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January 22, 2016 CapitalPress.com Peterson Brothers tell their story in music Spokane Ag Expo, Pacific Northwest Songs connect public, agriculture By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press They’re farmin’ and they show it. The Peterson Farm Broth- ers first made an impression in 2012 with their music video “I’m Farming and I Grow It.” The parody of the song “I’m Sexy and I Know It” went vi- ral on the YouTube Internet site. The brothers will speak during the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum main session starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, and again during the FFA program at 9 a.m. Thurs- day, Feb. 4. The brothers give presentations based on their videos, said Greg Peterson. “We produce YouTube videos basically to entertain people, but also to advocate for agriculture and farming,” Peterson said. “We want peo- ple to take notice of farmers and appreciate them for what they do.” The Petersons live on a fifth-generation family farm in Kansas, raising beef cattle, wheat, corn, soybeans, sor- ghum and alfalfa. Greg, 25, works full-time on the farm, while brothers Nathan, 22, and Kendall, 19, attend college. When addressing younger audiences, the brothers talk Courtesy photo The Peterson Brothers will be the featured speakers at the 2016 Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum during the main session that starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. They also will be fea- tured during the FFA program, which starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. They are known nation- wide for their song parodies with an agricultural theme. about making the videos and exploring opportunities that life presents, Greg Peterson said. They also stress the im- portance of advocating for agriculture and other passions such as farming, FFA and the rural lifestyle. The videos are most pop- ular among ag audiences, but are finding an urban audience. Teachers tell the brothers they use the videos in classrooms to help show students about farming. Peterson believes the rea- son the videos have connected with audiences can be traced to their roots. “Most people have a farm- ing background somewhere in their past, somewhere in their ancestry,” he said. “Even if they don’t have that, I think people can re- ally connect to a typical Midwest farm family who is helping produce food for the world to eat — as well as three brothers having fun, singing and making these videos together.” The brothers receive monthly payments from YouTube and for speaking, but they are not paid for the parody videos because they don’t own the music, Peter- son said. The Petersons will also talk about social media use during their presentation. As audiences become far- ther removed from the farm, Peterson believes advocacy is important. “It’s up to everyone in- volved to really try to tell the story of ag to other people,” he said. Greg handles the behind- the-scenes work, writing lyrics, editing videos and booking events for the broth- ers. He estimates he divides his time between the videos and the farm roughly half and half. The brothers focus on farmwork during planting and harvest, he said. The Petersons plan to farm together, but also hope to con- tinue making the videos, per- haps eventually shifting away from parodies. 2016 Spokane AG Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum During Ag Week (Feb. 2-4, 2016) in Spokane Your hosts are: Greater Spokane Incorporated and the Agribusiness Council Alisha Benson Interim CEO Anne Marie Axworthy Asst. Interim CEO Greater Spokane Incorporated Dr. Christine Johnson Community Colleges of Spokane Board of Trustees Chairwoman Greater Spokane Incorporated Jay Allert Aslin-Finch Company Chairman, AgriBusiness Council 2016 Pacific Northwest Farm Forum Peterson Brothers Bronze Sponsors • U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rod- gers • Gavilon Grain, Lind • Les Schwab Tire Centers • NW Farmland Management LLC • Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative Inc. • Rainier Seeds Inc. • Spokane County Farm Bureau • Washington Farm Bureau • Washington State Potato Commission 3 Farm Forum highlight Ag Week By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Each year, the City of Spo- kane declares the week of the Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum to be Ag Week. This year, all exhibits, meet- ings and presentations will be in the newly expanded Spo- kane Convention Center. The trade show alone now occupies 120,000 square feet, said Jack Reber, marketing manager for the Expo. The expansion includes small and large meeting rooms, which will house forum semi- nars, recertification courses and main sessions. “It is now finally going to be literally under one roof,” Reber said. “Once the attendees get off the bus or park in the parking garage and step into the con- vention center, they will never have to go outdoors again until they’re ready to go home.” The original Expo occupied 20,000 square feet, Reber said. The city’s Ag Week procla- mation helps increase Expo at- tendance, he said. “If it’s successful for Expo, it’s going to be successful for Spokane,” Reber said. “It gives a great reason and incentives for the farmers to come into Spo- kane for a day or several days.” The events are increasing their presence on such social media as Facebook in an effort to reach out to the younger gen- eration. Highlights of the week in- clude: • The Spokane Ag Expo trade show, which will be Feb. 2-4. • The annual Excellence in Agri- culture award will be presented at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, before mete- orologist Art Douglas speaks during the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum main session. • A presentation by YouTube vid- eo parody sensations the Peterson Farm Brothers will start at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. • Washington State University small grains economics professor Randy Fortenbery will offer his as- sessment for the coming year at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. • The Washington Cattlemen’s Association will hand out beef samples starting at about 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. • The Peterson Farm Brothers will talk with FFA members at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. • A Career Fair will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. • The Cultivating Cooperative Roots conference takes place Feb. 5-7. • Company meetings and hospi- tality rooms will take place through- out the Expo. • Exhibitors will offer presenta- tions in special venues. • The Agriculture in the North- west Photography Contest pictures will be on display.
