One of the most talked-about advertisements from last night’s Super Bowl commercial line-up is the ad for the Dodge Ram trucks entitled, “So God Made a Farmer.” Narrated by the late Paul Harvey, a well-known radio broadcaster, the commercial features a succession images documenting farm life in the United States and taken by ten noted photographers.
The agricultural social media community responded with favorable tweets and Facebook posts almost immediately after the commercial had aired. During a time when agriculture is under attack at times, the feel-good commercial seemed to have been well-received among the non-ag audience as well. Rated among the top two ads of the evening by several online polls and news agencies, the Dodge ad joins the Budweiser Clydesdale ad at the top of many lists today. Even the Hollywood Reporter Web site picked the two-minute “farmer” ad as the top choice from the evening. And one commentator on the ESPN network this morning even went so far as to say, “It is a good day to be a farmer.” Take a look at the video on YouTube here. The benefits of the video go beyond just warm fuzzies. Every time the video is shared, Dodge Ram will donate to the FFA organization.
Another ad was also working on farmer’s behalf last night. HumaneWatch.org, a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), aired a commercial at the beginning of the Super Bowl highlighting the deceptive fundraising practices of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The ad criticizes HSUS’s duplicitous fundraising tactics. In a press release, the Center for Consumer Freedom points out that the vast majority of animals in its fundraising commercials are dogs and cats, yet less than 1% of the money HSUS raises from the public goes to local, hands-on pet shelters. (For more information about where the HSUS money really goes, see the story, "Follow the Money to See the Truth about HSUS") In the ad, Max the dog exclaims this is “PAW-thetic!” Max also points to HSUS’s “D” charity rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy, advising viewers that “to help pet shelters, make sure you give to your local animal shelter, not HSUS.” See the Humane Watch video here.
What did you think about the Super Bowl ad line-up? Did you like “So God Made a Farmer?” Share your thoughts in the comments section here or email [email protected] to join the discussion.
