The National Farmers Memorial is dedicated to the American farmer of the past, present, and future, honoring farmers for their sacrifices, hardships, determination, and foundational place in America. Its unveiling, with Lewis Watkins's sculpture "The American Farmer," took place on September 1, 1986, with dedication addresses by Robert E. Dole, Robert C. Myers, John Carlin, and Harland Priddle. Its gala and completion followed on November 9, 1989, with dedication addresses by Clayton Yeutter, Mike Hayden, Sam Brownback, and S. Mason Carbaugh, with Edward Asner as master of ceremonies and a special tribute featuring the world premier of "The Salt of the Earth" by the Bellamy Brothers. The memorial's founders were Harold L. Adkins, Robert A. Moffa, and Lewis B. Watkins. Harold L. Adkins, a farmer's son and advocate, belonged to both 4-H and FFA, served as director of the Agricultural Hall of Fame from 1977 to 1989, and was honored as co-founder of a memorial to the American farmer. Robert A. Moffa, born in 1941, composed the orchestral suite "The American Farmer" Past Present and Future, premiered on August 21, 1986, reflecting farm life in the past and present and hope for the future. Lewis Watkins, an American sculptor born in 1945, said he hoped his sculpture would influence the dreams of future farmers as they provide for the country as farmers had in the past and present. The faces reflected in the sculpture, from left to right, are Harry E. Jackson, Elizabeth Scholl, Alfred Hettinger, Tom Heath, Lee Adkins, Rick Malir, Youth of the Future, and Wendy Ann Kramer.