
“Your mother would always stress about the money, but I always found a way to make it work,” my dad said. This wasn’t the first time he pulled out this memory. And it was usually pulled from the archives to justify a new purchase around the farm or home.
I used to laugh at it, wondering how my mom didn’t have the faith in my dad to figure things out in the tough years. He’s my dad — of course he had all the answers and solutions. That’s what dads are for, right?
That is also what husbands are for, isn’t it? At least, that is what I’m trying to wrap my head around now that my husband, Ryan, and I are navigating the complex waters of being a young, newly married couple while also dipping our toes into farming.
You see, Ryan came back from college to farm with his father. And our goal has always been to do some branching out and run some of our own ground. It does not take me telling you how expensive farmland is for you to know that is the case. However, I experience a bit of “sticker shock” whenever land goes up for sale and I see the prices people paid for it.
So, now it is Ryan telling me that we will find a way to make things work. He says I should not be afraid — that the farm economy will change for the better. But I find it so hard to stay positive. And I think back to the naïve girl who thought there was always a clear answer or solution to everything.
Hang on
Although this is not a period for young farmers to “blow up” or dive headfirst into hundreds of acres, it could be a time for them to get themselves established. David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, shares that starting small is the way to go.
“Quick riches build ego,” Kohl says. “Slow and steady builds character.” He was referring to professional athletes who make millions from a young age, but this statement also applies to the next generation of farmers.
You may not be able to afford that 80-acre parcel that just went up for sale, but perhaps you can scrape together enough money to put toward a 40-acre field that is about to hit the market. Over time, your character and relationships will help you pull through this downturn and come out on top when times are better.
Kohl’s statement may not hold all the answers for how to survive this downturn. And I certainly can’t give you any solutions. I wish I had the answers for myself, too.
But now is a period of growth mentally. Stick close to your roots, and let your work do the talking for you. Stay respectful of neighbor farmers and landowners. Do not boast. And do not get ahead of yourself.
Trust your spouse. Or trust your parent or grandparent. Or even trust your sibling. As long as you keep working hard and don’t lose sight of yourself in the process, you will find a way to make this work.
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