History may remember Jimmy Carter as one of the most noteworthy former presidents in the modern history of the United States. Carter, a Democrat and former governor of Georgia, served as the nation’s president from 1977-1981.
Carter died on December 29 at the age of 100.
His was plagued by stagflation, fuel shortages, and the Iran hostage crisis. Carter lost re-election in a landslide to his Republican challenger, Ronald Reagan.
But those in agriculture remember much more about Carter’s life and what his efforts meant to the industry. Carter’s family owned a 360-acre peanut farm in Plains, Georgia.
The family’s home did not have electricity or indoor plumbing. Carter sold peanuts as a boy to help his family.
While he was governor, Carter dealt with a national rail strike that could have crippled the poultry industry in Georgia. He took action, including suspending weight limits for trucks, so that feed could still get delivered.
As president, Carter helped pass the Agriculture Farm Credit Act of 1978, which helped farmers survive during a recession.
Future Farmers of America (FFA) celebrated Carter’s life by reminding people that he was the only FFA member to get elected president of the United States.
“Through the years, Carter championed the National FFA Organization as top-notch for youth leadership development and acknowledged its importance in his own pursuits. He once described FFA as one of his favorite organizations and said, ‘It’s been an integral part of my life,’” the FFA’s website posted about Carter’s service.
RELATED: FFA laid out the numerous ways that Jimmy Carter highlighted the mission of the organization. See that here.
Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002; founded the Carter Center with his wife, Rosalynn, to promote peace; and the couple volunteered for decades for Habitat for Humanity.
The organization released a statement that heralded the Carters for their dedication to service.
“The passing of President Jimmy Carter is a loss felt by millions around the globe and certainly throughout the Habitat for Humanity organization. A man deeply committed to social justice and basic human rights, President Carter dedicated himself to alleviating human suffering.
In addition to promoting peace and human rights through the Carter Center, President and Mrs. Carter led the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity for more than 30 years. Together, they’ve worked alongside over 108,100 volunteers who have built, renovated or repaired more than 4,447 homes in 14 countries, all while raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing.”
