Farmers First: Farming Your Purpose

Hello, farm family!

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this farm life I’m living?”

That can be a scary question, especially those of us who have become accustomed to functioning under the “tyranny of the urgent.” We’re so busy doing what needs to be done that we’ve lost the habit of asking why we do it.

Why Do You Farm?

I’ve come to realize that why we do something is often more important than what we do. It is also a key driver in how we do it.

Let’s take growing leafy greens as an example. Every day you have to tend to your crop. That’s the what. How you do that can be very different. You could:

• Provide fertilizer and water
• Scout for pests and diseases (and treat accordingly)
• Adjust lighting and temperature values, if growing indoors

The three approaches are very different, but they all involve taking care of the greens. The option you choose depends on your why: the values that drive you and your farming operation and the legacy you want to leave to those who come behind you.

Your why might include:

• Profit
• Ease of management
• Soil health
• Social factors

No one single “why” is necessarily better or worse than another … and your “why” may shift over time. When you’re young and feeling footloose and fancy-free, you may prioritize farming choices that allow you to see different parts of the world or experiment with different types of agricultural activities and practices.

When you’re middle-aged and looking ahead to funding college, weddings and unemployed 20-something children, profitability may play a more key decision-making role.

As we age even more, ease of management may become the number one concern.

Why Does “Why” Matter?

I am discovering, both in my life and in the lives of the farmers I work with, that clearly understanding and valuing your why is one of the most important predictors of farm life satisfaction.

When the choices you make on your farm align with the values you hold, your farm life feels more meaningful, purposeful, and yes, satisfying.

Everyday farming challenges – lack of operating capital, shifting markets, changing climates – are less of a burden and more of an exciting challenge when the way we manage our farm lives meets our deepest values and needs.

But what happens when our farm life doesn’t reflect our core values? Perhaps you value soil health, but you lack the land, finances or people to raise your cattle and build the soil.

This is when farmers start to feel discouraged, disappointed and dispirited. Farming loses its joy and becomes an endless struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds.

This is also when we begin to feel like we’re wasting time, putting “effort after foolishness” and spinning our wheels – despite having a balanced bank book, flourishing fields and contented customers.

How Do You Know If You’re Farming Your “Why”?

If you’re not sure that your farm life is aligning with your why, there’s a quick way to find out:

1. Take some time this week to write down three words that describe how you’re feeling at the beginning of the day and three words that describe how you’re feeling at the end of the day.
2. Try this on several different days and reflect: What do you notice? Are the words generally positive? Generally negative? Positive at the start of the day and negative by the end? Or vice versa?

This will help you get a sense for how satisfied you are with your farm life. If you tend to start and end your days on relatively high notes, that’s a pretty good indication that you’re investing your time, energy and resources into the things that really matter to you.

If you’ve noticed lots of negative emotions, that’s also good news! A part of you is recognizing that there’s a disconnect between the things you care about and the way you’re living.

How Do We Farm Our “Why”?

Now that you’re aware that your farm life has some room for improvement, you can take steps to realign your values and activities so you can create the farm life you want. Autumn is the ideal time to do this.

Use this time of year to ask yourself what really matters to you, as a farmer and as a person. How do you want to be remembered by the people who know you?

Then review the past year. What activities did you do that got you closer to that ideal? What things got you further away from it?

What practical steps can you take in the upcoming year to build upon the successes you had in 2025?

If these feel daunting, don’t worry! There are lots of resources out there to help you with all aspects of farm planning. You will find many of them highlighted in this issue!

What challenges do you have in farming your why? I’d love to hear about them! Connect with me at kcastrataro@pen-light.org, penlightfarmers.com or Pen Light LLC on YouTube.

It’s your time to grow!

by K. Castrataro