He was the cream of the crop.
David Brandt, the Ohio farmer who became a viral meme after espousing the virtues of “honest work,” has died after being involved in a car crash in Illinois. He was 76.
The fatal accident occurred Thursday while Brandt was on a seed-selling trip in Urbana. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries this past Sunday.
A pioneer in the field of sustainable agriculture, the 50-year farming veteran is perhaps best known for comments he made during a 2012 Natural Resources Conservation Service event held on his 736-acre farm outside Carroll, the Associated Press reported.
“It ain’t much, but it’s honest work,” the Ohioan said while describing his vocation.
This simple statement became synonymous with traditional Midwestern values and work ethic, and resulted in the crop tender getting immortalized in a meme on Reddit in 2014.
It featured a photo of Brandt standing in a field in denim overalls and a hat with his immortal phrase scrawled across the bottom.
The farmer remained unaware of his internet stardom — or even what a meme was — until a bank teller showed him the iconic image on his phone.
A major proponent of soil conservation, Brandt became a fixture in the agricultural industry in 1971 after pioneering “no-till farming” — raising crops without disturbing the soil — as a way to save money.
This revolutionary crop-rearing method, which involved planting cover crops and creating a haven for invertebrates to foster soil health, helped reduce soil erosion as well as other environmental and climate benefits, the Lancaster Eagle Gazette reported.
The practice also made Brandt an outlier in the farming world, which had become increasingly automated and reliant on chemicals.
To date, the farmer is Ohio’s longest-term, no-till practitioner, according to Understanding Ag, a sustainable agriculture consulting company that he helped found.
Along with being a trailblazer in the farming industry, Brandt also served in Vietnam as a member of the Marine Corps.
Needless to say, friends and fans were devastated over the crop whisperer’s loss.
“You may know him from this now famous meme, but he was so much more than that,” wrote one bereaved fan. “World renowned Ohio farmer, Vietnam veteran, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend; Dave leaves behind a legacy that will continue to make the world a better place.”
“Today I lost a great friend and mentor, Mr. David Brandt from Carroll Ohio,” lamented friend Blake Vince. “I will miss him greatly. A finer Gentleman will be hard to find. He has inspired so many. A true Soil Care taker. His legacy will last forever. The memory of his laughter propels all of us forward!”
Another crestfallen supporter wrote: “Your honest work on earth is done. Rest In Peace, sir.”
