Across Nebraska’s gravel roads and morning coffee conversations, a simple statement is evoking a powerful reaction: “I’m a Nebraska Corn Farmer.”
Launched by the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB), the campaign invites farmers from across the state to share what those words mean to them. Through short films, print ads and billboards statewide, it highlights the grit, stewardship and connections that define Nebraska farmers.
NCB is governed by a board of nine farmer directors, with committees in different areas, including communications, market development and research. Farmers who sit on the committees include members of NCB, Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) and local NeCGA members. The committee members guide the decisions in these topic spaces.
“This campaign is real people telling real stories,” says board member Andy Groskopf, from Scottsbluff. “You see people at their farms and communities working hard and having a strong passion for their work, each one different and authentic. You can’t fake our stories.”
Ryan Hanousek, from Cairo, describes it as a “sellback campaign to our growers” and a humble reminder of the pride and purpose behind their work. “As farmers, it’s more than
a job. It is a lifestyle choice,” he says. “And we want our communities to thrive, grow and be here for our kids.”
Board chair Brandon Hunnicutt, from Giltner, sensed early on that this was more than another marketing effort. “This seemed like something really big—something that could stick and be impactful for a long time,” he said. “It’s about legacy, lifestyle, hard work and the moment we’re in right now.”
The Right Message at the Right Time
The moment Hunnicutt describes is a pivotal one,
a time when the public has become more curious about agriculture, and family farms are facing major generational transitions.
“We’re at one of those inflection points,” Hanousek says. “If you look at the average age of farmers,
it continues to rise. This means there are a lot of unknowns for the next generation or a succession plan.”
Groskopf adds that a positive story is overdue. “Agriculture is a difficult industry to be in, especially during economic times like our industry is currently witnessing. This message of growth, determination and pure grit needs to be shared. Not just for consumers, but so farmers know they are believed in.”
Hunnicutt agrees that farmers deserve encouragement and recognition. “We needed something that reminded us why we do it. I’m a Nebraska Corn Farmer is the exact fit at the exact time we need it.”
Strength in Agricultural Diversity
Another benefit of the campaign is that it showcases the diversity of Nebraska farmland, from irrigation in the west to hills in the northeast. “There is so much that changes from the southeastern part of the state to the northwest,” Hunnicutt says. “Nothing is the same.”
He notes that in his neighborhood alone, he can drive five or six miles and pass ethanol, livestock and organic operations. This variety encourages neighbors, co-ops and buyers to collaborate and support one another.
Hanousek sums up Nebraska farmers’ desire for adaptability. “Nebraska farmers are willing to try new technologies and techniques to make it work. We’re willing to be uncomfortable and adapt.”
It has and will continue to make a difference
Groskopf notes that support from farmers and board members was emphatic, in part because passionate champions like himself helped the concept take root. “Every farmer’s story we’ve shown has impressed people,” Groskopf says. “This summer, the Board was shown the brand video we turned into a commercial. No one had seen it before. After we showed the video, the room was silent, with conversation about how needed and precise this campaign is.”
From day one, the board agreed on one guiding principle: no chest-thumping. The tone of the campaign would stay humble, to celebrate rather than brag. And they’d shine the spotlight on farmers beyond the board: farmers who don’t sit on boards or post regularly on social media.
Hunnicutt points to a small moment that spoke volumes about the necessity of the campaign: during a windy spring shoot, the crew ducked into a local Pioneer dealer’s shop. “We walked into their office. They had the newspaper insert highlighting farmers we sent out a few weeks prior framed on the wall. That was the moment I realized how impactful this could be. People are resonating with this. It can and will make a difference.”
The campaign is reaching all corners of the state. Groskopf continues hearing positive comments about billboards and newspaper inserts in Scottsbluff, confirming the campaign’s strong connection with Nebraskans.
The sentiment that continues to matter most is the quiet, persistent recognition.
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