Kersey versus Carter: The Georgia Farmer Strike

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 Mark…

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…

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 goo…

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 agai…

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 Preside…

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…

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 …