As a farmer, I go through the typical channels to do business. But it was while watching Top Chef that an idea hit me—why not sell to culinary schools? Culinary schools are equipped with kitchens and rely on a continual upkeep of fresh ingredients. I wasn’t sure how successful I would be in marketing to these culinary institutes, but I tried anyways. I made a few phone calls to some local courses and surprisingly secured a few deals. I have to admit that I don’t consider myself to be a great salesperson, but since I was selling products that I produced, I was confident enough in myself to make the pitch.
The reason why I thought some of the readers of this blog can benefit from this post is because I hope it inspires you to think outside of the box. Like I said, my business is primarily through the typical channels, but farming business has declined in the past a bit, and some of the harsh financial realities made me realize that I need to consider alternate routes to bring in a cash flow. I still wanted to make the money through farming, but I knew that I would need to change the way I do business. Like a sort of miracle, that Top Chef program came up, and I saw all that food, and it clicked!
We haven’t been selling long to the culinary colleges, but the upswing in income is noticeable. I would rather wait a year before I make a judgment call about the futility of producing for culinary classes, but I think this is going to work. Cooking courses are always going to be popular. The representatives I have spoken with told me that they have actually seen an increase in enrollment. So that’s good news that for me.
I don’t think I would have ever considered this idea if money had not gotten tight over the past few years. It is usually during difficult or challenging times that people are able to come up with ideas that they normally would not have had. I think when things are going well, we get so comfortable that we never bother to question the status quo. And for so long, I never questioned our standing or the way we have been doing business.
I’m curious about what other ways there are for smalltime farmers to branch out. Besides selling to culinary colleges and schools like we are doing, what other options are there? With insecurity about the economy, now, rather than later, is the time to start planning.
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Because we’re human and we eat, our lives are dependent on food. Heck, all living organisms are dependent on some kind of diet. So since is a big part of our lives, and many will have at least 3 meals a day, it’s a wonder why there has never been a farmer who has risen to the rank and become well-known for his farming techniques and for what he provides to consumers. Is it the nature of the business? Perhaps. Whatever the reason is, it seems like farmers come and go, but none of them seem to win any type of national acclaim that is noticed by the general public.
Entertainers are understandably famous. I can see why an actress in a movie or a singer becomes famous. Although lately it seems that bad judgment and poor choices is what is keeping many starlets in the spotlight. Some prominent scientists have become household names. There are a wide range of professions that have provided a famous name. So it’s unbelievable when you think about it how no farmers has risen through the ranks. We provide a good that a lot of people rely on daily. I am quite sure that since the history of farming (which is a very looooooong time), that no one whose work is primarily known as farming is known by the average American.
I am quite sure that there have been farmers who did for farming what Henry Ford did for the auto industry. I am sure there have been fellow farmers farmers, not just scientists, who created techniques and products that helped their fellow farmers do their job a lot easier. But where is their recognition. The only person who I think can possibly come close is the name “Johnny Appleseed,” a man known for planting apple seeds across America. Of course his story is married with myth and folklore.
Who knows, perhaps some time in the future there will be a farmer who will stand out. I certainly don’t want to undermine the accomplishments of Mr. Appleseed, but it is food for thought the no other person is a generally known name. Of course, the industry of farming continues to grow. It is constantly changing as the needs are changing. As I pointed out in this topic, there are so many types of farms, that it is likely a famous farmer could arise out of those atypical farming industries. Especially since algae is going to be the way to go to satisfy our nation’s demand for fuel.
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I don’t know what it is, but a lot of people think it may be easy to transition to the life of a farmer. Not sure what is is, but there is a sense that farmers have it all together and that it is a stress-free job (which it isn’t!!!). So how do I respond to those who wish that they could be farmers? Well, I never disuade them from actually trying. If someone has a genuine interest in the subject, I believe it is best to foster that interest. Whether or not they succeed is another story. But it is important to let them try.
First of all, my advice isn’t for those who want Hobby Farming for Dummies. That book focuses on farming as a hobby, and frankly I think it addresses the subject of farming too lightly, even though the book discusses misconceptions about farming. But whether you want to do farming as a hobby, or as a career, my initial advice is to start small. How small? Small as in tending to your own garden. If you cannot manage a simple garden, I think you are going to have a difficult managing a farm. At this stage, you can grow whatever you like, so long that it can be properly tended to with the space provided. How well you do with your garden for a prolonged period of time will indicate whether or not you’re capable of handling the tasks relating to farming.
While you’re working on your garden, you can start to think what type of farm you would like to operate. There are so many things to grow. Whatever you will be raising or growing will have its own specifications. Make sure that you have the willingness, time, and effort to meet the requirements, especially when it comes to animals. Just to get some ideas, here is a wikipedia entry on industrial farming.
