Farmers, Stop Complaining About the Life You Prayed For

In the heat of a tough season, it’s easy to let the stress of the operation turn into a constant stream of complaints. We talk about the markets, the input costs, and the grueling hours. But there is a quote by Kevin Van Trump that every farmer needs to keep on their desk:

"Never let the thing you prayed for be the thing you complain about."

In agriculture, we have a habit of forgetting that this life—the land, the autonomy, the family business—is exactly what we fought to build.

The Danger of a "Soft" Start

Many of us grew up with parents who wanted to make things easy. They didn't want us to suffer the way they did. But there’s a hidden cost to that protection. Being protected from the struggle often leads to being "naive" about the business.

I’ll be the first to admit it: I grew up too slow. When I was 20 years old, I borrowed $300,000 to buy a farm without knowing what a cash flow statement even looked like. I had a banker who did the numbers for me, and I "lost my ass" because I didn't understand the mechanics of the risk I was taking.

Protection doesn't build operators; struggle does.

Burning the Boats

When it comes to the next generation—like my son, Sawyer—the transition looks different. My kids have seen the reality of being your own boss. In a way, I’ve "ruined" them for a normal 9-to-5. They’ve burned the boats; they would be terrible employees for anyone else because they’ve tasted the freedom (and the responsibility) of the farm.

They are all-in. And while that adds pressure to the transition, it’s a high-level problem to have.

Changing Your Lens

We often joke that a farmer will work three side jobs just to afford the "luxury" of farming. We say we love it, yet we spend our mornings at the coffee shop or our evenings at the dinner table venting about the very thing we worked so hard to secure.

If you are currently in a position where you have a business, a legacy, and a future to hand down to your kids, you aren't looking at a burden—you are looking at a blessing.

The transition of a farm isn't just about moving land or machinery; it’s about moving a mindset. It’s about teaching the next generation to respect the numbers, embrace the struggle, and above all, maintain the gratitude for the life they are about to inherit.

Stop complaining about the work you once begged for. It’s time to start leading like the person who deserves it.