Shelby Carroll: Agriculture: The real MVP of Super Bowl Sunday
Published 10:35 am Saturday, February 7, 2026
Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s favorite traditions, a day filled with football, friends, family, and of course, plenty of food. While fans are watching touchdowns and halftime performances, there’s an unsung hero working behind the scenes to make it all possible. Our hard-working farmers. In fact, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the largest food consumption days of the year, second only to Thanksgiving. From chicken wings and pizza to chips, dips, burgers and fresh vegetables, nearly every game-day favorite begins on a farm.
Take pizza, for example. That single slice represents multiple agricultural products: wheat grown for the crust, tomatoes for the sauce, dairy cows providing cheese and livestock producers supplying toppings like pepperoni or sausage. Chicken wings, another Super Bowl staple, require year-round dedication from poultry farmers to meet the increased demand this weekend brings. Guacamole has also become a Super Bowl favorite, relying on avocados grown in warm climates before being shipped to grocery stores nationwide.
Agriculture’s role doesn’t stop with food. Traditional footballs are made from cowhide leather, directly connecting livestock agriculture to the game itself. Natural turf fields are carefully grown and maintained using agricultural and turfgrass management practices to ensure safe playing conditions for athletes. Beverages like beer also start on the farm, using crops such as barley and hops before making their way to breweries.
Behind every Super Bowl spread is a complex system of farmers, processors, truck drivers, distributors and retailers working together to move products from the field to your table. This farm-to-fork journey highlights how interconnected agriculture is with our everyday lives. Super Bowl Sunday also provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of agriculture beyond entertainment. Farmers and agricultural professionals work year-round, through all kinds of weather and challenges, to provide safe, affordable and abundant food for our communities. Their efforts support local economies, protect natural resources and help ensure food security for families across the country.
So as you gather with friends and family to enjoy the big game, take a moment to appreciate the agricultural producers who make it all possible. Every bite, sip and celebration is rooted in agriculture. From the field to your living room, agriculture truly is the real MVP of Super Bowl Sunday.
Shelby Carroll is agriculture and natural resources agent with the Rowan County Cooperative Extension.
