“Whoever makes two ears of corn or two blades of grass grow where only one grew before … does more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together.”

Jonathan Swift, an Irish author most famous for his book “Gulliver’s Travels,” wrote that about 300 years ago. It still rings true today. Several U.S. presidents had equally patriotic and inspiring things to say about farmers and ranchers. Click through the slideshow to see what they’ve had to say about our nation’s farmers.