Has certainly been discussed from a variety of different contexts as people from across the country remember one of the most tranformational figures in Iowa history, following his passing last night at the age of 90. There is certainly a lot of talk about, and one of the subjects that deserves a spot in the discussion is a decision he made in 1985, in the height of the farm crisis, to support the people involved in the state's largest industry by placing decals reading 'ANF' - "America Needs Farmers" - on his players' helmets. It was a special gesture during a very difficult time and one in which we expressed our appreciation for on the 30th anniversary of that decision:
The theme for FryFest that year was, in fact, America Needs Farmers, so then-Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad proclaimed it "Hayden Fry Day in Iowa" and then-Iowa Secretary of Ag Bill Northey presented Coach Fry with the "Big Show Pioneer in Agriculture Award," live during The Big Show:
It was so neat to hear Hayden share a couple stories about how growing up on the farm in Texas shaped his successful coaching and leadership philosophy, and Secretary Northey recall how much the "ANF" initiative meant to him as a young farmer at that time. Thanks Coach, for doing something you didn't have to do, during a time when so many needed it, that meant so much to so many. And we can only imagine the stories being shared now that you and Bump Elliot, Jim Zabel, Bob Brooks and Mike Reilly are back together again.