Farmer’s comedy act is outstanding in its field

CHILLICOTHE – Most days, you would find Adam Garman plowing fields, maybe even helping his father with the family feed and seeds business in Greenfield.

Those would be the typical places to look for the Ross County native.

But there is one, less typical, place to find this farmer — on stage.

“I have this ability to make people laugh, and that was God’s gift to me, so I’m going to use it,” Garman said. “I think that’s why God didn’t make me rich; he made me really handsome instead. ... Why does everybody laugh at that?”

Garman found that he had a talent for making people laugh, so he started to moonlight as a standup comedian. For about the past two years, Garman has been performing standup comedy at open mic nights, usually as Crosskeys in Chillicothe.

“I really enjoy hometown crowds, because I think they would laugh at me no matter what,” Garman said. “I had a guy compare me a while ago to Rodney Carrington.”

Last November, Garman was invited to take his act on the road to perform as part of a USO event for about 200 troops. And this year, he plans to do a performance in Washington, D.C., in front of the House of Representatives.

Garman’s shows are unique for a couple of reasons. The first is his content.

“I do a clean show, I did a show at church a couple weeks ago,” Garman said. Growing up in church, Garman said, he was raised not to be vulgar. “More than anything I don’t want to disrespect my mom.”

The second unique aspect of his show is his delivery. Garman has a speech impediment that causes him to stutter. He said that is the base of his comedic act, and he came to realize that, if he didn’t have a stutter, he wouldn’t be himself.

“People always ask me does it not bother you that you do have a speech impediment and you’re up in front of literally hundreds of people, and it’s just who I am,” Garman said.

As a farmer, Garman spends plenty of time alone in a tractor. He said he has taken the opportunity to work on his sets.

“When I was in high school, I learned I could use different accents and then I don’t stutter as much. So sometimes, that’s a little game I like to play when I’m at a restaurant.”

Garman’s identical twin, Cale, has the same speech impediment, but Garman said he lacks the same comedic gift.

“I let him have about five minutes of stage time a few months ago ... but he’s not as funny,” Garman joked.

Though he admits that the comedy gigs are not making him rich, he is happy with the shows he has done and will continue to do. And farming is in his blood, as the Garman family has owned a feed business since 1976.

“Given the option to go do it full time or farm ... farming has been in my family my whole life. It’s my true love, it’s my passion,” he said.

If you go

Garman is scheduled to perform at the Ross County Fair on Aug. 12