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Why the Next Generation Is Walking Away from the Farm
“Farmers are Aging. Their kids don’t want to be in the Family Business.” You may have heard this filling the news or the media. But why? Isn't it a dream to farm the same land generations have farmed? Work the precious soil generations have been working for years? Well, for some kids, it’s not; it's actually a nightmare.
It's known that farming is one of the toughest jobs out there. Physically and mentally its draining. There are no days off; needs must be met every day. Even so, with that, it's a passion for some, a livelihood, and for others, all that they know to do. The big question nowadays is why the younger generation doesn't want to carry on the farming legacy. It's not only the fact that it's tough. It's the farming culture and generational tension. You can’t ask the new generation to take over while they're constantly being reminded they're doing it wrong.
It’s been a problem for years, but now I myself am starting to feel the pains of being dismissed. Small towns are clicky, but the farming community is even more clicky. Most farmers in our area have been here since the covered wagons. When my dad started the farm, he had his fair share of issues. Starting a grass-based meat enterprise was heavily looked down upon by other farmers. You may ask why? It’s great being a grass-based operation, right? Well, yes, but it's not the norm; it's looked at with skepticism. It’s not that one is wrong and the other right- it's that farmers are shaped by different experiences. The way people were taught to farm becomes deeply rooted- it's a challenge to value both.
For the past few years, I’ve had the dream of having a 100% Grass-Fed Raw Milk operation with my Heritage Milking Shorthorns. It's something I am passionate about: preserving the rare breed, giving them the recognition they deserve, and creating a business out of something I am passionate about. Being excited about my idea, I told a handful of people, thinking they would be excited with me, but to my surprise, they weren’t. The response isnt direct discouragement, but it's subtle. The conversation switches to how difficult it would be and a comparison to someone else already doing it. While those observations may be practical, they quietly chip away at my confidence.
Something more recent that happened today sparked this idea for this newsletter. I got the idea to buy some Icelandic sheep and use their wool to make rugs or blankets, for a summer hobby. I asked an older, knowledgeable sheep farmer about the breed, and he started going on and on about how stupid it would be to buy one. I didn't expect to feel embarrassed for simply asking. But it reminded me how easy it is to dismiss new ideas when they don't fit someone else's way of doing things.
Thats the tough thing, the younger generation isnt asking for farmers to change their ways, but we are asking to be heard without being dismissed. It’s honestly dream-crushing to hear constant discouragement. I’ve had moments where I’ve sat alone and wondered if I should just give it up altogether. I’ve shed more tears about my dreams than I ever thought I would.
Until I experienced a different kind of response. A cattle breeder came to the farm and talked to me about my dairy cows. The breeder herself had quite a few dairy cows and a degree in dairy science. She was asking me questions and was asking if there was high demand for raw milk. She encouraged me and was so excited for me, and offered her help if I had any questions. This meant a lot as shes probably the most knowledgeable person about cattle in IL! After she left, I told Maria how I was feeling discouraged, but the cattle breeder gave me hope. Maria then said one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever heard. She said, “ No! Don't give up, you definitely have a market for grass-fed milk. I believe in you. And if no one buys your milk, you just call me, and I’ll buy it all.” I don’t think she’ll ever know how much that meant. It wasnt about selling milk-- it was about knowing someone believed in me enough to stand behind it.
After all my experiences, I've realized the biggest wall isn't the hard work itself- it's the culture. The future of farming won’t survive on tradition alone- it will survive on encouragement, mentorship, and room for new ideas. I'm excited to start my dairy operation later this year, experience new challenges, and show people that it is possible!
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