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Once Upon a Time, I was a Farm Kid

Once Upon a Time, I was a Farm Kid

February 07, 2023

Ram Trucks Super Bowl Commercial 2013 -- Farmer.

I was recently reminded that the upcoming Super Bowl 57 is the 10th anniversary of a Ram Trucks Super Bowl commercial called “Farmer.” Maybe you remember it. I sure do.

The commercial celebrates American farmers with a series of images depicting farm life. The soundtrack is the voice of Paul Harvey, ABC News Radio broadcaster, recorded at the 1978 National FFA Convention. He is reciting a poem called, “So God Made a Farmer.”

When I was a kid, Paul Harvey aired daily on the local AM radio station. At that time farm families only got AM radio and Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story feature was often a daily ritual. When Paul Harvey appeared at the 1978 National FFA convention in Kansas City, it was a big deal, and I was there.

As a chapter officer in the Newark Illinois FFA, I had the privilege of making the week-long trip to the National Convention. My participation in the National FFA Organization was one of the most important experiences in my growing up. My father was the local FFA advisor, so as a little kid, I saw my dad working with the “FFA Boys” in activities, contests, and field trips. I grew up wanting to be a part of that world and to make my dad proud. During my time in the organization, I was lucky enough to win state awards and be elected to state leadership office. I think I made my dad proud.

Whenever I am reminded of the “Farmer” commercial, I always pull up the video and play it. It always makes me sentimental. Growing up in farm country, I was raised to revere the values in the commercial and to seek to emulate them. I still do.

I left farm country a long time ago. My wife and I chose to move to Saint Paul to raise our family among my wife’s people. We put down roots in West Saint Paul and I chose a career path I believed would allow me to make my farmer ancestors proud.

In my work helping families in Saint Paul reach important financial goals, I seek to work hard, work with integrity, work with diligence, work with persistence, and to love my clients and the work I do for them. Just like my farmer ancestors did.

I seek to serve my clients as a financial planner who is always an advocate for the client’s best interests – a fiduciary planner.

Through years of experience, long study, and passing a rigorous exam, I have earned the industry designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. I am proud to use this training to bring my clients state-of-the-art advice about reaching financial goals.

And I provide my advice for a fee. I do not give advice for “free” and take compensation from the products I recommend to my clients. I see fee-based advice as a part of my fiduciary duty. I recommend what I truly believe is best for the client, always.

If you would like to talk with me about growing up on the farm, your financial goals, or about how to create a reliable retirement income strategy, I would be honored to visit with you. Just follow this LINK to find a time that works for you.

Yes, I am a CFP® professional. I’m always a fiduciary and I work on a fee basis. And yes, I’m still taking on a few great families to be part of my financial planning practice.

If this article has you thinking about your own circumstances, contact my office at rdunn@dunncreekadvisors.com. I am always happy to meet with people who are working on their retirement plans. Dunncreek Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice, nor is this article intended to do so.