David Brandt, the honest work farmer, has died

Ohio farmer and internet legend David Brandt has passed away as a result of injuries sustained from a car crash in Illinois on Thursday, 18 May. He was 76 years old.

As Game Rant reports, Brandt shot to worldwide fame in 2018 as a result of the ‘it ain’t much, but it’s honest work’ meme - featuring his face - going viral. The image of Brandt originated from an article posted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2014, titled ‘Soil Health Campaign Turns Two: Seeks to Unlock Benefits on- and off-the-Farm’.

Beyond his meme-related fame, Brandt was well-known and highly respected in the world of agriculture due to the work he carried out with no-till farming - an agricultural technique which doesn’t disturb the soil that crops are planted in.

Brandt’s no-till technique started out as a necessity - as reported by Ohio’s Country Journal, the farmer was a Vietnam veteran, and soon after his return to his home and farm in the late 1960s, his father died in a farming-related accident. Brandt and his wife had to sell the farm and start all over again with hardly any equipment, and the no-till technique provided a crucial way to save money.

“David’s stature loomed large, but what he accomplished is what made him a giant in the soil health and regenerative farming movement,” a statement from the regenerative agricultural consulting company Understanding Ag reads (via No-Till Farmer). “He had a positive impact [on] the lives of many, and was a sincere and faithful steward of the land God blessed him with, transforming it from a degraded resource into an ecological wonder. He truly transformed dirt into soil. He changed people’s minds. His ability to entertain while educating was unparalleled, making people laugh even while questioning the way they farmed. He was truly a joy to listen to.”

Here at GAMINGbible, our thoughts go out to Brandt’s family and friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.