10/24/2026
Farmers are really good at fixing things. Except sometimes the thing that needs fixing is us.
We fix broken equipment, work around bad weather, stretch budgets, put out fires, and somehow make things happen when the odds are stacked against us.
But when it comes to ourselves? We often slap on a brave face, say we’re “okay”and carry on until we’re running on fumes and questionable amounts of caffeine.
We don’t talk enough about the mental toll of farming. The pressure. The uncertainty. The physical pain. The feeling that if we stop, everything might fall apart.
And when you CAN’T do the things you NEED to do, or the things that make you feel like YOU, it can mess with your head more than people realize. So…… let’s do each other a favor…..
🌾 Check on your farmers. Ask how they are really doing.
🌾 Drop the guilt. It’s such a useless emotion. Resting isn’t laziness. Your worth isn’t determined by how many things you cross off your to do list.
🌾Ask for Help… no one gets a trophy for being the most exhausted. Asking for help does not equal failure.
🌾 Talk about it! If an injury, illness, burnout, or simply the weight of trying to keep everything going has ever taken a toll, talk about it. Give us a “Yep” or tell us your story or share this with a farming friend who might need to know they aren’t alone. The struggle is real. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the mental side of farming?
As for me, I’m taking things one day at a time. Apparently, years of standing on concrete, lifting s**t that’s too heavy, working crazy hours and generally behaving like I’m 25 have finally caught up with me. Unfortunately, this body is not a CASE IH and I can’t call up JS mechanical down the road to fit me in next week. The hip will be replaced and fixed. I will rest and recover. And whatever next season brings, it will be beautiful.
As for all the work that didn’t get done this fall, well….. does it really matter?
