Did you know there are all different kinds of farmers? I’m not just talking about what you farm. There are farmers who ballroom dance, skydive, post makeup tutorials on YouTube, or spit mad rhymes. I’ve met farmers who are pyromaniacs, restore vintage cars, or fly airplanes. Yes, we are all farmers. And yes, we’re all different. Sometimes the toxic traditions surrounding agriculture push us to criticize those differences instead of celebrating them.
This week, I saw a video from someone at the national FFA convention criticizing a young man who won the talent competition singing a pop song. The caption read, “We can’t even promote country at the national FFA convention.” I was immediately enraged. Firstly, I don’t remember signing anything that stated what kind of music I had to listen to, to be a farmer. Maybe it was in the fine print? Secondly, agriculture is in danger. Because of the high stress, low pay, and ridiculous lifestyle, more people are leaving than joining our ranks. Can we really afford to push people away because we deemed them not “country” enough?
Maybe that example doesn’t resonate with you, but it did with me. More than once, I know I’ve been afraid to stand up for something I love or speak up for something I’m interested in because I was anxious about how I’d be perceived. We are a tight-knit group with a massive stereotype hanging over our heads, and we’re just as guilty of perpetuating it as the rest of the world. But why does it matter what our hobbies or interests are if we’re all working toward the same goal: promoting, encouraging, and advancing agriculture?
I’m frustrated because I know I’m guilty of it, too. It’s a train of thought that has been engrained in our brains from the time we were born, and it’s hard to think around it. But if we want to keep this life we love, it’s time we tried a little harder.
The author dairies in partnership with her parents and brother at Spruce Row Farm in Pennsylvania. Jessica is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and since 2015, she has been active in promoting dairy in her local community. You can find her and her 250 Jersey cows on Facebook at Spruce Row Dairy or on Instagram at @seejessfarm.
