There’s a special kind of frustration that comes from pouring every ounce of sweat, intelligence, and strategic planning into something, only for people—especially family—to wave it off like it’s some whimsical pastime.
For me, it’s the farm.
To some, it’s just a fun little hobby—a side project, a distraction, something quaint but not serious. Never mind the fact that running a farm is a business, one that requires management, problem-solving, and expertise. Never mind the fact that I’m two classes away from graduating with an Associates in Agriculture—literally making me educated in this field. No, apparently that all gets ignored because, well, I must just be ignorant and stubborn.
Funny how knowledge and effort get dismissed when they don’t fit someone’s traditional expectations.
Why Farming Is More Than “Just a Hobby”
Let’s get something straight—farming isn’t just a side gig where I twirl through the fields like some kind of pastoral dream sequence. It’s work. It’s planning. It’s investment.
It’s genetics, feed ratios, environmental impact, infrastructure management, animal welfare, business forecasting—you name it. It’s making strategic decisions that determine whether an operation grows, thrives, or fails.
It’s treating land and livestock not just as possessions, but as living systems that require intelligence and adaptability.
So when people—especially family—shrug it off like I’m just playing around, I have to wonder: what exactly would it take for them to see this for what it is? A corporate logo? A boardroom meeting? A title with a few more syllables?
The Battle Between “Experience” and Formal Education
Then there’s the second layer of condescension—the dismissiveness of my education. Because apparently, being two classes away from an Associates in Ag still isn’t enough to convince people that I might actually know what I’m talking about.
And let’s talk about those last two classes for a second. Chemistry and Biology—general science classes I’m finishing up. But my agriculture coursework and field-specific studies? Already done. Meaning, if we’re being honest, I’ve already gained the knowledge that directly applies to the field. But somehow, that still isn’t enough to warrant respect?
Here’s the irony: people love to preach about education until it contradicts what they think they know.
If my degree confirmed their opinions, suddenly I’d be the expert. But because I apply actual knowledge—science, methodology, critical thinking—to challenge the way things have always been done, suddenly I’m just being difficult.
It’s exhausting.
The Reality of Running a Farm
There’s also the assumption that because I work from home, I must be lounging around all day. Meanwhile, my actual daily schedule consists of:
- Animal chores
- Social media marketing
- Website articles and maintenance
- Email marketing
- Record keeping
- Sales forecasts
- Growth strategies
- More admin than any sane person would willingly sign up for
- College coursework (including finishing a five-class semester!)
- Oh, and raising a newborn
But sure, let’s pretend that because there isn’t a traditional office, or because the house isn’t sparkling like a magazine cover, all of that somehow doesn’t count. Right?
The Reality of Profitability in a Startup
Another reason people don’t take this seriously? Because the farm isn’t profitable yet.
Never mind that it’s now a legally registered business through the state—meaning it’s no longer just a hobby. Never mind that any startup takes a few years to become profitable—because apparently, unless the money is pouring in from day one, it must not be a “real” business.
But here’s the truth: profitability takes time. And our income is finally increasing to the point of maintaining—which, in the world of startups, is a huge milestone. If people understood even a fraction of how businesses actually work, they’d know that growth takes time, planning, and patience.
The Reality Check for Every Skeptic
Here’s the thing: I don’t need their validation.
Would it be nice if they acknowledged the hard work? Sure. Would it be refreshing if they understood that farming requires intelligence, agriculture is a real career, and running a farm is running a business? Absolutely.
But at the end of the day, their dismissal doesn’t change the reality of what I do.
This farm? It’s a legitimate operation, and I treat it like one.
My education? It matters, even if they pretend it doesn’t.
My expertise? It exists, whether they respect it or not.
So if they want to sit on the sidelines, scoffing at what I build, that’s their problem. Meanwhile, I’ll be out here doing the work, growing something sustainable, and proving—without words—why they were wrong to ever doubt it.
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