Farming Is a Profession—It’s Time We Treat It Like One

Every winter, we (Caitlin) spend a lot of time behind the scenes—deep in paperwork, meetings, and navigating the ever-changing landscape of licensing and regulations required to farm.

We work with multiple agencies. Some are voluntary, like MEAEP and Produce Safety Certification. Others—like EGLE, MDARD, and USDA/FSA—are required. It’s part of the job. It’s part of running a modern farm.

But this winter, something kept coming up in those rooms that left us unsettled.

A lack of recognition that farming is, in fact, a profession.

At one meeting, a department head asked: “How do we make it possible for someone to be both a lawyer and a farmer?”

It landed like a gut punch.

Because the real question should be: Why isn’t farming seen as enough on its own?

Food is fundamental to life. If anything, farming should stand alongside professions like law or medicine—not beneath them.

And yet, farmers are still routinely asked: “What’s your off-farm job?”

Think about that.

You don’t ask your doctor what they do on the side. You don’t ask your lawyer what their “real job” is.

So how did we get here—where one of the most essential professions is treated like a side hustle?

The Narrative We’ve Accepted

Over the years, we’ve seen a strong push to elevate skilled trades—electricians, carpenters, plumbers—and rightfully so.

But somewhere along the way, farming was left behind.

Even among agencies meant to support agriculture, there’s often an underlying assumption that farming alone isn’t enough.

As Joel Salatin has pointed out, farming became seen as the path for the “D students”—something you fell back on, rather than something you pursued with pride.

But that narrative couldn’t be further from the truth.

Coming Back to the Land

What’s interesting is that many people are now finding their way back to farming.

Both of our families have roots in it.

Caitlin’s grandfather often talked about what it would take to return to the farm. He grew up in rural Appalachia during the Great Depression—where running water and electricity weren’t guarantees, and survival required resilience.

It raises a hard question:

Have we become too disconnected from what we truly need?

What Needs to Change

No one goes into farming expecting to become a millionaire.

But farmers should be able to make a living from farming.

Not by stacking multiple off-farm jobs. Not by stretching themselves thinner every year.

Just by doing the work of growing food well.

There’s a growing push toward agritourism—events, farm experiences, on-site education. And while those can be meaningful, they shouldn’t be the requirement for survival.

Farming shouldn’t have to become entertainment to be viable.

We already have a system designed to connect farmers and communities:

The farmers market.

For thousands of years, markets have been where people gathered—not just to buy food, but to connect, share stories, and build community.

That model still works—if we choose to support it.

A Shared Responsibility

We live here because of the natural beauty. Because of open land. Because we can drive a few miles and buy food grown by our neighbors.

But that doesn’t sustain itself.

If we want farms to remain part of this landscape, they need consistent support—not just occasional visits or seasonal interest.

The question becomes: How do we keep farming viable for the people doing it?

The answer is simpler than it sounds:

Speak with your dollars.

Buy local. Buy regularly. Buy in season.

Not once in a while—but as part of your routine.

Because every purchase is a vote for the kind of community—and food system—you want to live in.