Something else you should be aware of is the investment that is required. Do you have the financial resources to get started. When starting out, set a budget, and work within that budget. Do not try to start out big. You can do well as a smalltime farmer. All it takes it know-how and ingenuity. In addition to the investment of money is the investment of time. Although many are aware that some farmers need to get up early in the morning, whatever it is that your farming will need to be taken care of promptly. Every day matters because every day the temperature is not the same, and you have to deal with the constantly changing condition of nature. If you cannot handle the dynamics of mother nature, you may want to think again.
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So the post “Raising Children to Grow Up to be Farmers” made it seem like I was completely against kids helping out with their parents’ farm. That is not entirely true. I did mention that my kids help with farming, but that was only because they wanted to. I never asked them to lift a finger. Children are very impressionable, and they are inclined to follow the orders of authority, so I knew that if I gave them the slightest inclination that I wanted them to help out, they would feel compelled to do so. This is something I did not want. In fact, the chores that they do are extremely light compared to what I’m hearing about what other kids are assigned to do on the farm.
But just because I did not want my kids to feel compelled to help out does not mean I am against them assisting with the daily tasks. I just want the offer to solely come from them. One of the reasons why some parents want their children working on the farm is because it helps to build discipline. They think the children won’t grow up spoiled if they have duties and responsibilities early in life, and see clear results and progress with their chores. And I think this is true.
Let’s think about it…
Some parents give their kids chores like taking out the garbage or mowing the grass, or maybe vacuuming a few of the rooms. Although this is fine, I really don’t see any development. However, there are chores that can be done on the farm where the child will witness their effort paying off. Whether they are helping to raise crops or animals, they do see the development. They can see the longterm result of their work. Duties like taking out the garbage is repetitive with no real sense of accomplishment. But getting assigned duties on the farm raises awareness of the payoff of hardwork.
I hope this clears up my position. I am in no way against children helping out on the farm, but I prefer that their help is initiated by them, and not by me. It’s nice that my children have offered to help, but I also know that farming is not their professional goal. If they told me they want to be farmers when they grow up, I think a part of me would feel guilty for perhaps sending them a signal that they should continue to run the family farm.
I’m glad that’s not the case.
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I get asked a lot about whether we are raising our children to grow up to be farmers. I quickly answer that question with ‘no.’
I know that there are some parents, who are also farmers, who do raise their kids to become farmers. I think that’s unfair, and I would not be caught dead doing so. The #1 reason why I’m against it is because I believe that it forces the child into a career that they may not really want to do. Sure, the kids help out and you might think they’re enjoying helping out, which is true. But just because they love tending to the animals or helping out in any small or big way doesn’t mean they want this as a full-time career.
It’s important to provide your children with an opportunity to explore every interest possible. For those parents who force their children to take no other active interest but farming are doing their children a disservice. You never know what your kids are capable of. The daughter you groom to be a farmer may have the mental capacity to be a first rate doctor or scientist. But by pushing her to follow in your footsteps, you’ll never know how far she could have gone if you allowed her to freely make her own decisions.
Another major reason why I am against farmers pushing their kids to follow in their footsteps because it is selfish. Farming is YOUR life. It is your career. It may have been YOUR dream to do so. But the kids are not you. They have their own lives to live. Don’t try to extend your life through your children. Let them be free. Encourage them to do what pleases them. Leave the farming business up to you. If you are using the family farm as a means to pass on your legacy, teach them morals and values—those last a lot longer.
It should come as no surprise for those who know our family that I never once asked my kids to assist with any of the chores. That was something I was dead set against doing, even before I had the kids I knew I wasn’t going to ask them to partake in any farming duties. When the kids asked to help, I let them. I can sleep soundly knowing they’re helping because they want to, not because I made their decision for them that they’re going to be farmers, because they’re not. As much as they like to help out, none of them have expressed interest of living their life out on the farm.
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Here on the farm, we take for granted the tools that are available to us to do our job. Farming has become a lot easier thanks to the modern tools and advances in science. But every now and then, I do take the opportunity to be grateful for what we have. It’s not hard to be reminded that we are blessed. Every now and then, I come across an image of a farmer (typically these are pictures are farmers in an African country). I compare the tools that I use to the tools he (usually it’s a he), and I am amazed at how far we have come.
This is not to say those farmers in African countries lack modern tools. There are modern tools available, but for the smaller guys out there, just like some of us here in the states, they don’t have the high-tech resources available to them. And I certainly don’t look down on any of those farmers for using more simplistic tools. But when I think about how far farming tools have come along, I am really impressed. Although as humans we started out as hunters and gatherers, when we started farming, it was as if a new world had opened up. I must say that I am proud of our ancestors for developing those primitive tools. With as much smarts as I think I have, I cannot imagine coming up with any of these.
