A testimony from Kristin
My husband, Chris, is a farmer. He has a job he loves as an agronomist for a large farm in Eastern Oregon, but he’s had a lifelong dream of being responsible for his own ground, of planning a crop from beginning to end, of making his own decisions and then seeing the results of those decisions.
Where we live, farm ground is rarely up for sale and, when it is, it is usually very expensive. So, honestly, my husband’s dream of farming his own ground seemed just like that, a dream.
Last fall, however, we learned that an acquaintance of ours had ground available for lease. Now, before any Dave Ramsey fans get concerned, let me explain that a farm lease is significantly different than a car “fleece.” A farm lease happens when a land owner doesn’t have the ability or desire to farm their own ground. So they contract with someone who does have that ability/desire.
The person who leases the ground is responsible for the cropping decisions, labor and other inputs. Then at the end of the season, the land owner receives some percentage of the harvest proceeds as a lease payment. There’s more to it, but you get the idea.
The first thing we did after we signed the lease was head over to the local Farm Service Agency office to talk about an operating loan. You see, we’d been told about the great programs the federal government has to help out new farmers.
My husband belongs to a demographic (people under 35) that doesn’t seem to be interested in farming anymore and so the government has assorted programs to encourage and help these new farmers out. And besides, you can’t farm without an operating loan, can you? There are a lot of expenses in farming before there is any income. These expenses are why so many people use operating loans.
But as much as we wanted to realize this dream, we didn’t want to go into debt to do it… and our previous experience with government loan programs (Sallie Mae) hadn’t been that positive anyway. So we decided to just be weird and finance our own farm dream.
And that’s what we did!
Something lovely has happened as a result: we are learning to trust God even more deeply than before. Every time we write a check for seed or chemical or equipment we pause and ask God to bless this crop. Every time we take the kids out to “our” field we pray and ask for God’s protection and provision for the barley that is growing there.
Right now, as I am writing this, rain is pounding on the window and my kids are antsy at another day inside but I’m thanking God for watering our field. And later this summer when we harvest that barley and there is some income from this venture, we will stop and praise God for His abundant favor.
Kristin loves Jesus. She is wife to Chris and mom to 6-year-old Helen and 4-year-old Patrick. She looks forward to a summer of peas fresh out of the field, combine rides, and watermelon seed-spitting contests.
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.
I work at a grain elevator in a rural state, and I love the farmers! I grew up on a dairy and small grains farm, but honestly, until last year, I had no idea how expensive it was to farm. We have farmers that have $75,000 chemical bills (to control weeds on their crops). That doesn’t include any seed or farm equipment or fuel. It is just amazing to me what they have to spend to put in and harvest a crop, and then hope and pray that the weather cooperates and they get timely rains, no hail, abundant sunshine and warm temperatures. These farmers work 15 hour days, 6 days a week (plus, sometimes) just to make a living for their families. I am so appreciative of their efforts and I love this post. Thanks for sharing!
It’s nice to hear of young farmers getting started. My husband & I operate a dairy farm in PA. I also have a full time job off the farm as we try to pull as little from the business as possible since we are still in our first couple years. We keep our personal separate from the farm but do try to keep the farm running without a lot of debt; however that being said, I wish the general public understood farming and what risks are at stake. You can’t simply start and stop production when times are good—my cows need tended and taken care of whether I am getting a decent price for their milk or whether I am loosing money everyday. When I see or hear consumers discussing how organic is better or that today’s modern farming techniques are not sustainable, it is very disheartening as I recognize that those comments are said freely without true knowledge of the production methods we use & why. These types of consumers certainly do not help farmers,especially those of us taking the risks we do to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply ( at a very low cost to the consumer).
So true.
Thank you Kristen, for sharing your story. It is an encouragement to hear about other wives who are living their lives to support their husbands’ dreams. I think participating in your husband’s dreams is the best thing you can do for your marriage! My husband owns his own business designing and building custom furniture. Not your run-of-the-mill job, with a small market. But what a joy to see his joy doing what he loves! He works so hard and I respect him so much for that. Thanks again and I pray God blesses your venture!
l love it! Thank you for sharing.
Congrats Kristen on following your dream! My husband and I are small vegetable farmers. It is great to see more young people get interested in it. There are not enough of us. We have worked hard to get where we are and have been truly blessed. In the 13 years I have been farming the Lord has always taken care of us. I would recommend going to conferences and other meetings that apply to the field of farming you are in. Also, talking to farmers who have been successful in your area. Most will be more than willing to answer questions.
Yay farming :)! My dad is a farmer — I love being a farmer’s daughter.
First – thanks Crystal for including a “we paid cash” about farming! It only applies to a very small group of your readers, I’m sure.
We too farm (850 acres), and my husband works on the side and we’ve always had an operating loan. I was able to do Dave Ramsey for the personal side of our life (we have the finances separate), but it’s so hard to do with the farm!
We are slowly working on getting rid of the op loan though. Last year we were able to carry over enough to do most of our spring planting without it. And I’m really hoping this is the last year that we’ll need it. I know it’s better to be without it, but at the same time I’m scared to let it go in case we need it for something! I just need to have faith!
