I don’t know about you, and your city girl preconceived notions about farmers. But before I met my farmer the word farming brought to mind this picture:
But after 9 and a half years the word farming brings to mind these pictures:
You can ask any farmer who has been at it for a while and they will tell you that the changes that farming has seen over the last 20 years is amazing. The technology involved in farming. The marketing involved in farming. The accounting involved in farming. All of that on top of the bookkeeping, management, mechanic work, science, livestock care, federal regulations, and hard physical work involved with maintenance of equipment and buildings. I am seriously amazed by how much a farmer has to know to make it work.
With all of these responsibilities comes the farmer work ethic. Now this is not saying that non-farmers don’t work hard. Or that all farmers have the same work load. But what I am saying is that it takes hard work to make your farm thrive. To keep your animals healthy. To have bountiful crops.
So, city girl if you are planning on moving to the country and living on a farm be prepared. Early mornings and late nights will be required. Hard physical work and long hours of office work will be a necessity. But the knowledge that your hard work is producing food to feed many will be worth it. You will adapt to the amount of work it takes to live on a farm.
My thanks to all the hard working farmers out there,
Lisa says
Farming seems like such an idealistic occupation. I am sure the reality is a bit different.
Becky says
So different than I had thought! Yes, there is a lot about the occupation that really is wonderful, with great opportunities. And I’m so thankful to be raising our kids here. But nothing about this job fits my original thoughts about what it would look like.