The next generation?

[cowman]

Who will farm your land when you just can't cut it anymore?
My old Grandpa lived to the age of 86 with ALL his children surrounding him, on the farm!
My own Dad died young at 65, but with his only son living on the farm.
I suspect I will die here with my son, his wife and their children(apparently another one on the way) still here!
Who knows?
When I was growing up the accepted norm was this: Father to son...and so on and so on? It sure as hell isn't that way today?
The kids can't wait to get out...and the parents can't either!
Now I am not a "purist" and have never claimed to be, but it sure grieves me to see families just saying to hell with this and walking away? I often wonder if they forgot what they came from...and why they came here?

[coppertop]

First, congratulations on the impending new grandchild. Funny how they can mellow us out !!

I just hauled a box full of rolled coins into the bank this morning to deposit in the 'little guys' accounts' Don't know how much good it will do when they get older but I try and put something in their account every month so help with their education or whatever they need when they are grown up.

My sons won't take over this farm, one would like to build a house here and live in it when he isn't working away in the 'patch'. The other one works in your part of the world cowman, and has property down there where he can see the mountains from his front window so there is nothing that will coax him back here.

I think the struggles folks have had in the agricultural industry are one of the key reasons they choose to sell when the price looks tempting.

I spoke to a farmer yesterday who with his eldest son are the third and fourth generation on the family farm. He said he is getting worn out farming, and doesn't know how much longer he wants to work long days, and worry about keeping bills paid. His son wanted to farm from the time he finished school, so he hopes there is a future on the farm for him but at this time he isn't overly optimistic.

[cowman]

Its a tough proposition...to where any farm will go? Who knows?
I guess I raised my kids with the idea that the "farm" was the most important thing in the world. Mainly because that was what I was taught?
It was a heritage thing, a philosophical thing. Maybe it was all wrong? I don't know.
For me personally, this is where I was raised and my people before me. Somehow I'd like my children, and grandchildren, to know the joy and security I felt living here.
Maybe that is stupid?
I am a pragmatist. I know where this(actual dirt) is headed? And it isn't raising food...I'm too close to a growing city.
But somehow I hope they don't lose their "roots" to the land...whether here or somewhere else.....well so much for my "hobby farmer status"!? I guess I blew that???

[coppertop]

Who knows cowman, if this boom in Alberta goes bust, we may find more and more people wanting or needing to live on the land. Lord knows very few of them these days could live off the land !!!

Order nice weather for Sunday will you, I'll be in your fair community attending the Chuckwagon finals. Real hobby farmers holiday !!

[beefnbarley]

THE FARM WILL NEVER BE AS IMPORTANT AS THE PEOPLE ON IT. Those that don't learn that are the ones that end up being severely depressed /suicidal /alcoholic etc when they can't keep the farm up to what they think the previous generation(s) would expect. The farm is NOT the most important thing in the world. Too many people have sacrificied their lives and health, and their children's happiness, because that dogma was drilled into them. Enough.

[WoolyBear]

My wife and I chose not to get involved with the my parents farm property when they retired, but rather had bought our own years before. My brother seems to be working towards taking it one permamently now. A huge wait is off our shoulders not having to worry about breaking, or losing anything on that 1/4!

You are VERY RIGHT beefnbarley........ land is land is land, but the family that you try to raise on it, might thrive better anywhere else, if that piece of dirt isn't making you happy.

Thank you for pointing that out to those of us that have forgotten.

[dalek]

Fellow not far from here was doing custom baling with a large square baler last week, broke down, dealer told him the repairs would be $30,000 . They found him two days later, he killed himself with a chainsaw. Maybe trying to make it look like an accident so life insurance would pay but I guess it didn't work.

[beefnbarley]

I'm sorry to hear about that, dalek. I truly believe we need to get the message out, on billboard and radio ads and whatever else, that the farm will never be as important as the people on it. It is a novel concept to many people, especially those that have been taught by their parents that the family heritage is in their hands and being honorable means safeguarding that heritage no matter what. These people will never hear this message unless it is delivered from outside the family unit. It has shocked some people that I've said it to, but when they've stopped and pondered it, they agree, saying they need to broaden their idea of what can be. Most people that love the farm would still choose to farm, but it does lift some of the weight off.

[WoolyBear]

My wife and I both recommend that you all take the opportunity to watch the TV program called THE FARMER'S WIFE. It was done in conjunction with Athabaskan College (I think) and is about a young farming couple in Southern Nebraska in the mid 90's. It shows their daily and ongoing struggles that have hit us all at one time or another.......Disease in their hogs, drought, frost, major machinery repairs, while at the same time trying to build a farm/family and the whole succession issue with his parents land.

They both have to take off farm jobs where they are away during daylight hours, and then trying to raise cattle, and doing the field work in the dark. Where they work for $7/hr, but then have no time to do jobs that they must then contract out (car repairs and carpentry) at $35 or more/hr. Lets not mention the time he's away from his kids as they are growing up.

Its on SCN right now, and its really a show that I think all bankers and politicians (ESPECIALLY Politicians) should watch.

[coppertop]

I agree WoolyBear, I have watched a couple of the shows.

[Ron]

Yes, I saw one of the shows a couple years ago. Makes one stop and think about your kids vs your great-grandparents. It isnt' yourself you are punishing its' your kids lost opportunities.

[dalek]

I remember watching the series when it first came out on PBS. This is the update:


January 2006

Darrel and Juanita divorced and each has since remarried and are happy in their new lives. The girls see both parents often and the two oldest girls are in college. Juanita is managing crop insurance and Darrel still has the farm going.

[coppertop]

AWWWWWWWW Now you gave it away !!!!!