If you have listened to the recording of our first and second LIVE episodes of Farm Town Weekly, you will certainly recall my mentioning one of my farm town friends, “TATER HEAD” and you might have seen us “poke” some fun at him in comments made here on this website and on facebook.

Jamie “TATER HEAD” Hodges has always been a helpful neighbor and the best kind of friend when it comes to supporting Farm Town Weekly and helping new farmers whenever the opportunity presents itself. Big Mike introduced me to TATER HEAD when I was still in the lowest levels of the game and the two of them kept me pretty busy on their farms until I had enough coin to get into my own groove and begin to be able to pass their help forward.

I’m pretty grateful that I met both Big Mike and TATER HEAD as early in my farming history as I did because they both set a great “pass it forward” example. When I first met them, they each had these really boring farms. Almost entirely covered in crops, their farms had little of the fun things that I so looked forward to purchasing to decorate my own farm. Little did I know they had each pretty much already “been there” and had “done that.”

One day I was reviewing the “My Neighbours” page on Farm Town and could see that Jamie had more than a million coin. The amount may have even been a few million for all I remember, but with the exception of the mansion which one can only buy when they hit level 34, Jamie could have afforded anything he wanted of which his rapidly growing pile of Farm Town cash could buy.

I can’t remember what level TATER HEAD was on when we met nor his level at the time in which I began to frequently ponder on the question of what it is that he could be looking forward to achieving in the game. Certainly it is just a game and I was having a blast as I farmed through those early levels. As obviously addicting as Farm Town is however, just plowing and planting the same old crops day in and day out must be getting pretty boring for TATER, Big Mike, and the others on the last few levels of the game. Particularly on a fairly unremarkable farm.

It was thoughts like those that sparked my own interest in finding a way to contribute more to the community table so to speak. Personally, I was having a blast on Farm Town with others like Ms. Kelly Lynn, Clara Belle, Mayor Mark, Virginia “Whats Her Name” Johnson, her husband David “Goober” Johnson and too many others to mention. Nevertheless, seeing my good neighbors like Big Mike and Jamie just plowing through made me wonder at what point I might start getting bored and begin to journey onward, outward, and away from Farm Town.

Finally I decided to just ask Jamie, “What is it that you are most looking forward to achieving in the game?” I did not stop at asking only Jamie this question. I also asked Big Mike, Mayor Mark, and a few others that happened along the way. It was easy for me back then. My own answer to this question may have been as simple as having enough fence to go all the way around my cow.

Certainly we all look forward to achieving level 34 and being able to buy that mansion. Each of the few farmers that answered my query did mention those things and I can accept and even appreciate the simplicity of strategic farming for level 34. However, when you consider the time investment in reaching Green Wizard status, all be it for entertainment, these Gold Level farmers must be getting something more out of farming than experience points. Would you agree?

What bothered me early on was seeing my best neighbors getting closer to achieving Green Wizard status ahead of me, because that would likely result in them becoming even less interested and potentially ex-farmers. Obviously I have had and am still having my share of Farm Town fun. But in terms of being competitive, I myself don’t happen to have that gene. I could honestly care less who gets there before me as long as we all have a good time getting there. I do however worry to some extent about what happens afterward.

I enjoy celebrating all my neighbors achievements at whatever level. I like to think that I might have helped them along the way, if not with coin or strategy, at least with the having fun part.

So are you curious about how Jamie answered my question? Like me, do you also wonder what it could be that he will have to look forward to achieving beyond level 34 and owning the big mansion? Have you ever took a long enough break from your own farming chores to ask yourself, “What’s next for me after level 34?”

I don’t know if this is something that you have given any real thought, or if you will even give it a second thought after reading this post. However, I would imagine Jamie “TATER HEAD” Hodges is thinking about what’s next for him, because as of Wednesday, July 8th 2009, he is now a Green Wizard.

Ms Kelly Lynn and I am proud of Jamie, not only for reaching level 34, but for the way he achieved it through helping new farmers while contributing his time to Farm Town (SlashKey) as a Beta Tester so that the game might be improved for the next one to signup, signon, and sow their way through the levels. All the while holding out hope that they may enjoy the game and make as many new friends as he has made along the way.

I’m not going to share with you what Jamie told me back then, or what Big Mike and Mayor Mark had to say about it. If you are a contributor to this website, (and you probably are) then you can log in and make a post of your own to share here on Farm Town Weekly. If you are so inclined, I would like you to tell us, “What are you looking forward to achieving next in Farm Town?”

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My asking Jamie about his large pile of Farm Town cash and boring farm must have sparked something in him because he actually started to decorate here and there following our conversations on the topic. He has impressed me with a couple different layouts over the last few levels, but more recently he has been moving things around and doing what looks to be making preparations for his mansion.

Along with his Green Wizard achievement in Farm Town, I hope you all will join me in welcoming TATER HEAD to his chair beside Big Mike on the Board of Directors here at Farm Town Weekly. It is my honor and privilege to have his meaningful input and invaluable support in this ongoing effort towards planting community, and harvesting friendships.

A final word, with these new big titles like Green Wizard and Board of Directors, maybe we should stop calling him TATER HEAD and use a more formal name. How about Mr. Potato Head?