I just married a farmer, three months ago. This is his first year doing solely farming without a “day job.” I’m so proud of him. He works extremely hard for us. Rarely is there a day where he’s not out farming from sun up to sun down . But much of the time I get frustrated because I don’t see the return for his time, or on the money we’re shelling out for equipment, fuel, seed. It is a major test of my faith, a lesson God is wanting to teach me. I have to rely on Him. Not my money management skills, steady paycheck, or (previously) debt-free lifestyle. Also that my spouse is not my source of happiness, security, or affirmation. Yeah, he can be a part of it. But I can’t look to him to fulfill the lonely corners of my life. There’s a place in each of us that God created that only He can satisfy. But boy is it hard to give up my stubborn, selfish ways!
Brittany, I just had to reply to your post. I work for a grain elevator and I see these young farmers every day – working as hard as their bodies will let them to put a crop in the ground and to provide for their families. The outlay of money is huge, and the risk is great, but if it is in their souls, they have to farm. My kind thoughts and prayers go out to you during this transitional time of your life. You will adjust, and you will be better for it. A suggestion… keep a journal of your farm life together – even simple things like how the weather was that day and what your husband or you did, will be wonderful to look back on in the future. God is great, and he will provide. Best of luck to your family!
Thank you so much, Shania!
WoW! I love this! Congratulations on doing it the weird way! Your prayers remind me of a song I love about farming: “Sow the seed in the ground below. Fall to your knees and pray real slow, that the rain will come and kiss the seed, and bless you with all that you need.” I pray for God to bless your crop with a wonderful harvest!
I love the way God’s faithfulness is so obvious in this venture. Thank you for your prayers!
My husband is 65 years old and works for the state. He has farmed all his life (around 400 acres), and works for the state. I take care of the books, and have done so for 35 years. He and I have trusted God for many years to bring the increase, good prices, needed rain, high test weights, good yields, etc. God has been good to us and blessed our farm & family abundantly. That being said, we still have a operating loan every year, because folks want to be paid on a monthly basis. It is somewhat disconcerting to fill out financial papers and find that we are worth in the 7 figures, but at times have no cash flow! My husband is very conservative as far as purchases, and he (along with our son who farms with us) repair almost everything themselves. It would be nice to just write out that $7,000.00 check for diesel fuel or $15,000.00 for seed corn or $19,000.00 for a used sprayer. But that isn’t always possible, especially when corn prices were $3.00 a bushel.
I really don’t think my husband has much good to say re: Dave Ramsey, as the men who came to our church to present the program were very negative about farming, but VERY positive about the rental home business. I have seen it work for others, though, and I think some aspects of his program can be utilized for farmers.
This is interesting, but what you are talking about is a hobby farm. My husband farms for a living and we have positive net worth but have operating loans, land loans, and equipment loans. We try to stay balanced and rent some ground in order to protect ourselves if land prices would crash but we can’t rent all of it. Anyways, my point is I’m guessing your operating expenses are nowhere near what a full time farmers are.
And yeah, Dave Ramsey just doesn’t really work well for us.
You are right, it is a hobby farm…if you can ever call that amount of work a hobby. I was just sharing what works for us, I didn’t say any where that no one should ever have an operating loan. What we are doing is still small but hopefully it will grow and even when it grows we plan to do it without operating loans. And I know that is possible because the man my husband works for (as agronomist, so he is a full time farmer, he just isn’t self-employed) he cash flows his whole operation and he has 6000+ acres.
Thank you for sharing both the article and about your husband’s employer! I appreciate your faith and it inspires me as we pursue the world of debt free farming!
I LOVE this whole article, as we farm as well. And it is our major source of income (I work a seasonal job from late October to May). Farming is a lot of work, full-time or hobby farm. Either way you hope to make a profit as farming is a gamble with the weather and prices. We do often pray for good weather or are thanking God when we receive much needed rain, etc. I am a “city” girl who married my wonderful husband who took over his family farm. I never really understood the struggles of farming until I “walked the walk.” As Sue mentioned above, we know that someday when we sell our farm that we will be worth money, but that doesn’t mean we always have cash in our checkbook. Income and bills really fluctuate from month to month! I am a numbers geek and so I am constantly penciling things out and planning for those big bills in the spring for planting and again in the fall for harvest. We decided a long time ago that we would not be able to keep up with the neighbors. Farm purchases are discussed often and it is decided between the two of us when we can afford them/or not afford them. We don’t really like loans much and we are so fortunate to being almost debt free. Then our goal will be to continue saving for our retirement, hopefully being able to save a little more as we go. I love Dave Ramsey and also Suze Orman. Take the best money advice from each of them. Basically, live within your means, and save, save, save!
I love this post. I’m so happy to see a young family embarking on their farming journey, when so many are hanging up their hats. Thanks for providing food for our country. May your family continue to be blessed Kristen!
Thank you!
Good for you guys! We so desperately want to farm, but because my husband is pursuing his PhD it seems so far down the road. Very inspiring to hear of others who are making it work and without debt–congratulations and keep up the good work! 😀
There was a time when we really thought we would never be able to do it. But we have been patiently waiting for just the right opportunity. I’m sure it will come for you too.
That’s so great Kristen!! We farm too and struggle with many of Dave Ramsey’s theories on finances as our income isn’t steady like most. But, we trust God to provide and guide our every decision. Recently we prayed and prayed about a new tractor. Like you, not wanting to go into debt to get it although it was much needed. It’s been a blessing! Not only did the dealer offer us 0% interest for 5 years, but ended up selling our trade-in for much more than he thought and gave us a REBATE check!!! God is so good when you’re walking in His steps! Blessings to you on your new adventure!!!!
I do love how God we are really noticing God’s faithfulness in this venture. And how He has revealed Himself to you too!