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By nature I am either totally optimistic or wholly pessimistic. That can be a lethal combination in that sometimes I find myself running headlong into something because I’m just really excited about it and then crashing and burning because it doesn’t initially go as I had hoped. One of those pessimistic question that pops into my head from time to time on the farm is, “Should I quit the farm?” On the surface this is just one of those questions of doubt that are part of my flawed nature, but I do think there is value in sometimes pulling back and taking time to honestly examine the question. On today’s episode I’m going to talk about some of the very practical reasons that I think I should quit farming, and then a few emotionally romantic reasons why I’m probably going to continue this farming journey.
Some of my very practical reasons for quitting the farm and chalking it up to a stressful life lessons include money, time, stress, and skill. These are all very important things to think about in any business, but that doesn’t make them deal breakers … I mean for the past five years we have made the farm go and it is definitely more than a hobby! So, instead of asking the question, “Should I quit farming?” … I try to force myself to answer the question, “Why should we keep the farm going and growing?” The answers to those questions are often less about finances, but sometimes are equally as convincing. How do you keep your work going through the doubts?
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I wouldn’t suggest that anybody do it the way I did it, but I burnt every bridge possible before I started farming, and there was no going back. I had a lot of doubts for a few years about if I’d done the right thing, but had no real option but to keep going. Now, everything seems to be running smoothly and I can’t see any other future except farming and growing the farm.
But my farm is slightly different because I focused on building a relatively low input cow-calf operation and there is always a market for calves and cows. There is a little bit less stress and a different workload to raising and selling calves or feeders compared to the few that I direct market as beef.
As you add in raising pigs for Niman Ranch you might find that your outlook on your farm future changes for similar reasons (it might appear that there might be less money at first, but there also might be less time involved in selling them, etc.).
A few years ago, I did start taking at least one day a week off from involved farm work to just go fishing, hunting, etc. You would be surprised how much good it can do to just goof off once in a while.
Rich … I do think you are right about the Niman Ranch deal. The thought of just raising the pigs instead of raising them, handling the inventory, marketing them, and selling them is appealing. Although I will say that it is nice to keep as many of the food dollars as possible 🙂 Sometimes I think the main job is trying to balance the family, the full-time job in town, and the job on the farm. If I take a day off from the job in town then there is things that must be done on the farm, and if I take a day off from the farm then there are jobs that must be down in town … add to that another job and I sometimes wonder what I’m doing. Although I don’t see quitting in the near future …
I hope you do not discouraged about your farming venture. You seem to farm for the same reasons I do and it is that passion that allows me to work 7 days a week and keep coming back for more. Instead of a list of pros and cons about farming maybe you just need to make a list of ways to simply your efforts, focussing your energy on what really pays. Another thing I might suggest is changing the way you look at wealth. While that alternative life you considered might seem appealing, what would you be giving up such as the experiences we have as farmers? In the Old Testament when someone was considered wealthy it says he had many sheep, goats etc. I am just a beginner but what God has blessed me with on the farm is more valuable than any salary at an office could ever be, it allows me to be a free, hard working man.
Brian … I really agree with you on redefining wealth! That is part of the reason that I believe that the question of quitting comes into my mind from time to time … not so much that I’m looking for a way to make more money, but because I do have the job in town that I enjoy and the farm doesn’t make a living for us maybe I need to be doing something different. We are wealthy in that we have four great kids and sometimes I wonder if the farm journey gets in the way … now if I was farming full-time and able to survive financially I think I would be okay with that because then I could be on the farm with the family more often than I am. I don’t really see quitting in the future, but it is something that pops into my head from time to time as we go along this farming journey!
Thanks so much for your thoughts and encouragement!!!
This comment came in from Rita over on the old site …
I think we all go through more and more but when I think about it I’m reminded of the economy and tales of the Great Depression. Would you and your family be better able to survive and be comfortable if you have the farm? Would people that don’t have the farm and don’t know how to raise their own food be able to survive? I think not. I want my family to know the things that I’ve learned and pass it on in the event the depression returns. I want my family to be able to eat and provide for themselves. Farmers can do this when so many won’t be able to!!
Just my two cents!
Rita
Rita … Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! I agree about being able to pass on the skills and knowledge from the farm. I’m sure that even if our children decide to do something other than farming that they will take a lot of lessons away from the farm!
Here’s a point of view from someone who has farmed with life experience under his belt. I am not knocking on the people who farm and enjoy it or want to farm . If you do, hats off too you. I gave up farming after 20 years into it and never looked back. A person only has so many summers left and I would rather spend my precious time having fun and play, than working 25/8 that farming brings. Movies, magazines, social media always romanticizes it and makes it look like “fun” to have a “hobby” farms. In reality, you’re a slave to your farm and it’s never ending hard work.. I now buy all my vegetables, fruits and meats when they are on sale or from local farms when the price is right through the year. Within only a few months, I have enough to last me for year or more. While everyone is slaving on their farm, I now spend my time I have left on this earth surfing, snorkeling and having a clam bake on the beach or whatever fun thing I choose to do next, without worrying about the farm. Having the freedom to come and go as you please, is the greatest feeling in the world.
That is an interesting comment. I was talking with my cousin just last week about that idea as he was asking about my thoughts on a farm he was thinking. I commented that it had to make money for me to be farming that farm or I would rather be fishing. The funny thing is that my cousin and I realized at the same time that farming is his fishing. He doesn’t really want to fish, but he does love fixing up and using old equipment on a small scale farm. It’s great that we all have a diverse breadth or passions 🙂 Thanks for the insightful comment!