Agricultural biotechnology company Pivot Bio is bringing its Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour to three of the country's largest state fairs this summer, offering a tangible connection point between the public, food industry professionals, and the farmers who anchor the U.S. food supply.
The tour — which kicked off July 20 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis — centers on a working family tractor, nicknamed the Grati-Tractor, traveling more than 1,500 miles across rural America. The vehicle belongs to Tom Boedeker, a 69-year-old Missouri farmer and fourth-generation operator of Boedeker Brothers Farm near Elsberry, Missouri, a family operation with roots dating to 1936. Boedeker serves as an honorary farm ambassador for the tour.
The State Fair Schedule
The Grati-Tractor is scheduled to appear at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis from August 7–9, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on August 22–23, and the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul from September 5–7. At each stop, fairgoers can photograph themselves with the tractor and submit a personal message of thanks. Those unable to attend in person can leave a virtual message at the campaign's dedicated page on pivotbio.com.
Why Food Operators Should Pay Attention
For restaurant and hospitality professionals, campaigns like this underscore a growing cultural emphasis on agricultural transparency and farmer recognition — themes that increasingly resonate with consumers and shape how operators communicate their food sourcing and supply chain values. As farm-to-table narratives continue to drive menu positioning and purchasing decisions, initiatives that elevate farmer visibility carry downstream relevance for the broader foodservice industry.
Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott framed the tour's purpose around authentic engagement with agricultural communities. "State fairs are a natural stop on our Year of One Million Thanks journey," Abbott said. "They bring people closer to agriculture and give us an opportunity to celebrate the farmers who make so much of our everyday lives possible."
Beyond the gratitude-gathering mission, the tour is structured to facilitate conversations among farmers, business leaders, government officials, and academics — with the goal of identifying practical solutions to pressing agricultural challenges. For food and beverage operators tracking ingredient availability, input costs, and supply chain resilience, those conversations have direct relevance to sourcing strategy and long-term procurement planning. Coverage of related agricultural and food industry trends continues to reflect how tightly linked farm economics are to restaurant and hospitality operations.
Pivot Bio, recognized three times by TIME magazine on its Best Inventions list, markets crop nutrition technologies aimed at improving farmer productivity and sustainability. Its products are currently available in North America with an expansion into Brazil in development.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
