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Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

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Here’s Why the Bud Light Super Bowl Ad Was So Dumb

February 6, 2019

Super Bowl commercials are supposed to be the cream of the crop. Companies spend millions of dollars for a 30-second slot. And they want us talking about them even after the game ends.

Following the Super Bowl on Sunday, we’re certainly talking…but not for good reasons. I already wrote for the Washington Examiner about Michelob Ultra’s commercial for Pure Gold, an organic beer. But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention those Bud Light commercials too.

Budweiser created an entire marketing campaign around the fact that it doesn’t use corn syrup to brew Bud Light. The medival-inspired commercials all incorporated the same messaging: we don’t use corn syrup to brew Bud Light; those other guys do.

The reaction on Twitter was pretty swift. Countless farmers blasted the company for vilifying corn syrup. And who was the target audience? Likely health-concious Millennials, who have been largely ditching beer for wine and hard liquors. It’s the same tactic taken for the Pure Cold commercial.

.@BudLight America’s corn farmers are disappointed in you. Our office is right down the road! We would love to discuss with you the many benefits of corn! Thanks @MillerLight and @CoorsLite for supporting our industry. https://t.co/6fIWtRdeeM

— National Corn (NCGA) (@NationalCorn) February 4, 2019

But that’s why this campaign was so dumb. Beer is alcohol. And corn syrup is a sugar. Alcohol is alcohol. Sugar is sugar. It doesn’t matter the source. Swapping out the corn syrup doesn’t make Bud Light any healthier than any other light beer.

MillerCoors responded via tweet. And a couple of the responses were humorous. But it bought into the anti-corn campaign too:

At MillerCoors, we're proud of our high-quality, great-tasting beers. We're also proud that none of our products include any high fructose corn syrup, while a number of Anheuser-Busch products do. And Miller Lite has fewer calories, fewer carbs and more taste than Bud Light. pic.twitter.com/GeUUXqnSpc

— MillerCoors (@MillerCoors) February 4, 2019

For the record, HFCS and corn syrup are different. As Men’s Health explains, HFCS has fructose and sucrose. Corn syrup just has sucrose. But little difference it makes. Because the sugars used for brewing are gone by the time the beer is finished.

So, yes, we’re literally having this conversation for no purpose. Because it doesn’t matter how the beer is brewed!

Aren’t we tired of this misleading advertising yet? If I’m drinking beer, it isn’t because I think it’s healthy. It’s because I want beer. And you definitely should be more concerned about how much beer you’re consuming, not how it was brewed.

I will add this final thought. I’m so glad farmers made a big stink about the Bud Light commercials. These companies see us as their whipping boys. It’s open season on the food we grow. But maybe now marketing people will think twice before condemning a crop with its own commodity group. Because, honestly, do you want people to tweet about literally pouring your product down the drain? I don’t think so.

So for the next great sporting event, I’ll just suggest beer companies go back to advertising using attractive people, puppies, Clydesdales, and the like.

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Filed Under: Culture of Fear, Production Methods Tagged With: corn, media

Comments

  1. Dennis Laughton says

    February 6, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    And how much money did they spend on such a ridiculous advert. They would have been better off donating the money to cancer research and flashing the words on the screen

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

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thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Some of the #soybeans are starting to turn--finall Some of the #soybeans are starting to turn--finally!
Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. I took Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. 

I took this photo over the weekend. These beans should be turning yellow and drying for harvest. So why aren't they? Because...the spring drought.

Seeds need water to germinate. But after we planted we didn't have rain for weeks. So those seeds just sat in the dirt and never sprouted. Then, finally, it rained. And the tiny plants started popping up.

The problem? It was several weeks too late for planting. The question is whether they'll be ready to harvest before the snow flies. We have shorter seasons in Michigan, so it'll be close.
Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍 Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍
💜💜 💜💜
Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purch Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. It all counts.

#modernagriculture #foodproduction #usfarmers #usagriculture #usfarms #food #knowyourfarmer #knowyourfood #modernag #farms #sustainableagriclture #sustainablefarming
I visited one of my favorite local farm stands ove I visited one of my favorite local farm stands over the weekend. I thought I'd buy a couple zucchini and cantaloupe. But the zucchini looked more like clubs, and the cantaloupe was too ripe for my taste. So I passed on those and bought some tomatoes that maybe cost more than I would have preferred.

But you know what I didn't do? I didn't complain about the zucchinis' size. I didn't fuss about the melons' ripeness. I didn't criticize the tomatoes' price. Instead, I smiled at the lovely lady and made small talk as I paid and went about my day. 

Why? Because I remember what it was like being out by the side of the road hot day after hot day. I know that we all poured everything we had into that produce. I remember how defeating it felt when some criticized it. I know that the price is probably around market value, even if it's cheaper in the grocery store. And I know that the farm family behind that cash register is giving everything they have to chase a dream.

I won't be the one to rain on their parade. 

#Respect
Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa! #nationaldogda Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa!

#nationaldogday🐶 
#pittiemix 
#blacklab 
#mischa
Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. And we're loving it.
It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all of it.

#agriculture #farming #sustainablefarming #sustainability
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