Country star Easton Corbin is a happy guy. His support and partnership with the National Future Farmers of American Organization, Ram Trucks and their Next Crop Initiative's "The Year of the Farmer" celebration reaped a $1 million payoff to benefit young leaders in the FFA.
As part of the "The Year of the Farmer" celebration, Corbin - a former FFA member - spent the year traveling the roads of rural America to meet and raise money for the local FFA chapters and young members around the country.
Ram Trucks kicked off the "Year of the Farmer" in February with the debut of their Super Bowl commercial, "Farmer," which has garnered over 17 million views on YouTube. For every one million views, Ram pledged to donate $100,000, for a maximum donation of $1 million; viewers overwhelmingly supported the two-minute video, reaching 10 million views within days.
As a result, a $1 million check was presented to the National FFA Foundation, on behalf of Ram Trucks, by Corbin and Ram Trucks President and CEO Reid Bigland during the first session of the recent 86th National FFA Convention and Expo, held in Louisville, Ky.
As the "Farmer" video suggests, many budding farmers - including FFA members - were inspired by their grandfathers and fathers. As a former member of the Trent FFA Chapter in Florida, Corbin was no different. "I remember when I was in sixth grade and [my grandfather] asked me if I wanted to show a cow and I was like, 'well yeah!'" said Corbin. "So, my grandpa was a big influence on me. He's always been such a hardworking guy. I've always looked up to him."
Corbin's self-titled debut album released in 2010 and spawned back-to-back hits "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll With It;" making him the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two consecutive singles reach No. 1. In 2012, the Gilchrist County Florida native released his sophomore album, "All Over The Road," which included the Top 5 hits "Lovin' You Is Fun" and "All Over The Road." Corbin set a career-best debut on Country Airplay with his current single, "Baby Be My Love Song," the second single from his upcoming album.
