a meme in 2012.
- Initially ignorant of the concept of memes, he was known for his advocacy of no-till farming and sustainable agricultural practices, with an emphasis on soil health
A prominent Ohio farmer whose image was used in a popular social media meme touting the value of “hard work” has died after being injured in a car accident in Illinois.
David Brandt, 76, was a nationally known proponent of no-till farming who traveled the country to talk about sustainable farming techniques and soil health, but he became known for comments he made in 2012 at a Natural Resources Conservation Service event on his farm.
Brandt was injured in a crash in Urbana, Illinois, last Thursday and died of his injuries on Sunday.
Discussing his profession, Brandt said, “It’s not much, but it’s honest work,” a statement that became a symbol of traditional values and work ethic after being turned into a meme a few years later.
David Brandt, 76, a respected Ohio farmer who was part of a popular meme, died Thursday after crashing in Illinois
Brandt gained wide recognition after his comment “It’s not much, but it’s honest work,” which was turned into a meme in 2012.
Initially ignorant of the concept of memes, he was known for his advocacy of no-till farming and sustainable agricultural practices, with an emphasis on soil health
Relatives have said Brandt enjoyed the meme, which showed him dressed in overalls and standing in a field, even though he didn’t know what a meme was until he learned it was one from a bank clerk who showed him the image on her phone showed.
“(Brandt) got a lot of joy after seeing (the meme) and watching it explode all over the place! He didn’t mind at all,” Randall Reeder told the Columbus shipping.
“He was determined to educate farmers about the value of sustainable agriculture and how it would improve soil health,” Reeder said.
Brandt grew up on a farm, but when his father died in a tractor accident, the farm had to be sold to pay estate taxes.
Brandt, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, and his wife, Kendra, started no-tiller farming in 1971 to cut costs.
Brandt, left, was known in the farming community for his soil treatments
Brandt is pictures in a photo from his farm’s website
Brandt was a respected member of the farming community who loved to share advice
Relatives have said that Brandt enjoyed the meme, which showed him in overalls standing in a field, even though he didn’t know what a meme was.
Brandt grew up on a farm, but when his father died in a tractor accident, the farm had to be sold to pay estate taxes
The Brandt family farm in Illinois is depicted
He eventually became a notable proponent of no-till techniques, where crops are grown without disturbing the soil through tillage, which greatly reduces soil erosion and provides many environmental and climate benefits.
Brandt received several awards for his conservation practices, including Ohio Agriculture’s Man of the Year and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
Brandt grew corn, soybeans and wheat and also kept pigs and cows.
He praised cover crops and other sustainable farming practices, and ran a cover crop seed business and a seed cleaning business on his 736-acre ranch in Carroll, Ohio.
The meme featuring Brandt seems to have broad appeal