Farewell to the Iconic 'Honest Work Farmer' David Brandt: Ohio Mourns the Loss

David Brandt, the farmer famously known for his meme as the "honest work farmer," passed away in Ohio this week. Brandt's image gained popularity on the internet in 2018 and now his death adds to the list of high-profile deaths that occurred in 2023.

The Ohio farmer rose to worldwide prominence after his image was used in a meme that went viral. The United States Department of Agriculture originally posted the image back in 2014 after conducting an interview with Brandt. However, it wasn't until 2018 when a Reddit user, Pettergra, posted the image on /r/MemeEconomy that it gained immense popularity, receiving over 18,000 upvotes in a short amount of time. The meme, used as a response to someone, is often featured as a joke, suggesting that the user does very little work, but at least does something.

The well-known farmer, Brandt, passed away in Ohio at the age of 76 after facing complications from a car accident that occurred last week. Back in 2012, during a Natural Resources Conservation Service event held at his farm, Brandt made a comment that would later become famous on Reddit. He uttered the words, "It ain't much, but it's honest work," not realizing the impact it would have on social media.

Brandt was a farmer from Fairfield County, Ohio who served in Vietnam in the 60s. Upon his return, he dedicated his life to farming and lived with his recently deceased wife Kendra. Brandt was not only famous on the internet but also outside of it. Many of his peers considered him a real-life farming legend because of his work with no-till farming, a technique that doesn't disturb the soil during planting. He was nationally known among farmers for his commitment to sustainable agriculture, as well as his extensive knowledge and consistent application of soil health techniques.

Sadly, 2023 has seen the passing of many high-profile figures who were beloved by many. Among them was the famous actor Lance Reddick, who passed away at the age of 60. He was popular in the gaming community for his work with Destiny 2, where he voiced Commander Zavala, and also appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including The Wire and John Wick: Chapter 4. Both Lance Reddick and David Brandt will be remembered for years to come, either for their work or the fame they earned online.

Source: Ohio's Country Journal