Opinion: New farmers with 'can-do' attitudes learn the trade from older farmers and agriculture support systems

The life of U.S. farmers is often depicted by some "experts" as difficult, solitary and lacking many services, but that view only offers one slice of the profession. For many farmers, especially those new to farming, the career is full of learning, abundance and people helping people, writes Jason Maloney in his opinion piece for Agri-View. 

Commentators and politicians often "talk of young people leaving rural areas, saying those rural areas have poverty and unemployment, and lack emergency services and nutritious food," Maloney adds. "But in the countryside of far-northern Wisconsin, where broadband and cellular service can be spotty. . .the outlook can be quite different. . . . There’s a sense of optimism that comes from building community and having a can-do attitude. . . . There are young people on the land who are making remarkable progress."

In northern Bayfield County, Wisconsin, Josh Pearson and Esme Martinson, who own Turner Road Farm, are learning how to be food and animal farmers, and they enjoy sharing their knowledge. Pearson told Maloney, "Esme and I are first generation; we didn’t grow up on farms. We read. A lot is possible if you put your mind to it.. . . . People have an experience coming up to our farm. We bring a lot of school groups to our farm – kindergartners, high schoolers, and even some college classes come out. It’s fun to see them react to the animals."

Turner Road Farm slowly purchased its livestock from a nearby cattle ranching family who wanted to retire. Part of Pearson's approach to the "generational transition of agriculture" is to learn from those leaving the profession. Pearson told Maloney, "Now they are done with their beef herd, and their beef herd is here on our farm. . . . I’m making hay in Port Wing, Wisconsin, with Dale Peacock of Red Hoof Farm. I’m helping him as he’s getting out of the business, and he’s mentoring me as I am going in."

Pearson and Martinson credit the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency as great support sources. Pearson told Mahoney, "My first suggestion to [new homesteaders] is to develop a relationship with the FSA office. There are programs out there to help us. We didn’t do this all on our own."

Right now, there are "things happening in places that aren’t seen by 'experts,'" Mahoney adds. "The important work that solves problems like hunger, environmental disasters, dying communities. . . is happening all around us. . . . Young people are grabbing hold and pulling us forward. If that doesn’t provide one with optimism, nothing else will."