Remembering why we farm

Lately, we’ve been hearing a lot of negative, doom-and-gloom talk, and to be fair, some of it is deserved. Costs are high, markets are unpredictable, and it can feel like farmers are constantly being squeezed from every direction. Still, agriculture has always had its ups and downs, and sometimes it’s worth stepping back and remembering why so many of us chose this life in the first place. With that in mind, I asked several of my friends who farm a simple question: why did you get into farming, and are you glad you are still doing it?

Some of the answers were what you might expect. Many said farming is simply in their blood. Their families have been farming for generations and continuing that tradition means something to them. They grew up riding in tractors with their parents and grandparents, helping during harvest, fixing equipment in the shop, and learning the value of hard work at a young age. For them, farming isn’t just a job, it’s part of who they are.

But there were other answers too. Several friends mentioned the people involved in agriculture. They said farmers are some of the most respected people you will ever meet, the kind who work long days without complaint, keep their word, and measure success not by what they take, but by what they provide for others. You see neighbors helping neighbors during busy seasons, equipment gets loaned without too many questions, and when someone is in trouble, the community shows up. More than one farmer also talked about raising a family in agriculture. Farming teaches responsibility, patience, and respect for the land. Kids learn early that their work matters and that the whole operation depends on everyone pitching in, doing their job, and doing it well. 

When I asked the second question, “Are you glad you are still farming?” the answer from every one of them was yes. That doesn’t mean they think everything is perfect. Like most farmers, they would certainly like to see better prices and lower input costs, but they also understand that agriculture has always been cyclical.

If you look back over the past few years, that point becomes pretty clear. We have seen wheat prices go from under $6 to over $12 in a relatively short period of time. Sure, it would be nice to have $10 wheat all the time, but if markets stayed the same year after year, farming would look very different. The uncertainty, while frustrating, is also part of what keeps farmers paying attention, adapting, and finding ways to improve. Another thing farmers mentioned is the constant challenge of the work itself. Weather changes, markets change, and technology changes; farmers are always learning. Equipment gets better, farming practices evolve, and every season brings new decisions that can affect the outcome of the crop. For many farmers, that challenge is part of the appeal. Farming is one of the few professions where you can work your entire life and still feel like you are learning something new every season.

Even during challenging times, the people in ag believe in producing food, in caring for the land, and in continuing a way of life that has supported families and communities for generations. So, while there may be plenty of reasons to worry about the farm economy today, there are also plenty of reasons to stay optimistic. Agriculture has always been built on resilience, hard work, and a willingness to face challenges head-on, and if you ask most farmers, they’ll tell you the same thing: even with all the ups and downs, they’re still glad to be farming.