Driving to the Minnesota State Fair each summer, it’s hard to miss the bright blue barn standing in a field next to the interstate just south of the Twin Cities emblazoned with the Culver’s logo and the message, “Thank You Farmers!”

Opposite of restaurants like Chipotle, which bash conventional agriculture and modern-day beef production, this burger chain has a long-standing history of support for America’s farmers and ranchers.

Since 2013, Culver's has endorsed agriculture through its “Thank You Farmers” initiative, which has raised more than $1 million to support FFA and students in agriculture.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Arnold Gatilao www.flickr.com/photos/arndog

In 2015 alone, $360,000 was raised for local FFA chapters, the National FFA Foundation and other agricultural organizations across the country. The money was raised through donation canisters, percentage of sales donations, sponsorships, and a “Scoops of Thanks” day, where $1 scoops of custard were sold Aug. 8, 2015.

In a press release, David Stidham, Culver’s vice president of marketing, says, “We are excited to see the enthusiasm with which guests have welcomed Thank You Farmers. We’re deeply grounded in the farms that produce the dairy and grow the food that has made Culver's what it is today.”

"Culver's and FFA provide a great partnership that supports agriculture education in our local communities," added Todd Greenwood, director of corporate giving at the National FFA Foundation. "We appreciate that Culver's recognizes the hard work and dedication of farm families. Programs like ‘Thank you Farmers’ are helping to build awareness of the critical role agriculture plays. We are very thankful for Culver's support.”

I’m so appreciative of businesses like Culver’s that know and understand the role farmers and ranchers play in producing food for their customers. Without America’s beef and dairy producers, a butter burger and custard at Culver’s wouldn’t be possible! Let’s show our support with our dollars. When you go out to eat, choose places like Culver’s that support what we do.

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Penton Agriculture.

You might also like:

7 ranching operations who lead in stewardship, sustainability

Why we need to let Mother Nature select replacement heifers

Photo Gallery: Laugh with Rubes cow cartoons

Beta agonists wrongly blamed for fatigued cattle syndrome

Lessons from the 2015 cattle market wreck