William Saunders Award for Rural Awareness

Yesterday I had the privilege of presenting RAM, a division of Chrysler, with the first William Saunders Award for Rural Awareness. The award was given to recognize the positive impact that their Super Bowl commercial had for rural America.

Their use of Paul Harvey’s famous “God made a Farmer” audio, coupled with their visual montage of rural America and the people who live there, was powerful and tugged at the heart. The ad showed the hard work, dedication, and lifestyle of those who provide the food, fiber, and fuel for America and the world.

The people who conceived and created this commercial did an outstanding job of raising rural awareness. The fact that they sell trucks doesn’t diminish what they’ve created in any way. 

In fact, this is how America is supposed to work. RAM is simply a group of people who own a company whose management (men and women) hires more people to develop, make, and sell trucks to people who need those trucks for their farms, businesses, and personal use. They understand who they serve and provide what their customers need and want.

I find myself reflecting on the fact that the Grange, philosophically, shares that same attitude without the commercial element. We allow people to join together in common cause without giving up their individuality. We are an organization that serves our members and our communities.

America is people and those people create businesses like RAM and organizations like the Grange. When we are all putting our efforts together, our communities flourish and people prosper as a whole. The Grange will continue to recognize people, organizations, and companies who recognize our American Values and who never forget their Hometown Roots.

Congratulations to RAM for being the recipient of the William Saunders Award for Rural Awareness!