By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Kansas Original’s Market and Gallery is hoping another “Kansas original” can help the longtime nonprofit, located north of Wilson, raise funds at an upcoming benefit concert in Hays.
The Peterson Farm Brothers of Assaria have agreed to perform their first concert in northwest Kansas to benefit and celebrate 25 years of Kansas Original’s mission to promote Kansas-made products such as original art and food products.
The Peterson Farm Brothers, Greg, Kendal and Nathan became overnight worldwide sensations after creating their first parody in 2012 titled “I’m Farming and I Grow It,’ modeled after the LMFAO’s song “I’m Sexy and I Know It.”
With lyrics that include “This is how I roll, without me the world would be outta control / The hours I work, there is no equal / Gotta feed the mouths of hungry people,” the parody generated 6 million hits on in just two weeks on YouTube.
Since the first viral debut, the brothers have created several more parodies about life on the farm that have received more than 30 million hits on YouTube and have the brothers traveling across the nation and internationally to fulfill what they say is their mission — educate the world on the importance of agriculture.
Margery Lawson is CEO of Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, which oversees Kansas Originals Market and Gallery, said the brothers are in Australia. Convincing them to perform a benefit concert was not hard, she said.
Lawson said the board also has connections as one members knows the Petersons “quite well” and asked the brothers if they would be willing to perform for charity.
The answer was a resounding “yes.”
“They like us,” Lawson said, adding the Peterson Family are members of the Post Rock Community Foundation and sell their videos and T-shirts at the Kansas Originals Market and Gallery.
The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m Aug. 17 at 12th Street Auditorium in Hays.
VIP tickets are $25 and offer a chance to meet the Peterson Brothers in person.
General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling Kansas Originals at (785) 658-2602 or at Ticketstorm.com. Tickets can also be bought at the door for $15.