What Are We Losing in Farming?
The Great Depression was one of the worst eras for agriculture in modern history, much as it was for most industries at that time. Capital was scarce, interest was astronomical, and land values plummeted. There was a massive rise in farm bankruptcies as families were threatened with the loss of their homes and livelihood in one fell swoop. This catastrophic time also shined a light on a few of farmers best characteristics; loyalty, respect, and belief in the rural community.
After a farm was foreclosed on, there was a public auction to sell off the land and other assets. These were huge public events, as there was little other forms of entertainment and because attendance was free. It was almost like attending church for rural communities, a gathering point with picnics and potlucks. It also showed the resiliency and belief of the rural farming communities. These auctions became known as “Penny Auctions”, and they would change many farms legacies.
At a “Penny Auction”, the community would make a pact to show up and not bid. The auctioneer would announce an item, call out a starting bid, and in turn be answered with silence. The owner who had lost the farm would then bid on and retain his farm for pennies on the dollar while his neighbors and colleagues stood by and provide protection against anyone trying to drive up bids to force the farmer out. While these people weren’t in business together, they were joined by the bond forged through shared hardship and fundamental principles of humanity. Many generational farms survived because of this tactic, and still provide a livelihood and legacy today.
This concept made me think, have we lost this? Farming has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, as operation sizes grew and the number of farmers shrank. Our neighbors, who used to be a stone’s throw away, are now miles down the road or potentially in another county. We lost connection to our neighbor and with it something that made farming exceptional. If a neighbor went bankrupt today, would farmers stand in solidarity with them like the times of the “Penny Auction”? I think not.
Instead, you would see farmers tripping over themselves to get the best deal while outside investors move numbers around on paper to purchase land they will never work. In farming we have lost some of these principles that make us an outlier in business. We use to care for our neighbor, not because we wanted something from them, but rather because it was right. Where we used to stand up for and try and give a neighbor a chance, we have now turned into an industry where it is common for farmers to call other farmers landlords in an attempt to outbid the current tenant for the land. We have developed the term “groundhog” for farmers that will pop up just about anywhere in the constant search of more and more land they can take. I am all for growth, but not in the corporate raider style where you have to strip another person’s business and legacy away for a small personal gain.
We use phrases like “it’s just business” to justify being a terrible person in an industry built on faith in your community and belief in a better tomorrow. We are trying as hard as we can to change it from a way of life into a corporate numbers game. Why? Why do we want so badly to be like other industries? We are tasked with caring for the land and in exchange we are able to build character, have a strong purpose in life, take pride in a good day’s work, and the opportunity to pass on a legacy that is bigger than ourselves.
I don’t intend for this to be a prophetic doomsday prediction or a remembrance of the “good old days” with wistful thoughts of a bygone era, but rather to call for a return to the roots of farming and community. You still hear about stories that give you hope for the future, such as communities banding together behind a hurt or sick farmer. You don’t hear about neighbors helping neighbors, although it’s occurring daily in agriculture. Those aren’t the stories that make the news, but they are the ones that have the biggest impact in lives.
“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness. -Thomas Jefferson
Farming isn’t just a profession, it’s a craft. Its one that has been fostered through generations but also pops up in first time farmers buoyed by the desire to grow something for themselves. There was a phrase I heard years ago at a Farm Bureau event that said if you grow something, you are a farmer. This is true. If you take the time to grow something, you understand the challenges that come with it, the belief it takes in an uncertain outcome, and the perseverance to face adversity throughout the process and arrive on the other side ready to attack again. This craft has created legacies that once we have lost, cannot be regained. As the world around us changes, I hope that we see agriculture remain as a beacon of light for other industries about caring for your neighbor and community. When the world feels big, think small, think local, and then go have an impact.
