So God Made a Farmer… Who Lip Synced for Charity

Kentucky farmer Suzanne Cecil White has always been a go-getter, eager for a challenge. After teaching high school math for 10 years, she returned to Owensboro where her family operates a diversified farm. In 2011, the summer after moving and having her first child, a magazine article inspired a career pivot. She ran a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for 10 years and now manages a dozen greenhouses of vegetables as well as the distributor relationships that get her produce to restaurants and schools in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. She also has an event venue down the road from the home farm.

Outside her venue a sign reads, “Imagine the possible.” She explained, “It’s just a reminder of, you know, just try. You can only be told no.”

Recruiting a Team

A big “no” was painted on her dad’s face last July when White asked him to participate in an upcoming local event. “Initially there was massive hesitation in his voice,” she said, recalling her efforts to recruit members to a lip syncing team. The Lip Sync Battle is an annual fundraiser for Puzzle Pieces, a local nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. “We lip sync and perform choreography on stage in front of 2,000 people.” She said, “It has become the most anticipated event of the year in Owensboro.”

She laughs, admitting she may have fibbed a little to encourage her father, Gary Cecil, to commit to the team. ‘Mack and Billy said they would do it if you did it,’ she told him. Once Gary was on board, she called the other farmers.

One by one, White reached out to farmers from church, Farm Bureau, and the farmers market. “They’re community driven, and that’s where I knew I could snag them. They’re doing this for a good cause,” she says.

Eventually she had 10 people, including the OGs — Gary, Mack Estes, and Billy Reid. “You don’t have to call us old guys,” they said after learning of the nickname. “I was like, ‘That’s not what OG stands for. It’s for original gangsters. Y’all are the original generation for us,’” White said. “I wanted them represented. They’re in their seventies. That’s a powerful message.”

A Memorable Performance

January 11, the group communicated a powerful message, indeed. After hiring a choreographer and rehearsing for over 30 hours through the winter months, the ‘Local Farmers’ were crowned grand champions of the annual Owensboro Lip Sync Battle.

From the start, White knew her team would be different from the other 11 slated to compete. It made her a little nervous. Their set list was filled with ballads, unlike the upbeat pop hits other teams selected. Instead of sequins and flashy costumes, the group sported outfits they’d wear on their respective farms everyday. “We had on our work boots and Carhartt vests,” she said. Looking back, their authenticity makes her proud.

For ten minutes, the farmers performed their routine to meaningful songs of their choice. Paul Harvey’s iconic “So God Made Farmer” boomed through the speakers as the team filed onto stage with their agriculture-themed props. Naturally, Gary donned his family farm’s watermelon logo for his turn with the mic to perform “Watermelon Crawl.” Billy sported a cow costume for the team’s rendition of “Milkshake” by The Cleverlys. 

In the midst of Brian Cecil’s heartfelt “This is My Dirt” performance, the crowd erupted. “It was just like they were propelled to stand to their feet. All those cheers coming at us, we’ve never experienced anything like it,” White said. Members of the audience were whistling and smiling. Others were moved to tears.

“We know 98% of the population is not in agriculture,” she said. “But it spoke to them. They felt it. That was a pretty amazing accomplishment to touch that number of people.”

Win-Win Evening

In addition to sharing their passion for agriculture in a unique way, the Local Farmers helped make the 2025 Lip Sync Battle fundraiser the most successful one yet. In total, a record $239,570 was raised.

Puzzle Pieces Executive Director Amanda Owen told the Owensboro Times, “With the most teams, the most performers, the most tickets sold, the most viewers watching from home, and the most money raised in Lip Sync Battle history, this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We could not do what we do without the incredible support from our sponsors, performers, and ticket buyers — each one plays a vital role in helping us support our clients.” 

Lip Sync Battle Roster

• Suzanne Cecil White of Cecil Farms Produce and White Chateau event venue
• Gary T. Cecil of Cecil Spreader Service and Cecil Farms Produce
• Jim Gilles III of Hill View Farms
• Keith Riney of Riney Farms
• Dustin Warren of Warren Farms
• Billy Reid of Reid’s Orchard
• Brad Reid of Reid’s Orchard
• Katie Reid Clark of Reid’s Orchard
• Jennifer Poole of Poole Farms
• Brian Cecil of Cecil Farms
• Mack Estes of Estes Farms