The Georgia Farmers' Strike - by Lee Lancaster (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Author Lee Lancaster retraces the movement of a remarkable time in our nation's agricultural history. In 1976, America sent a peanut farmer from Plains to Washington, D.C. Farmers throughout the nation, especially in Georgia, had high hopes for President Jimmy Carter, but those dreams vanished when he seemingly disregarded their problems--historic drought and embarrassing commodity prices. Peach State farmers took to the streets, slow rolling a tractorcade on I-75 toward Atlanta. The result was the largest ever farmer-led demonstration in the United States. The farmers pledged not to sell, plant or buy anything until "100% parity" was obtained. The farmers eventually steered their tractorcade to D.C., trying to prevent the foreclosure of dozens of farms with help from an armed group in Middle Georgia and a real estate tycoon from New York who would become the forty-fifth president.

Review Quotes

"Jimmy...kiss my grits." -a campaign pin from the

American Agricultural Movement

About the Author

Lee Lancaster works with the Georgia Department of Agriculture as a contributing writer for the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin. His "Georgie's Drive" is a feature about Georgia agriculture and rural history appearing biweekly since 2017. He also serves as a marketing specialist for Vidalia onions and coordinates the Baby Barn program at the Georgia National Fair in October. Lee attended ABAC for only two years and then moved on to the University of Georgia during the Donnan era or Carter administration--Quincy, that is. In spite of that, he still roots for the 'Dawgs.