Kersey versus Carter: The Georgia Farmer Strike: Recent Episodes
Lee Lancaster
The story of Georgia's involvement in the farmers' strike of the 1970's. From protesting in Plains to the Tractorcade to Washington.
A discussion on the documents inside the folder from the Carter Library: Farm Prices, Protest, American Agriculture Movement (A.A.M.) Parity.
Central Of Georgia Railroad vs American Agriculture was the court case that threatened to end the farmer's strike at the courthouse in Macon. After an energetic rally at the Macon State Farmer's Market on December 14, 1977, a summons to appear was delivered to four farmers and American Agriculture.
On January 22, 1979, the National Wagon Master, Gerald McCathern, left Bushland, Texas and started the DC Tractorcade. 8 routes converged on DC and ended at the Potomac River where the farmers camped and waited till February 5 to enter DC during rush hour that Monday morning.
The striking farmers travel back to Plains, stop traffic, and get in a scrap with the Georgia State Patrol. After several farmers are arrested, they stop a train until the farmers are released.
After the protest in McAllen, fed up farmers purchased and released every goat and chicken they could buy on Capitol Hill. The USDA Building became locked to the farmers, prompting them to have a good ol' fashion sit in!
While the Pickupcade was in Washington, things weren't going as quickly as some folks liked. After a meeting in Oklahoma, bridges across the Rio Grande became the target of the AAM.
The striking farmers make their first trip to Washington DC in pickups, buses and a few tractors. The planning process is impeded by the state Farm Bureau president, resulting in a recall effort against him that disintegrated into a food fight on Riverside Drive in Macon.
The Farmer Strike begins with a bang and a visit from the USDA Secretary and ends up at Jimmy Carter's house on Christmas Eve.
The rally at the Atlanta capitol is held on December 10, 1977 and was the largest farmer demonstration in history.
Preparations were underway for a rally in Atlanta. December 10, 1977 was to be the date of a huge Tractorcade to the Capitol in Atlanta.
The farm strike continues to build in Middle Georgia while plans are made to invade Plains on the day after Thanksgiving! People packed up their tractors and drove for two days to protest the President's handling of the 1977 Farm Bill. The rally was a great success, but ended with a tragic accident.
The Strike begins at Hurricane Creek with the first Tractorcades to Alma and Statesboro. Tommy Carter and Tommy Kersey make contact with the national AAM office for guidance, then join forces to plan a protest at the doorstep of the President's home in Plains.
The farmer's strike begins to take shape in Georgia. Farmers in Colorado form the American Agriculture Movement and protest at an appearance by USDA Secretary Robert Bergland.
The Beginning of the American Agriculture Strike in Georgia. From Earl Butz to the election of Jimmy Carter in 1976. With the election of a peanut farmer from Plains, hope spread throughout the Farm Belt. With the introduction of the 1977 Farm Bill, that hope quickly faded.