About this episode

This episode explores how agriculture has shaped the American identity from the nation's founding to today.

What does farming reveal about who Americans are? 🇺🇸 From the nation's founding to today, agriculture has done more than feed the country—it has shaped the American identity itself. At the birth of the United States, roughly 90% of Americans earned their living through farming. Today, even when counting the entire agriculture and food system, that figure is closer to 10%. So what changed—and what hasn't? In this episode, we explore how agriculture continues to influence the way Americans see themselves through history, culture, art and myth. From the iconic cowboy to Grant Wood's American Gothic , we examine why farming remains one of the country's most enduring symbols, even as fewer people work the land. Joining us is Neil Dahlstrom , author, historian and archivist for Deere & Company , who shares insights into the deep connections between American agriculture , rural culture , John Deere , and the nation's evolving identity. In this episode, you'll learn: 🌾 How agriculture helped shape the American character 🇺🇸 Why farming remains central to the U.S. identity despite urbanization 🎨 The cultural significance of icons like American Gothic and the American cowboy 📚 How…

People in this episode

Host: John Deere

Guest: Neil Dahlstrom

Topics covered

• agriculture
• American identity
• cultural significance
• history
• rural culture
• urbanization

Keywords

• farming
• American culture
• history
• rural identity
• urbanization
• cultural icons
• American cowboy
• American Gothic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Deere & Company

Books & works: American Gothic

Places: United States, America

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