Attention farmers: It is acceptable to take a vacation. Like the majority of farmers, I am reluctant to take a vacation. That’s how I was raised. Our one big vacation was an overnight seed company trip to Hannibal, Missouri, which is less than two hours from home.

My first plane ride was a study abroad trip in college. I traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad in college and in jobs after college. I enjoy seeing new places and taking a break from everyday life. But, I’ve evolved into my new farming career and now almost feel guilty taking a vacation that is not work related.

I took a vacation for nine days last month and did RAGBRAI. It is the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

I took a vacation for nine days last month and did RAGBRAI. It is the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. It is impossible to explain, other than it is a weeklong county fair and Mardi Gras party bicycle ride from the Missouri to Mississippi River. I used to live in Iowa, and did the bike ride in 2012-2014 with my friends on the BUTTICE team based out of Ames. I didn’t ride this year, but instead, drove the BUTTICE team bus. I completely “checked out” from the world.

What I learned on vacation:

-It is important to be around people completely unlike you. Farming can be isolating. I typically hang out with my parents, employees and friends who work in agriculture. It can be enlightening to be around different folks. My team has a hodgepodge of people including a pharmacist, professor, doctor, conservationist, journalist, nurse and more. I never talk to those kinds of people when I’m having my morning coffee in our shop. 

RAGBRAI is a weeklong county fair and Mardi Gras party bicycle ride from the Missouri to Mississippi River.

-I have a team of people who are responsible and can handle things while I’m gone. It is difficult to leave a business if you don’t have a good support system.

-It is ok to leave the farm. The farm will be there when you return. I didn’t have cell phone service for a few days and it was fantastic.

I’m happy to be home, but I was hit hard on Monday with sick cattle and two year lows in the corn market.

Before harvest, I encourage you to take a little vacation. It doesn’t have to be a two-week trip to Italy, but maybe a weekend in the city. Take a few days to escape from your business. You just might return full of energy, have new ideas, and be ready to tackle staying afloat in this struggling ag economy.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Penton Agriculture.