"I believe a man’s greatest possession is his dignity and that no calling bestows this more abundantly than farming. I believe hard work and honest sweat are the building blocks of a person’s character. I believe that farming, despite its hardships and disappointments, is the most honest and honorable way a man can spend his days on earth. I believe my children are learning values that will last a lifetime and can be earned no other way. I believe farming provides education for life and that no other occupation teaches so much about birth, growth, and maturity in such a variety of ways. I believe many of the best things in life are indeed free: the splendor of a sunrise; the rapture of wide open spaces; and the exhilarating sight of your land greening each spring. I believe true happiness comes in watching your crops ripen in the field; your children grow tall in the sun; and your whole family feel pride that springs from their shared experience. I believe that by my own toil I am giving more to the world than I am taking from it, an honor that does not come to all men. I believe my life will be measured ultimately by what I have done for my fellow man, and by this standard I fear no judgment. I believe when a man grows old and sums up his days, he should be able to stand tall and feel pride in the life he’s lived. I believe in farming because it makes it all possible.”

The Farmer’s Creed. First Published in 1915. Credited to Frank Mann.