I’ve also noticed that the rate at which modern tools are being created is happening a lot faster. Before it was be decades before something new and exciting came along. Now, it seems like every year a new gadget or method has been created. Of course, this is to be expected as the notion of what is a farmer has started to change. As you may recall in my post entitled Seaweed Farms ?!?!?!?!, the world will start to recognize the algae and seaweed farmers too. We’ll no longer have images of farmers in corn or wheat fields. The equipment that has been developed for these new type of farms is nothing like we are accustomed to. And since we are still in the exploration stages of seaweed and algae farms, you imagine just how much further the technology has to go to refine the nature of those farms.
We’ve come a long way, baby. And we are just getting started.
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Supporting your local farmer seems like a tough sell, but it is a message that needs to be sold. Many people are already aware of the notion to support local businesses. Instead of shopping at the retail giants who have set up big box stores in every conceivable location they can possibly get, people have been moved to shop at stores that are run and managed by the owners themselves. These owners are your neighbors. However, although people see that shopping locally-owned stores is a noble endeavor, it is not done so much for their grocery shopping needs. For some reason people don’t see farming as a business, and that’s the problem.
Farmers need to make a living too. Maybe there’s a prevalent misconception about the local farmer. Perhaps people are thinking the farmer is growing what he needs to feed his family and nobody else. Of course we know that is not the case. It is very hard for a farmer to make money when local grocery markets and restaurants make their purchases from national chains. It’s difficult for the local farmer to match the absurdly low price national chains price their foods to squeeze out the local farmer. If your local farmer attempted to drop his or her prices just as low, farming would be unaffordable because of the expenses associated with food production.
It’s not all doom and gloom. There is some optimism to be found. Farmers Markets are somewhat popular. It gives the consumer an opportunity to interact with the food producers and support the local economy. Also, some big name grocery stores have lent out a helping hand by buying locally grown foods. Things are not getting any easier for the local farmer. As previously reported, the number of farmers is dropping in this country. This makes it a lot easier for big name companies to dominate the market (not that they haven’t done a good job of that already).
So for those farmers out there who wish to continue doing farming in some capacity, you may want to look for alternatives. Pay attention to the politics and the policies coming out of the government and see where the country is heading. It always helps to stay ahead of the curve.
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Yeah, I know that’s not something that we are accustomed to. When we generally think of farms, we think of open plans with wheat or corn fields. But seaweed farms may be commonplace.
Why? Well, as you know, gas prices are astronomically high. And as a nation, we are looking for alternative fuel sources, particularly renewable energy sources. This is why so many attention has been paid attention to seaweed and algae. Although looking at algae as a source for fuel is nothing new. Developing technology to convert algae into fuel has been going on for decades. It’s just that gas prices continue to rise, a greater focus than before has been placed on such developments.
The great benefit of seaweed as fuel is that we don’t have to worry about its supply. Seaweed is easily grown. Another benefit, this one environmental, is that seaweed fuel reduces the heat-trapping carbon dioxide molecules. In addition, we won’t find ourselves beholden to foreign countries for the supply.
Not exactly sure when seaweed farms will start to crop up, but if it is considered to be a viable source, though algae appears to be taking the lead, we can expect to see an abundance of these type of farms. I think this is a great benefit for farmers. It will certainly expand the definition of what we know a farmer to be. We typically associating farming with the states in the midwest. However, with the advent of this developing technology, we can see the definition broadening to include those farmers who are cultivating sea-based goods. Not to suggest that these type of farms don’t already exist, like clam farms, and shrimp farms, but with the farming profession eroding (see my previous post Where Have All the Farmers Gone?), the average person decades from now may not think of a sun-burnt man covered in overalls and working the field as a typical image of a farmer. There will be a new image that is likely to be commonplace.
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Maybe this isn’t a question that we are asking ourselves now, but it will be an important one very soon. For every young farmer out there, there are 6 of them that are 65 and over. The number of farmers in America is dwindling. Kids are leaving the farm. They are no longer following in their parents’ footsteps, but choosing another career path. What will this mean for our nation’s food supply? How will this impact our way of life.
Some say that the number of farmers we have had for previous generations won’t be necessary for our needs of today. There has been so much technological advancement that has reduced the need for manual labor. Innovation in the farming industry are dramatically diminished the tasks that were once accomplished by the skilled farmer. Should we be concerned about this? There has always been a strong farming presence in America. It’s hard to imagine that farmers are decreasing in size. It’s not just the farmers that are disappearing. Farmland is also being reduced. Suburban neighborhoods are growing in areas that were once farmland. Even states that were dominated by farmland are seeing those territories dramatically transformed into modern cities.
If the everyday farmer is slipping in numbers, we may want to pay close attention to the needs of those that remain. This mean there will be very few small guys left over. With very few smalltime operations, it can be very easy for the big guys to manipulate the prices and the market in general. Though that’s not to say they are not doing that already.
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I found this delightful piece on a farming community in Kansas. The Town of Shawnee is preserving its culture by sharing with the world with an online presence. Just go to shawneetown.org. There you will find some photos, recipes, and some information Shawnee’s history.
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