So let me be really honest. I loved my job as an equipment mechanic, I got to put my hands on some seriously exotic machinery and I really liked the diagnosis of problems.
But had I been able to make a decent living at it I'd have been a farmer for life. The tempo and the doing suited me well. I love being outside when the weather is fair and I'm ok with long hours. I'm also very ok with alone.
Note that equipment mechanic is part of the description of farmer. Or at least can be.
I used to be a farmer many times when I was in New Zeland. And you know I love it, wish I could come back to NZ to be a happy and sexy woman on the farm. 😀😄 Or if I could make it to OZ this year I will go to pick cherries and blueberries 😅🤣
The sad thing here is Tom, that the next generation don't want to work the land. Too hard or not glamorous enough? I'm not sure, but so many farms pass out of family ownership and into corporate (often foreign) hands then imported workers on 457-visas come along and that's all she wrote.
I think it's sad as the life can be rewarding and enjoyable.
I'm sure you would have loved the life, bit ended up loving the one you had anyway.
Thanks for dropping in.
!ENGAGE 15
Where I grew up there are next generation farmers, but less every generation. Equipment is bigger and smarter, one guy can farm a hell of a lot of ground so they do.
I just wished happy birthday to a friend from the olden days. He's still farming his place (I have a real hard time imagining the place with out him) and I don't know what his exit plan is. His daughter isn't interested, I know. He has a step daughter that just graduated HS (His first wife died) and she might be, though she was really successful in future business leaders in HS (her team took 2nd place in the nation).
He doesn't have a nephew or a cousins kid, either. I'll have to ask him.
It's all changed so much these days. Advancements in technology, corporations (and countries) buying out farms, climate change, financial pressures and the cost of doing business...It's not easy for the farmers here, and I assume the same elsewhere. Most have to diversify or die out. For instance, the introduction of different stock, dorper sheep as opposed to more traditional types...Different feeds also...We have *saltbush-fed lamb here...Makes use of a plant that grows wildly in certain areas and flavours the meat.
http://www.saltbushlamb.com.au/
Just one example. I have mates that run different crops than twenty years ago, run stock or have added in eco-tourism just to make ends meet. But that doesn't negate the issue of future generations not wanting to be there.
Sorry, fairly long comment. (Hopefully your mate works out an exit plan. Sounds like the lass is a good option.)
ENGAGE
tokens.