Why I am a Farmer
They say that you can’t choose your fate, that your fate chooses you – that your destiny and life is predetermined for you. One could argue that this is true when it comes to farming and me.
Working in the corporate world, I often get comments such as “you don’t look like a farmer,” “why are you a farmer,” “Is there good money in farming,” and my favorite: “farmers don’t wear stilettos or dress like you.” Yes, I’m not your typical farmer, but then again who is? I come from a long line of farmers and choose to carry on the family tradition. No, my parents and grandfather did not pressure me into doing so. No, I do not have some trust set aside in which I get compensated handsomely if I do farm (don’t I wish!). I chose to be a farmer, rather it chose me.
Farming isn’t for everyone. Its long hours for often little margins. There are no vacation days, sick days or people to cover your shifts. Often it requires manual, physical labor and dedication that you don’t see in a typical 9 – 5 job. Sometimes it’s messy, dirty and smelly and the outcomes aren’t always what you hoped. There are no stock options or fancy compensation packages. There is no notoriety or front page articles on The New York Times. There are good days and bad days and days where you wish you had a different job. Sounds glamorous right?
I am a farmer for the love of the animals and the produce we yield. To be able to provide the public with a high quality product and be able to see their reaction when they are ecstatic over what they just experienced. To be able to educate people about my lifestyle, history, and my way of life. To know that you helped grow and nurture something wonderful, that all started from a small molecule. To do a job where the fulfillment comes back to you ten times and the emotional rewards are endless – that is why I am a farmer.
The High Heeled Farmer 