Former NFL Star Walked Away from $37 Million to Feed the Hungry with His Farm

Jason Brown is happily living the biggest mistake of his life.

At least, that’s what his agent called the former St. Louis Ram’s 2012 decision to leave behind his $37 million NFL contract, buy 1,000 acres of farmland, and feed Missouri’s hungry.

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Brown, who learned farming largely from YouTube and by gathering advice from local farmers in Louisburg, North Carolina, is growing sweet potatoes and cucumbers, the former of which recently yielded his first harvest: 100,000 lbs. of food, which he donated to local food pantries.

“When you see them pop up out of the ground, man, it’s the most beautiful thing you could ever see,” Brown said.

“It’s unusual for a grower to grow a crop just to give away,” Rebecca Page, who organizes food collection for the needy, told CBS. “And that’s what Jason has done. And he’s planning to do more next year.”

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