Marrying a farmer is a unique situation. If you didn’t grow up on a farm, marrying into one is a bigger life change than pairing up with, say, a lawyer or teacher. You’ll most likely live on your family’s farm, and the farm business will be part of almost all aspects of your life. There’s no leaving work at work when an animal gives birth in the middle of the night, or a harvest goes on past sundown.
That said, marrying into a farm brings great rewards, too: a life spent outdoors, the freshest food on your table, and great opportunities for your children. Here are some tips to make your entry into a farm family as smooth as possible.
-Talk about boundaries early on. Although the farm will definitely be your family’s focus most of the time, make sure your spouse knows that you need family time, too. Whether it’s important that you all go to church together on Sundays, or take one camping trip each summer, put a plan in place to let that happen, like hiring a farm-sitter while you’re gone.
-Be ready for financial challenges. Farm income can be uncertain, and the farm family needs to plan carefully to weather the ups and downs of farm life. Make sure you and your spouse have an accurate picture of your family’s finances, and be prepared to work off-farm if necessary.
-Accept a less-than-spotless house. Your home doesn’t have to be as dirty as your livestock barn, but it’ll be hard to keep it pristine when you, your spouse, and the kids are working with messy animals, muddy fields, and farm machinery. Set realistic expectations, make sure everyone pitches in to do some cleaning, and know that a little dirt never hurt anyone.
The best part of marrying into the farm is creating something that your family can rely on for generations to come. For help with farm transitions and farm planning, contact AgriLegacy today.
