Minding Ag's Business

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Do you ever wonder what makes a legacy in farming? Legacy could be defined as a long-lasting impact that took place in the past or in a person's life.

I have thought a lot about legacy lately since I recently moved into my grandmother's house on my family's Heritage Farm. She lived in this house for more than 70 years, raised a family here, and it was where we gathered for family occasions. The farm has been in our family for 153 years and legacy to me means more than what is left from the generations before. It's the feeling I have toward the farm. The connection and love for the land, the animals on it and the people who have gotten it this far.

GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

During a recent chat with a college friend, we discussed how our generation -- Generation X, people born from 1965 to 1980 -- just didn't return to the farm.

Our parents went through the farm crisis of the 1980s, with banks calling on them, prices bottoming out, and so many in need of help both financially and mentally. Our parents didn't want to see us suffer like they had, so we were encouraged to go to college and find a career we love. Many of us did that. Where would that leave our farms?

MOVING BACK TO THE FARM

I am fortunate to be back living on my family farm. I raise cattle and hay, but the farm ground is taken care of by someone else. If I were to guess, several of my friends who have not returned to their family farm may not be at this point in their lives. Being able to be involved in their family's lives, travel when they want, and have their career outside of everyday work on the farm has become the norm.

Farming is hard. Add livestock and there are no days off. Look down your country road. How many people actually farm today versus 20 years ago? Does every homestead have livestock? Are those homes even owned by the same people as the farm ground around them? Times certainly have changed.

WHAT DRIVES WHERE YOU LIVE

As I travel across the countryside, I first notice the barn because that's my favorite place on our farm. When ours was built more than 100 years ago, it was the center of the farm where all the activity happened. It housed the dairy cow to provide milk for the family, horses to work the ground, chickens for eggs, beef cows and pigs for meat, and was the storage for hay and feed. The upkeep of these wooden structures is a challenge to many, and old barns have been replaced my metal structures.

Some farmsteads have even been abandoned. As I writer, I love telling the stories, but I do wish all farmstead structures could tell their stories through the years. It's hard to imagine what could have happened to make a family walk away and leave behind a house and barns and a lifestyle.

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED ON THE FARM

Farming really isn't for the weak. It takes strength financially, physically and mentally to live on a farm and raise a family there. It takes dedication to live the legacy left from generations before. It also provides so many opportunities and life lessons for future generations.

My son, a college student, recently had to write about experiences that shaped who he is. Teaching my kids, the sixth generation on our farm, why family farming is important has been an ongoing goal of mine. When I read what he wrote, tears came to my eyes.

"These experiences have not only emphasized the necessity of perseverance but have also highlighted the importance of gratitude and respect for the hard work that goes into farming. They have shown me how to build meaningful relationships, not just with the animals I care for, but also with the people who share this journey. Together, these lessons have equipped me with the mindset to pursue my goals relentlessly and to face challenges with resilience. Ultimately, the values and insights I've gained from my life on the farm continue to guide me as I navigate the complexities of life, reminding me that success is attainable through dedication and connection."

Do you want your farm to be passed on to the next generation? Or do you want it to be sold and put into someone else's hands? What's your legacy?

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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